Gözcü, Sefa; Akşit, Zeynep; Akşit, Hüseyin; Şimşek, Samed; Korkmaz, Mustafa

This study explores the essential oils (EOs) of Rosa hemisphaerica (RH), Rosa villosa subsp. mollis (RV) and the newly identified hybrid Rosa ozcelikii (RO). The major components of the EOs were found to be nonadecane (22.45%), viridiflorol (19.37%) and heneicosane (11.72%) in RH; α-muurolene (14.72%), σ-cadinene (17.88%) and farnesol (9.94%) in RV; and heptacosane (27.63%), heneicosane (12.42%) and α-citronellol (11.90%) in RO. Antibacterial activities were evaluated using the disc diffusion method. The EOs demonstrated moderate antibacterial effects: RV and RH exhibited inhibition zones of 8.0 ± 0.4 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while RO showed stronger activity with inhibition zones of 11.0 ± 0.5 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, 12.0 ± 0.4 mm against Clostridium perfringens and 9.0 ± 0.5 mm against Bacillus cereus. These findings highlight the chemical diversity and potential therapeutic applications of these Rosa species, emphasising their relevance in the search for natural antimicrobial agents.

Asgarlı, Tugay; Yuca, Hafize; Tekman, Enes; Aydın, Bilge; Göger, Gamze; Demirci, Betül; Gülşahin, Yusuf; Alkuyruk, Satuk Buğra; Ekşi Bona, Gülnur; Bona, Mehmet

Salvia pachystachya is a medicinally promising plant species, yet its pharmacological properties remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate its anatomical, phytochemical and bioactive characteristics to assess its therapeutic potential comprehensively. Microscopic analysis revealed distinctive anatomical features, including quadrangular stems and glandular trichomes on leaves, providing valuable insights into the plant's structural properties. Phytochemical profiling of methanol and aqueous extracts identified chlorogenic acid as the major component (11,052.88–25,718.77 ng/mL), while essential oils were predominantly composed of phytol (48.4%) and caryophyllene oxide (26.2%). The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity analyses showed that the methanol extract exhibited significant ABTS•+ scavenging activity (90.06%). Bioactivity assays demonstrated the plant's antidiabetic, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial properties. The LC–MS/MS analysis of extracts revealed that chlorogenic acid was the most abundant secondary metabolite among the analysed compounds, with significant variations across different plant parts and extraction solvents. The highest concentration was detected in the aerial part methanol extract (34,885.06 ng/mL), followed by the flower methanol extract (25,718.77 ng/mL). Genotoxicity assessments, including Ames, Escherichia coli WP2, and Allium cepa tests, confirmed the nongenotoxic nature of the extracts. Furthermore, molecular docking indicated strong binding affinities of chlorogenic and quinic acids to target enzymes, supporting their therapeutic relevance. These findings highlighted S. pachystachya as a promising candidate for further pharmacological research, particularly for its potential in combating oxidative stress-related conditions such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Aydin, Bilge; Kararenk, Ayşe Cemre; Yuca, Hafize; Çeçen, Ömer; Bona, Gülnur Ekşi; Demirci, Betül; Bona, Mehmet; Karakaya, Songul

Nepeta is one of the largest genera in the Lamiaceae family. The aim of this study is to evaluate (DPPH• and ABTS+ scavenging tests), antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes inhibition), and anticholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes inhibition) activities of methanolic, aqueous extracts and essential oils obtained from flowering aerial parts of N. cilicia Boiss. ex Benth., N. isaurica Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth., and N. sulfuriflora P.H.Davis. Furthermore, essential oils extracted from these plants were analysed for their chemical composition by GC–MS/MS. Also, anatomy and morphology of these plants were evaluated. Total phenolic and tannin contents were analysed. The major compounds identified in the essential oils of Nepeta species were as follows: caryophyllene oxide (24.8%) and phytol (17.7%) in N. cilicia, α-cadinol (13.6%) and ledol (8.0%) in N. isaurica, and 1,8-cineole (70.4%) in N. sulfuriflora. The plants are perennial, and they have unicellular to multicellular non-glandular and multicellular glandular trichomes. In antidiabetic assays, N. cilicia methanolic extract showed the highest α-amylase inhibition (31.66%), while N. isaurica essential oil had the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition (14.25%). For anticholinesterase activity, N. sulfuriflora essential oil was most effective against acetylcholinesterase (8.63%), and N. isaurica MeOH extract had the highest butyrylcholinesterase inhibition (13.24%). It was determined that especially methanolic extracts had higher % inhibition value on ·+ABTS and DPPH•. When a comparison was made in terms of total phenol and total tannin content, it was observed that N. sulfuriflora species was one step ahead. In conclusion, the study revealed that the three Nepeta species—N. cilicia, N. isaurica, and N. sulfuriflora—possess significant bioactive properties, particularly in their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinesterase activities.

Akşit, Hüseyin; Şimşek, Samed; Aydın, Ali; Bayar, Yusuf; Alkan, Mustafa

The essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Ferulago setifolia K. Koch was analysed using GC/MS, revealing 33 compounds, with 2,3,4-trimethyl benzaldehyde (41.24%), α-pinene (21.58%) and sabinene (10.46%) as major constituents. The biological activity profile of essential oils, including antifungal, insecticidal and antiproliferative activities, was documented for the first time. The oil demonstrated significant antifungal activity, completely inhibiting the growth of Verticillium dahliae at higher doses and showing dose-dependent inhibition against Alternaria solani. It also exhibited moderate insecticidal activity against Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium confusum, achieving a mortality rate of up to 49.3% after 48 h at a 5% concentration. Furthermore, the essential oil showed potent antiproliferative effects against a wide range of cancer cell lines, including lung (Calu1), breast (MCF7), colon (HT29) and gynaecological (HeLa) cancers, while maintaining low cytotoxicity on normal cell lines (MRC5, FL). The IC50 values ranged from 8.13 μg/mL (A2780) to 92.88 μg/mL (HT29), with notable results such as 22.84 μg/mL for Calu1 and 58.26 μg/mL for MCF7. Compared to the standard anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil, the essential oil exhibited superior or comparable activity against certain cancer cell lines. The results showed that essential oils have specificity against cancer cell lines. These findings suggest that the essential oil of F. setifolia holds potential as a natural source for antifungal, insecticidal and antiproliferative agents. The results contribute significantly to the pharmacological and agricultural potential of this species.

Yuca, Hafize; Civaş, Ayşe; Tekman, Enes; Nadiroğlu, Rozerin; Karakaş, Şeydanur; Dürüster, Şeyma; Keçeci, Emire Bengisu; Bona, Mehmet; Nobarirezaeyeh, Mohaddeseh; Aydin, Bilge

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, aqueous subextracts and essential oils of flowers, roots, leaves and aerial parts of Thymbra spicata subsp. spicata, which has been utilized in the public medicine systems of Turkey, Greece, Egypt and Rome for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis, as well as for flavour and aroma in the food industry and protection. Quantitative determination of secondary metabolites in the most effective samples of the plant was also analysed by LC–MS/MS. Moreover, the chemical composition of essential oils of different parts of the plant was analysed via GC-FID and GC/MS. The main constituents in the flower, leaf and aerial part were found to be carvacrol (75.6%), γ-terpinene (10.5%), carvacrol (73.3%), γ-terpinene (9.5%), p-cymene (8.6%), carvacrol (76.1.8%) and p-cymene (7.3%), respectively. Quinic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, naringin, hesperidin and rosmarinic acid were measured in four ethyl acetate subextracts, and rosmarinic acid was found to have the highest amount in the flower subextract with a value of 48095.1083 ng/mL. The ethyl acetate extract of flowers showed the best activity with a 326 ± 12 μg/mL IC50 value, while the standard acarbose IC50 value was 4143 ± 243 μg/mL. It was determined that the leaf ethyl acetate extract, in particular, had a very high % inhibition value on ABTS·+ (99.137 ± 0.011% inhibition) and DPPH• (41.068 ± 0.031% inhibition). It is thought that the plant, which has been used as a spice in the kitchen for centuries by the public, can be safely used due to its high antidiabetic and antioxidant effects.