Investigation of pharmaceutical botany, phytochemical and biological activity on some Verbascum L. species growing in Eskişehir and surrounding area

In this study, the pharmaceutical botany properties and biological activities of the endemic species of Scrophulariaceae family, V. serratifolium Hub.-Mor. (kül güzeli), V. splendidum Boiss., (rana sığırkuyruğu), and V. mucronatum Lam. (şapala), were investigated. For this purpose, the morphological characteristics of the species were comparatively examined against the flora, detailed with comprehensive descriptions and further supported by illustrations and photographs. Anatomical studies were conducted by taking cross and surface sections from root, stem, and leaf parts of the species and their anatomical structures were examined. Pollen measurements were made and photographed on SEM. In the biological activity studies, the total phenolic content and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts and infusions of the taxa were studied. The total phenolic content was analyzed using the Folin-Ciocaltaeu method, and the antioxidant properties were analyzed by ABTS˙+ and DPPH˙ scavenging effects, with the highest antioxidant effect seen in the V. splendidum taxa. The MTT method was used to determine the cytotoxic activities of the species, and the V. splendidum infusion and V. mucronatum extract and infusion were found to be effective against cancer cells. The essential oils of the taxa were obtained by the Clevenger apparatus, and their components were elucidated by GC and GC/MS devices. The main components of the oils were identified as hexadecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, and nonacosane.