Investigation of phytochemical and biological properties of Ferula divaricata Pimenov & Kljuykov

In the scope of this thesis, comprehensive phytochemical and biological activity studies were carried out on Ferula divaricata, an endemic species of Turkey. Essentia oil (EO), volatile constituents of different part of the plant (fruit, aerial parts and root) and enantiomeric ratios in the essential oil were investigated. In addition, free fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins profile was determined. Nonane and α-pinene in aerial parts and fruit EO, β-cubebene, γ-amorphene and germacrene D in the root volatiles were found to be main components. Leaf lipids were detected as rich in saturated fatty acids, however fruit lipits were found as rich in mono-polyunsaturated fatty acid. In vitamin investigations, VitE, VitK1 and -carotene were detected. The extrats prepared from different parts of the plant were subjected to antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-α-amylase activitity researches. In biological activity studies, 60% aqueous-methanol extract was found to be promising. In addition, EOs showed anti-AChE potent. The root %60 aqueous-methanol extract having antioxidant and anti-AChE potentials was subjected to bioactivity guided fractionation. As a result of bioactivity guided fractionation, daucane-type sesquiterpenes; teferidin, teferin, ferutinin, ferutidine, ferutin, jaeschkeanadiol angelate, phenolic acids; ferulic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic, 4-O-caffeoylquinic, 3-O-caffeoylquinic, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids have been identified. In addition, 1,3- dicaffeoylquinic acid derivative was also isolated from the extract. Phenolic acid derivatives were mainly defined in the fraction obtained as a result of fractioning studies started as antioxidant -guided. 4-O-Caffeoylquinic acid has been reported for the first time for the genus Ferula. To the best of our knowledge this is the first investigation of volatile and non-volatiles seconder metabolites of F. divaricata as well as biological activity evaluation.