Solanaceae familyasına ait özellikle Lycium barbarum L. türünün meyvesi olarak bilinen “Goji berry”, besin değerinin yüksek olması sebebiyle son yıllarda ‘‘süper meyve’’ adıyla oldukça popüler hale gelmiştir. L. barbarum çalı formunda çok yıllık bir bitkidir. Meyveleri tatlı ve keskin bir tada sahip, yaklaşık 2 cm derinliğinde elips şeklinde turuncu-kırmızı renkli yumuşak bir yapıya sahiptir. 2000 yılı aşkın süredir Çin ve Tibet’te geleneksel tıp ve gıda alanında kullanılan bitkinin kök, kabuk ve meyvelerinden tıbbi ilaçlar yapıldığı, yapraklarının ve tohumlarının da bazı şifalı bitkilerden bahseden kitaplarda yer aldığı anlatılmaktadır. Tibet’te yerliler tarafından ömrü uzattığı düşünülmekte ve ‘‘mutluluğun meyvesi’’ adıyla da bilinmektedir. Bitkinin dünyada “kurt üzümü” adıyla da bilinen meyveleri polisakkarit kompleksleri, karotenoidler, fenilpropanoidler gibi yüksek biyolojik aktiviteye sahip birçok bileşik grubu içermektedir. Bitkinin kurutulmuş meyveleri direkt tüketildiği gibi bitki çayı, meyve suyu, şarap, tentür yapımında ve yemeklerde olmak üzere dünyada farklı kullanımları bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada ise L. barbarum bitkisinin geleneksel kullanım alanları ile ilgili bilgiler derlenmiştir.

Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide which is used globally in a wide scale in agriculture. It was associated with numerous negative health effects in many studies. Brain is one of the target organs for dimethoate exposure. The aim of present study was to evaluate sub-chronic (60 days) toxicity of dimethoate (7 mg/kg b.w.), investigating its oxidative stress, DNA damage, as well as apoptosis inducing effects, and histopathological changes in brain tissue of rats. We also aimed to analyze protective effects of Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (cherry laurel) fruit extract. To evaluate oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes activities were calculated. Experimental results demonstrated that dimethoate treatment increased MDA and depleted Cu-Zn SOD, GPx and CAT enzyme activities, suggesting its potency as an oxidative stress inducer in rat brain tissues. Furthermore, comet and TUNEL assay results showed that dimethoate stimulated DNA damage and apoptosis. Administration of cherry laurel extract protected against dimethoate-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis. Findings of currents study are important in terms of demonstrating the beneficial effects of L. officinalis extract against dimethoate toxicity in brain, considering the sensitivity of this organ to oxidative stress and extensive usage of dimethoate.

Crocus sativus L. (Saffron, Fam. Iridaceae) is a medicinal, commercial, historical and economically important plant that has been used in the treatment of various diseases since ancient times. Saffron, which is generally used by the public to add flavor and color to dishes, is difficult to cultivate and harvest due to the use of only dried stigmas and is known as the most expensive spice in the world. The macroscopic and microscopic properties of the samples sold under the name "Saffron" from 10 different cities of Turkey, as well as the drying loss, foreign matter amount determination, total ash amount determination, color density determination, phosphomolybdic acid reaction and elongation determination analysis tests were conducted and their conformity with European Pharmacopoeia standards was investigated. In this study, saffron samples purchased from a local producer in Safranbolu (Standard 1) and grown by ourselves (Standard 2) were used. As a result of our study, it was determined by morphological and microscopic studies that samples 2 and 4 completely belonged to the Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) plant. On the other hand, it has been revealed by the analyzes that the sample number six contains very little saffron stigma and mainly contains Safflower bulk flowers.