Chemotaxonomy of Ballota species

Sixteen taxa of Ballota were investigated by analyzing the contents of diterpenoid and flavonoid compositions, and the relationships were compared with their morphological properties. HPLC chromatograms of diterpenoids and flavonoids from acetone extracts of sixteen Ballota taxa revealed the presence of thirteen compounds. Isolated compounds from Ballota species were evaluated by the unweighted pair-group arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. B. glandulosissima is distinct from all other taxa in the dendogram, and this species is morphologically different from other taxa by having a high number of glandular hairs. The second group is composed of B. saxatilis ssp. saxatilis and B. inaequidens; these two species are in close kinship as evidenced by their morphology (similar calyx shape). In the latter clusters at most, the affinities among taxa, as suggested by diterpenoid and flavonoid pattern, are only partially congruent with affinities based on other evidence. In general, morphologic, anatomic characters, distributions, and habitats are not concordant with the clusters. Also, no concordance was found between the sections, phylogenetic order [1], and those of the groups formed by cluster analyses

Hepatoprotective and TNF-alpha inhibitory activity of Zosima absinthifolia extracts and coumarins

Zosima absinthifolia (ZA) extracts and the coumarins (+)-columbianadin and ( 12)-deltoin were evaluated for their potential hepatoprotective and antiinflamatory effects in a CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity assay in rats and by the inhibition of TNF-\u3b1 production on LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages, respectively. Both the ZA extracts and the coumarins showed hepatoprotective activity confirmed by monitoring the ALT/AST levels and by histopathological examination. The antiinflamatory activity, proved by the inhibition of TNF-\u3b1 production, was found to be higher for the n-hexane root extract than for coumarins, suggesting synergic potential of the extract. The concentration of ( 12)-deltoin and (+)-columbianadin in extracts was determined by HPLC analysis

Analgesic compounds from Scorzonera latifolia (Fisch and Mey.) DC.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: A traditional mastic named yak\u131 sak\u131z\u131 prepared from the roots of Scorzonera latifolia (Fisch. and Mey.) DC. is used as a folk remedy for treatment of pain in Turkish folk medicine. Aim of the study: To isolate and identify the compounds responsible for the antinociceptive activity of S. latifolia using bioassay-guided fractionation. Materials and methods: The methanolic extract of the S. latifolia roots was prepared and subjected to isolation procedures such as solvent\u2013solvent partitioning and column chromatography. Writhing and tail-flick tests were used to determine the antinociceptive activity. Results: The n-hexane fraction of the S. latifolia root methanolic extract showed potent antinociceptive activity in both writhing and tail-flick tests. Three compounds were isolated from n-hexane fraction using bioassay-guided chromatographic purification. Isolated compounds were the triterpene taraxasteryl myristate, taraxasteryl acetate, and fern-7-en-3--one, structures were elucidated by means of MS and NMR techniques. Both taraxasterol derivatives showed promising antinociceptive activity when compared to reference compounds. Conclusion: Results of the present study support the usage of S. latifolia in Turkish folk medicine. Both plant root extract and the isolated compounds showed promising antinociceptive activities. Our results suggested that antinociceptive activity of the plant extract is probably caused by the synergistic interaction of the isolated compounds