Korkmaz, Mustafa

The purpose of this study was to determine the natural plants used traditionally by the local people for different ethnobotanical purposes in the villages around Esence (Keşiş) Mountains. Within the scope of the study, field trips to the villages were organized in the summer periods between 2010 and 2013. During my investigations face-to-face interviews were conducted with people living in the region and ethnobotanical features of the plants recorded. Our findings revealed that 139 plant taxa belonging to 107 genera and 40 families are distributed in the study area. The families with highest number of taxa were Rosaceae (19), Asteraceae (13), Fabaceae (11) and Lamiaceae (11). The plants collected were mostly used as food (95 taxa), spice (12 taxa) and animal fodder (12 taxa). The most commonly used plant organs were leaves (45 taxa) followed by fruits (27 taxa) and flowers (24 taxa). The most common way of consumption was raw (48 plants), cooked (32 plants), as salads (13 plants), spice (11 plants) and jam (11 plants). Our results also revealed that 9 endemic taxa were traditionally used in the area for a variety of ethnobotanical purposes.

Özkan, Mustafa; Kariptaş, Ergin; Özdemir, Cânan; Kandemir, Ali; Akyol, Yurdanur

Onosma argentata Hub.-Mor. is an endemic species growing in Turkey. It is under the threat like many other endemic species in Turkey and its IUCN category is evaluated as vulnerable. According to literature, this species was known only from the two collections, in this study the plants were collected from different localities mentioned in literature. Plant is perennial. The stem is 20-35cm, shortly hairy and rigid-setose, clothed at base with remains of leaves.The aim of this study is to provide information on the anatomical and morphological properties of O. argentata. Anatomical sections taken from the root, stem and leaves of the plants. The results have been compared with some species of Boraginaceae. In addition, the concentrations of trace elements O. argentata were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry. Large amount of sodium (Na), aluminum (Al), potassium (K) and iron (Fe) were present in all flowers, leaf and stem of O. argentata plant.

Korkmaz, Mustafa; Karakus, Sinem

A list of medicinal plants used by local people in Uzumlu district and its villages is presented. This study included the first detailed ethnobotanical survey carried out in Erzincan. The study was conducted during spring and summer periods in 2010 and 2011 through face-to-face interview method to determine the local names, used parts, and medicinal usages of the determined plants. The plant samples collected from the study area were pressed, dried, and labeled according to the herbarium techniques, and identified. Totally 64 plant taxa belonging to 53 genera and 29 families were used by local people for different medicinal purposes in the area. The families including the highest number of taxa were Rosaceae (11 species), Asteraceae (6 species) and Lamiaceae (5 species). The species with the highest number of usage as herbal medicine were Urtica dioica, Anthemis cretica subsp. iberica, Petroselinum crispum, Allium cepa, Rheum ribes, Rosa dumalis subsp. boissieri var. boissieri and Vitis vinifera. Fruits and flowers were the most widely used parts of the plants. Decoction was the main method for using, and the primary therapeutic use of herbal remedies was for the respiratory system diseases such as cold, cough, asthma, and bronchitis. This study was the first carried out on 20 plant taxa used as traditional medicine, and the use of 28 taxa were recorded for the first time in Turkey. For maintaining the knowledge on traditional medicine, urgent studies should be carried out for recording before they have been completely lost

Korkmaz, Mustafa; KarakuŞ, Sİnem

A list of medicinal plants used by local people in Üzümlü district and its villages is presented. This study included the first detailed ethnobotanical survey carried out in Erzincan. The study was conducted during spring and summer periods in 2010 and 2011 through face-to-face interview method to determine the local names, used parts, and medicinal usages of the determined plants. The plant samples collected from the study area were pressed, dried, and labeled according to the herbarium techniques, and identified. Totally 64 plant taxa belonging to 53 genera and 29 families were used by local people for different medicinal purposes in the area. The families including the highest number of taxa were Rosaceae (11 species), Asteraceae (6 species) and Lamiaceae (5 species). The species with the highest number of usage as herbal medicine were Urtica dioica,Anthemis cretica subsp. iberica, Petroselinum crispum,Allium cepa, Rheum ribes, Rosa dumalis subsp. boissieri var. boissieri and Vitis vinifera. Fruits and flowers were the most widely used parts of the plants. Decoction was the main method for using, and the primary therapeutic use of herbal remedies was for the respiratory system diseases such as cold, cough, asthma, and bronchitis. This study was the first carried out on 20 plant taxa used as traditional medicine, and the use of 28 taxa were recorded for the first time in Turkey. For maintaining the knowledge on traditional medicine, urgent studies should be carried out for recording before they have been completely lost.

Aksoy, A.; Osma, E.; Leblebici, Z.

Parietaria judaica L. (Spreading pellitory) is a herbaceous plant that grows wildly in the urban areas in Turkey. Leaves of P. judaica were tested as a possible biomonitor of heavy metal pollution in Istanbul. Fifty three sites (urban, urban park, roadside, coast, suburban and rural) in and around Istanbul were investigated. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn were determined in unwashed and washed leaves and soils collected from a wide range of sites with different degrees of metal pollution. Differences between the unwashed and washed samples varied according to the metal pollutant levels. The concentrations of heavy metals in the leaves of P. judaica increased along with the urbanization of the sites. Significant correlations were obtained between the heavy metal concentrations in surface soil and washed leaf samples. P. judaica was found to be a useful biomonitor of the investigated heavy metals.