Phytochemical contents and antioxidant activities of fern (Asplenium ceterach L.) distributed in different altitudes (22 stations) were compared and the relationships between altitude and plant chemical contents were studied. The highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was found in 22nd station (IC50 = 47.91 μg/ml) and the highest total phenolic content was found in 9th station (110.62 μgGAE/ml) whereas the maximum total flavonoid content was found in 20th station (232.67 μgCE/ml). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis indicates that the maximum pterosin b (0.235 μg/ml), catechin (2.756 μg/ml) and quercetin (0.207 μg/ml) values were found in 21th station whereas the maximum chlorogenic acid (17.718 μg/ml) was obtained in 9th and caffeic acid (6,598 μg/ml) in 13th stations. It was observed that altitude is not potent alone, but it can be a factor in the occurrence of other ecological factors like soil properties, water, humidity, light and temperature.

Background and Aims: Genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae) is represented by 79 species in Turkish flora, 26 of which are endemic. Veronica species have a variety of uses including diuretic, anticancer, and rheumatic pains, wounds, and respiratory problems. According to phytochemical studies, Veronica species contain predominantly iridoid glucosides with some phenylethanoid and flavonoid glycosides. Methods: The aqueous extract of Veronica peduncularis M.Bieb. was tested for its cytotoxic activity on human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and human epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cell lines using the MTT method. Chemical profile of the extract was determined by HPLC-DAD, and isolation studies were conducted. Results: The extract was found to show concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against tested cell lines. In addition, a comparison of the iridoid fraction of Veronica peduncularis with previously isolated iridoid glucosides on the HPLC-DAD system, showed the presence of aucubin, amphicoside, veratroyl catalpol, and veronicoside in this fraction. On the other hand, isolation and structure elucidation of plantamajoside and 4'-O-methylisoscutellarein-7-O-2''-O-(6'''-O-acetyl-ß-D-allopyranosyl)ß-D-glucopyranoside from the phenolic fractions were performed by serial chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this is the first cytotoxic activity and phytochemical study on the titled plant. The presence of iridoid glucosides and 8-hydroxyflavone glycosides is important for the chemotaxonomy of the genus Veronica.

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Radical scavenging activity of the extracts of Lathyrus aphaca L. var. pseudoaphaca (Boiss.) Davis, L. aureus (Stev.) Brandza, L. cicera L., L. sphaericus Retz., L. digitatus (Bieb.) Fiori in Fiori & Paol. and L. setifolius L. taxa distributed in Burdur-Isparta regio was determined. Methanol extracts of air dried aerial parts and the seeds of the plants were dissolved in water and chlorophylls and lipophilic compounds were removed from the aqueous extracts. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl, superoxide and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of the plants were tested. Gallic acid equivalent total phenolic contents of the plant extracts were also detected using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. According to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity test, the highest antioxidant activity was found in aerial parts of L. aphaca var. pseudoaphaca and highest total phenolic content was found as gallic acid equivalent in L. sphaericus seed extracts.