In the current study, four Onobrychis species, O. albiflora Hub.-Mor., O. argyrea Boiss. subsp. argyrea Boiss., O. galegifolia Boiss., and O. tournefortii (Willd.) Desv. were collected from Anatolia to be evaluated for their antidiabetic activities. Methanol water extracts of the aerial parts were used for experiments. An alloxan-induced diabetic mice test model was used. Phytochemical analysis of the tested extracts was investigated using the HPLC method. The highest activity was observed with treatment of O. albiflora aerial part extract. Significant decrements were detected in the blood glucose levels as follows: 180.83±47.48 and 252.83±50.47mg/dL at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses of O. albiflora, respectively, when compared to the isotonic saline solution control group, eliciting a blood glucose level of 494.20±27.32. Among the tested standard compounds, rutin and isoquercetin were detected in the examined species. The highest amount of rutin (1.1981±0.0017%) and isoquercetin (0.7318±0.0197%) were found in O. albiflora and O. argyrea subsp. argyrea, respectively. Antidiabetic activities of the tested Onobrychis species seem to indicate a possible correlation with their rutin and isoquercetin contents. Therefore, rutin and isoquercetin may be the antidiabetic compounds that contribute to the antidiabetic activity of the tested Onobrychis species.

Abstract Colchicine is widely used in the treatment of several inflammatory diseases due to its anti-inflammatory effect, but effects on bone metabolism are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemically-administered colchicine on healthy periodontium and experimentally-induced periodontitis. In total, 42 male Wistar rats were included in this study. A non-ligated group constituting the negative control group (Control, C, n = 6) and a ligature-only group forming the positive control group (LO, n = 12) were created separately. Twelve rats were treated with 0.4 mg/kg colchicine and another 12 with 1 mg/kg colchicine. In the colchicine-administered groups, right mandibles constituted the ligated groups (1 mgC-L or 0.4 mgC-L) and left mandibles formed the corresponding non-ligated controls (1mgC or 0.4mgC). Silk ligatures were placed at the gingival margin of the lower first molars. The animals were euthanized at different time-points of healing (11 or 30 days). Alveolar bone loss was clinically measured and TRAP+ osteoclasts, osteoblastic activity, and MMP-1 expression were examined histologically. There was no increase in alveolar bone loss with either colchicine dose in healthy periodontium (p > 0.05) and the highest level of alveolar bone loss, TRAP+ osteoclast number, and MMP-1 expression were measured in the LO group (p < 0.05). The 0.4 mgC-L group showed less alveolar bone loss at 11 days (p < 0.05), but greater loss at 30 days. The 1 mgC-L group showed higher osteoblast number than the other ligated groups (p < 0.05) at both time-points. In summary, colchicine did not increase alveolar bone loss in healthy periodontium and also may tend to reduce periodontitis progression. However, further extensive study is necessary to understand the mechanism of colchicine action on alveolar bone loss in periodontitis.

ABSTRACT Hypericum thymopsis Boiss., Hypericaceae, is an endemic herb which generally grows at the calcareous steppe regions of Central Turkey. In flowering stage, the aerial parts of this species are used for wound-healing and sedation, and its infusions are used against stomach diseases and throat infections by local people. The aim of this study, to examine and to reveal of the morphology, anatomy and histology of the aerial vegetative and reproductive organs of the H. thymopsis, which are used in popular medicine and thus contributing to the pharmacognostic evaluation of the species. In comparison with previous published morphological description of the species, some different findings about plant height and leaf length were found. In addition, some morphological characteristics such as dimensions of sepals and ovaries, length of filaments, anthers, pistils and pedicels were examined here for the first time. The anatomical characteristics of stem, leaf, sepal, filament and pistil were studied using light microscopy and additionally for stem and leaf using scanning electron microscopy. The stem has the secondary growth, and circular shape. The leaves are amphistomatic and the mesophyll is dorsiventral. Stomata are anisocytic and sunken. The glandiferous emergences are present on stem and translucent glands exist in leaf mesophyll. Type A secretory canals are present in stem, leaf, sepal and petal cross section. While type B secretory canals are observed in sepal and petal, type C secretory canals are observed solely in ovary cross section. All the structural features herein found can assist the diagnosis of H. thymopsis.

ABSTRACT Haplophyllum telephioides Boiss., Rutaceae, is an endemic herb which generally grows at the steppe region in Central Turkey. Its aerial parts in flowering stage are used by local people against influenza virus due to its antimicrobial effect. The main purpose of this study was to examine the morphology, anatomy and histology of the vegetative and reproductive organs of the H. telephioides, which are used in popular medicine, thereby, contributing to the pharmacognostic evaluation of the species. The species was studied morphologically in detail. New morphological features were described for them, such as the dimension of leaf, sepal and fruit, size of filament, anther and pistil, and diameter of the ovary. In addition, some deviating features were found in relation to previous published descriptions for the species, such as plant height and petal length. The anatomy of plant parts such as stem, leaf, sepal, petal, filament and pistil, were studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Stem has incipient secondary growth. The leaf is amphistomatic and the mesophyll is equifacial. Stomata are anomocytic and sunken. In micromorphological studies, it is determined that the leaf is coated by a thick cuticle and above epicuticular wax. Schizogenous glands were found in all vegetative and reproductive organs. The structural features herein found can assist the diagnosis of H. telephioides.

Abstract Pollen morphology of six taxa of the genus Convolvulus (Convolvulus assyricus , C. betonicifolius subsp. betonicifolius, C. cataonicus, C. galaticus, C. lineatus, and C. pseudoscammonia) were investigated. Three of these taxa, C. assyricus, C. cataonicus and C. pseudoscammonia, are endemic to Turkey. Pollen grains were evaluated mainly for four diagnostic characteristics: pollen type, pollen shape, apertures and ornamentation. Following the measurements and observations, pollen grains were photographed under an optical and a scanning electron microscope. The pollen grains of the examined taxa are all 3-zonocolpate. The pollen shape is oblate, suboblate, oblate spheroidal or prolate spheroidal. The nexine is thinner than the sexine or equal, and the tectum is microechinate and rarely or densely perforated in all species except C. pseudoscammonia. Colpus borders and tapering ends are distinct and the colpus area is gemmate and granulate in all examined species.

Resumen Se estudió la morfología del polen de seis especies del género Convolvulus (Convolvulus assyricus, C. betonicifolius subsp. betonicifolius, C. cataonicus, C. galaticus, C. lineatus y C. pseudoscammonia). Tres de estos taxones, C. assyricus, C. cataonicus y C. pseudoscammonia, son endémicos de Turquía. Se evaluaron principalmente cuatro características diagnósticas del polen: tipo de polen, forma del polen, aperturas y ornamentaciones. Después de hacer estas mediciones y observaciones, se tomaron fotos bajo el microscopio óptico y los granos se escanearon con microscopio electrónico de barrido. Los granos de polen de los grupos examinados son todos trizonocolpados. Por su forma, el polen es oblato, suboblato, esferoide oblato o esferoide prolato . La nexina es igual o más delgada que la sexina y el tectum es microequinado y rara o densamente perforado en todas las especies excepto en C. pseudoscammonia. Los bordes del colpo y las terminaciones atenuadas son distintivos, y el área del colpo es gemada y granulada en todas las especies examinadas.