Research on some medicinal plants sold in herbalists in terms of pharmaceutical botany

In this study, some of the commonly preferred herbal samples sold in herbalist shops, such as Lavender (Lavandula sp.), Yarrow (Achillea sp.), and Valerian (Valeriana sp.), are examined from a pharmacobotanical perspective. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of plant samples and/or their utilized parts sold under the names of Lavender, Yarrow, and Valerian were carried out using Stemi DV4 Zeiss binocular stereo microscope and Olympus BX51 light microscope. In this context, anatomical structures, as well as characteristics such as shape, size, color, and odor, were determined and photographed. The morphological features of the plant parts that make up the drug were described. Based on the obtained morphological findings, the plant species to which the drugs belong, their distribution, ethnobotanical uses, and relevant information from pharmacopoeias or published articles were examined. For microscopic analysis, preparations were made from the plants and/or their utilized parts, and they were examined under a light microscope and photographed. As a result of the diagnoses of plant samples obtained from herbalist shops in different provinces, the study aimed to determine whether the species were suitable for use among the public and assess whether any adulteration was present in the samples. The results of the study are considered significant for determining whether the plants sold in herbalist shops and commonly used by the public are the correct species, verifying the accuracy of the parts of the plants that should be used, and comparing the purposes of their use in folk medicine with the relevant literature. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Lavandula, Achillea, Valeriana