Pharmaceutical botanical studies on Galium L. (Rubiaceae) taxa distributed in eskisehir province

In this study, 13 taxa (G. setaceum Lam., G. spurium L. subsp. spurium, G. aparine L., G. peplidifolium Boiss., endemic G. penduliflorum Boiss., G. rotundifolium L., G. odoratum (L.) Scop., G. rivale (Sm.) Griseb., G. humifusum Bieb., G. verum L. subsp. verum, G. incanum Sm. subsp. elatius (Boiss.) Ehrend., G. album Mill. subsp. pycnotrichum (H. Braun) Krendl and G. paschale Forssk.) in 8 sections belonging to the genus Galium L. (Rubiaceae) distributed in Eskisehir province were investigated in terms of pharmaceutical botany; morphological, micromorphological, anatomical, palynological and biological activity characteristics of the taxa were presented in detail. In morphological studies, the descriptions of the taxa provided in the Flora of Turkey were expanded, deficiencies were corrected, and the findings were supported with photographs. In micromorphological studies, SEM was used to examine stem and leaf surface features, trichome structures, and fruit ornamentation. Anatomical structures were clarified through transverse sections of the stem and leaf, as well as superficial sections. In palynological studies, pollen characteristics were identified with SEM photographs. In biological activity studies, the total phenolic compound content of ethanol extracts of the taxa was determined and their antioxidant properties were determined by the scavenging effect of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and total antioxidant capacity equivalent of Trolox. The species with the highest total phenolic compound content and the most effective antioxidant properties was determined as G. peplidifolium. In antimicrobial studies, antimicrobial activities of the extracts were calculated by agar diffusion and liquid microdilution methods using 2 Gram positive, 2 Gram negative and 2 yeast strains. While G. peplidifolium was the most effective for Gram-positive, G. spurium subsp. spurium and G. incanum subsp. elatius was the most effective for Gram-negative. In yeasts, the most effective species was determined as G. humifusum. The extracts showed high antimicrobial activity, especially against the Bacillus subtilis strain.