Irano-Turanian Phytogeographical Region Research Articles

A natural approach to breast cancer treatment: investigation of chemical features of aerial parts of endemic Onosma sintenisii Hausskn. ex Bornm and its antioxidant properties, in vitro cytotoxic and apoptosis induction on MCF-7 cells

ABSTRACT Onosma sintenisii Hausskn. ex Bornm. (O. sintenisii) belongs to the Boraginaceae family and it is an endemic species from Irano-turanian phytogeographical region (central and eastern Anatolia) that distributes in steppe areas. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant, in vitro cytotoxic and apoptosis induction of methanol extract of aerial parts of O. sintenisii. As a result of GC/MS analysis, 14 components were identified, and the major compounds of the extracts are retronecine (13.94%), α.-D-Glucopyranosiduronic acid (10.86%), melaniline (7.5%) and 1,2-Butanediol (4.02%), respectively. Antioxidant properties of O. sintenisii were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and superoxide radical scavenging activity methods. While the DPPH free radical scavenging activity results of O. sintenisii extract varied between 62.49% and 32.27%, reducing power activity and superoxide radical scavenging activity were found to be low. The result of the MTT assay revealed strong anticancer activity of O. sintenisii extract. The most significant cytotoxic effect was noted at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL after 48 hours. These findings together with flow cytometry analysis suggest that apoptosis can be the main mechanism underlying cell death after O. sintenisii extract treatment.

A Survey on Salvia L. Taxa Distributed in Mardin Province

In this study, the morphological features, habitat areas and danger categories of 10 taxa (Salvia sect.: S. macrochlamys Boiss. & Kotschy, S. trichoclada Bentham, S. suffruticosa Montbret & Aucher ex Benth., S. bracteata Banks & Sol.; Hymenosphace sect.: S. multicaulis Vahl; Aethiopis sect.: S. syriaca L., S. montbretii Bentham, S. palaestina Bentham, Salvia brachyantha subsp. brachyantha (Bordz.) Pobed.; Hemisphace sect.: S. russellii Bentham) belonging to 4 sections of the genus Salvia distributed in Mardin between 2018-2020, were examined. Plants generally spread on serpentine soils, roadsides and slopes. According to the Red Book of Plants of Turkey and IUCN 2001 risk categories, all taxa are widely distributed (LC). All of the identified taxa are elements of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. This study will contribute to the recognition, protection of Tukey's biological richness and to other studies on the subject.

Classification of tall-forb vegetation in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Middle Asia)

Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic scheme for tall-forb vegetation of the montane and alpine belts in the Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan with some remarks on its environmental predictors. Study area: Middle Asia: Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Methods: A total of 244 relevés were sampled in 2013–2019 using the seven-degree cover-abundance scale of the Braun-Blanquet approach. These were classified with a modified TWINSPAN algorithm with pseudospecies cut-levels 0%, 5% and 25%, and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. NMDS was used to explore the relationships between the distinguished groups. Results: Our classification revealed 19 clusters of tall-forb vegetation in Middle Asia. Among others we found forb communities typical for Tian Shan, western Pamir-Alai, forb-scree vegetation of Pamir-Alai, dry tall-forbs and typical forbs of the alpine belt. A total of eight new tall-forb associations and five communities were distinguished. The forb vegetation of Middle Asia has been assigned to the class Prangetea ulopterae Klein. The main factors differentiating the species composition of the researched vegetation are elevation, mean annual temperature, sum of annual precipitation and inclination of the slope. Conclusions: The paper presents the first insight into the comprehensive classification of the alpine forb vegetation in Middle Asia and fosters progress in explaining the relationship of boreo-temperate and Mediterranean-like (Irano-Turanian) vegetation in western Asian and central Asian subregions of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Taxonomic references: The nomenclature of the vascular plants follows generally Cherepanov (1995) and for Bromus spp. The Plant List (2020) Version 1.1. http://www.theplantlist.org/. Syntaxonomic references: The names of syntaxa are used in accordance with Ermakov (2012), Gadghiev et al. (2002) and Nowak et al. (2018). Abbreviation: NMDS = Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling.

Examining the PALSAR-2 Global forest/non-forest maps through Turkish afforestation practices

ABSTRACT Forests and afforestation have significant importance, given the present course of World’s climate resulting from our insensitive behaviours, policies, ambitions, etc. Turkish Forest Service has departments, sole purposes of which are to combat desertification through afforestation, flood control, and watershed rehabilitation works. Majority of the works is carried out in the semi-arid central part of the country, which is known as the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. Hydroelectric dam projects, which have extensively been conducted to produce energy and to harness the rivers when needed, have been at the centre of these efforts in the region. Afforestation works, which have long been used to safeguard dam reservoirs, have always been associated with such projects because they are implemented even prior to water deposition. They along with the country’s managed forests are looked after as the natural forest cover. Improvements in remote sensing at this point enabled the agencies to diversify their efforts in monitoring the natural resources and strengthening the decision makers’ hand in management preferences in both global and regional scales. There are various data produced through the classification of satellite imagery representing the existence or the percentage of forests in any location on Earth. In this study, Global Phased Arrayed L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar PALSAR-2/PALSAR mosaic and forest/non-forest maps of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Global Forest Cover Change (GFCC) thematic image tiles of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which are two of the widely accepted such data, were compared to one another and to our control results produced by a pixel-based classification method to assess the performance of afforestation works around seven major hydroelectric dam reservoirs situated within the central part of Turkey. The results showed that Global PALSAR-2/PALSAR forest/non-forest maps were somewhat capturing the trend, but overly exaggerating the ground facts up to 1064%. GFCC epochs, on the other hand, did not yield sound results in this semi-arid part of Turkey. Latter data could not even capture the successfully afforested sites.

The explorations on the flora of Tunceli (Turkey)

The study was carried out until 2018 intermittently, on condition that majority in 2014. The study area is located between Erzincan, Malatya, Elazığ and Bingöl cities in the Eastern Anatolia. Its whole is placed in the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region and, in B7 and B8 squares according to Davis’ Grid System. During the study, 2950 samples were collected and 1559 of them were identified. The identification of these samples resulted 74 families, 386 genera and 922 taxa. The distribution of taxa by phytogeographic regions is as follows; Irano-Turanian elements 397 (43.1 %), Mediterranean elements 20 (2.2 %), Europe-Siberian elements 40 (4.3 %), East Mediterranean elements 14 (1.5 %), Euxine element 13 (1.4 %), Hyrcano-Euxine elements 3 (0.3 %), Sarmatian 1 (0.1 %), the cosmopolite or unknown distribution 434 (47.1 %). The number of endemic taxa is 150 (endemism ratio 16.3 %).

Metabolomics of endemic six Astragalus species by combined NMR and GC-MS analysis.

Astragalus anthylloides, A. dipsaceus, A. karamasicus, A. lycius, A. sigmoideus and A. xylobasis var. angustus are an endemic and generally grow in the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region of Turkey. Astragalus species contain saponins, polysaccharides, and phenolics, while the toxic compounds include imidazoline alkaloids, nitro toxins, and selenium derivatives. To apply a combined metabolomic fingerprinting approach by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of endemic six Astragalus species extract. The whole plant collected in Turkey of six endemic Astragalus subsp. were dried and then extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, n-butanol and methanol solvents, respectively. The hexane extracts were analyzed by GC-MS. Carbon-13 (13 C)-NMR analyzes of all extracts were performed. In both analyses, a biomarker was obtained. The hexane extracts were determined as palmitic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and linolenic acid as the main components. As a result of 13 C-NMR analyzes, in hexane, chloroform, and ethylacetate the extracts detected were palmitic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, and linolenic acid. d-Pinitol was obtained using 13 C-NMR analyzes with n-butanol and methanol extracts. This study demonstrated that d-pinitol is a biomarker for the endemic six Astragalus subsp.

Endemic diversity and distribution of the Iranian vascular flora across phytogeographical regions, biodiversity hotspots and areas of endemism

Endemism is one of the most important concepts in biogeography and is of high relevance for conservation biology. Nevertheless, our understanding of patterns of endemism is still limited in many regions of high biodiversity. This is also the case for Iran, which is rich in biodiversity and endemism, but there is no up-to-date account of diversity and distribution of its endemic species. In this study, a comprehensive list of all endemic vascular plant species of Iran, their taxonomic composition and their geographical distribution are presented. To this end, a total of 2,597 (sub)endemic vascular plant species of Iran were documented and their distribution in three phytogeographical regions, two biodiversity hotspots and five areas of endemism were analysed. The Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region harbours 88% of the Iranian endemics, the majority of which are restricted to the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot (84%). Nearly three quarters of the endemic species are restricted to mountain ranges. The rate of endemism increases along an elevational gradient, causing the alpine zone to harbour a disproportionally high number of endemics. With increasing pastoralism, urbanization, road construction and ongoing climate change, the risk of biodiversity loss in the Iranian mountains is very high, and these habitats need to be more effectively protected.

Molecular investigation in few spices of Dacocephalum in Iran: Species relationship, reticulation and divergence time

It is believed that Lamiaceae or the Mint family has numerous paraphyletic genera and the relationship between the species has not been fully determined in several cases. The genus Dracocephalum is one of the genera, which has not been investigated thoroughly. In the family Lamiaceae, Dracocephalum is the second largest genus consisting of about 186 species. Eight Dracocephalum species were reported of Iran belonging to the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. The present study has attempted to investigate Dracocephalum in terms of the molecular phylogeny for the first time and gather data on their species relationship, divergence time, and show how they are distributed geographically. To report the results, Chloroplast DNA (ribosomal protein L16 (rpL16)) sequences and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers have been used. According to the results, the genus Dracocephalum is paraphyletic and has close affinity with Lallemantia. The results of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) analysis confirmed the inter-specific hybridization in the genus. Chronogram obtained by Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST) date revealed Dracocephalum species divergence time back to 2–10 million years ago(MYA). These findings extend the knowledge on the evolution of Lamiaceae.

Contemporary interspecific hybridization between Dracocephalum kotschyi and Dracocephalum oligadenium (Lamiaceae): Evidence from morphological, anatomical and molecular data

Dracocephalum is the second largest genus in the family Lamiaceae with about 186 species. These species are native in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and occur in the territory of the extra-tropical Asia and Europe. Eight Dracocephalum species reported in Iran; these are mainly growing in the northern and central parts of the country belonging to the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. Dracocephalum kotschyi is an important medicinal plant .in the country. At the same time, taxonomic position of Dracocephalum oligadenium is a challenging issue. In this work morphological, anatomical and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers were used to identify these species in Iran. MDS plot based on morphological and anatomical characters, furthermore, PCoA and MST plot based on ISSR data of species revealed hybridization between D. oligadenium and D. kotschyi.

Ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal studies in Baluchi tribes: A case study in Mt. Taftan, southeastern Iran

Ethnobotanical relevanceFrom ancient times, the applied use of herbs has been common among indigenous people throughout the world. The present survey is a regional ethnobotanical study of Baluchi tribes living in the Mt. Taftan area, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, southeastern Iran. The aim of this study was to document all traditional knowledge and analyze the medicinal plants used in area and also to identify significant plant species for future pharmacological study. Materials and methodsLocal knowledge was obtained through semi structured and open interviews, in which 51 informants were interviewed. Data were analyzed with Informant Agreement Relative (IAR) and Frequency of Citation (FC) indices. ResultsA total number of 106 taxa of medicinal plants were collected from ten villages from the surrounding plains and highlands of Mt. Taftan, out of 446 plant taxa collected or reported as native in the area. Most plants belong to the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region in which Asteraceae (15%), Lamiaceae (11%), Fabaceae (8%), Rosaceae (7%), Apiaceae (7%) and Brassicaceae (5%) are those predominantly used. The regression analysis shows that families Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae and Rosaceae are more highly used as medicinal than species rich families such as Asteraceae and Fabaceae, which are the richest families in the Iranian flora. The highest FC was recorded for Artemisia spp. (41) and Berberis integerrima (40). The highest IAR Index was obtained for stings (0.86), followed by disorders in the circulatory system (0.7), dental problems (0.70) and injuries (0.69). Comparing our data with major ethnobotanical references in Iran revealed that medicinal applications of 34 taxa have not been cited, including Hyoscyamus malekianus, a local endemic plant using for ailments of toothache and worms. The toxicity of the endemic Semenovia suffruticosa is also reported. ConclusionAs a result of this study we conclude that Taftan area harbours many plant species for which indigenous knowledge provides a background of medicinal importance. The high percentage of medicinal plants proportional to the native flora is 23.8%, compared to the world percentage of 17.1%, is an indication of the rich knowledge and relationship of isolated Baluchi tribes living in Mt. Taftan to the local flora growing in their surroundings. This rich knowledge should be highly regarded as a cultural and ethnobotanical heritage. Furthermore, ethnobotanical results show some weak interrelation between Baluchi tribes living in Iran and Pakistan, probably because of a different flora and/or unfavourable environmental conditions and perhaps local conflicts which might have reduced active cultural exchange.

Comparison of essential oils of endemic Salvia dichroantha Stapf collected from Konya

In the Anatolia folk medicine, Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species are used by many people in various villages and towns for the therapeutic value of their essential oils. Salvia dichroantha Stapf is an endemic plant of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. Plant materials were collected during the flowering period from Konya Cihanbeyli (900 m) and Konya Taskent (1800 m). In this study, water-distilled essential oil of Salvia dichroantha was analyzed. The analysis was performed by using a gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems, simultaneously. Eight compounds were identified from the oil of Taskent representing 96.2 % of the total oil and nine compounds were identified from the oil of Cihanbeyli representing 98.3% of the total oil . The major components were found as caryophyllene oxide (38.6%), caryophyllenol I (16.7%), caryophyllenol II (15.6%) and caryophylladienol II (11.1%) for Taskent; caryophyllene oxide (65.8%), caryophyllenol II (14.3 %) for the oil of Cihanbeyli.

Ereğli Sazlıkları’nın Floristik Çeşitlilik ve Bitki Dinamizmi Açısından Araştırılması (Ereğli/KONYA)

This study was carried out in order to determine the properties of floristic diversity and successional of Eregli Reeds and the surrounding area is located in Konya Closed Basin, which is one of the largest wetlands in the basin in the past. Eregli Reeds is located 30 km west of the center of Eregli town and in the middle of Eregli Sub-basin. Eregli Reeds is an extremely important wetland system for which biogeographic region due to created by microclimate, containing different habitats and the rich biological diversity. Study area is located within the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region and is under the influence of arid very cold upper-Mediterranean climate. In order to determine the floristic structure and to assess succesional aspects of the research area, performed periodic field surveys in 2012 and literature reviews as a result of this 382 species and subspecies taxa belonging to 84 families have been identified Eregli Reeds and around. The richest families of research area are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Cyperaceae. The richest 12 families were 65% of the total species, 72 families scattered throughout the rest of the species, the rate is 35%. 37 endemic plant species has been identified in the area and endemism rate is 10%. Eregli Reeds wetland ecosystem examined in terms of plant dynamics (Successional) and the area were found to be Reed-Reed stage. As a result of over-grazing on the large plains surrounding Reeds floristic structure is corrupted and zootic climax have been identified, species dominated as Peganum fail to eat by animals. Threats to wetland ecosystems were identified and put forward the necessary measures to ensure the continuity of ecosystem

Taxonomic notes on three endemic Paracaryum species from Turkey

Paracaryum is a distinctive genus that includes many endemic taxa, and several of these endemics from the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region are of special interest. In Turkey, the genus includes 28 species, of which 21 are endemic. Paracaryum leptophyllum, Paracaryum ponticum and Paracaryum artvinense occur in northeastern Turkey. The nomenclature, lectotypification, morphology and conservation status of these taxa are examined in the current study. According to these data, P. ponticum must be treated as a distinct species; P. artvinense must be reduced to synonymy with P. ponticum. In this study, P. ponticum and P. leptophyllum are re-classified at the subgenus level, and the lectotypifications of the names are designated. The amended descriptions in comparison with the related species P. ponticum and P. leptophyllum, an identification key, nutlet pictures and a chorological note are provided. The conservation status of these taxa is discussed.

A PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON KIZILKUYU WILDLIFE DEVELOPMENT AREA (ŞANLIURFA/TURKEY)

ABSTRACT Bordered by Taurus Mountains in the north and Syria - Iraq arid climate zone in the south, Southeastern Anatolia has wide steppe lands. As a conclusion to the phytosociological research done in accordance with Braun-Blanquet (1965) method in Kızılkuyu Wildlife Development Area, which was founded in these steppe lands, three associations belonging to steppe vegetation were found. Two of these associations are new to scientific world. Identified associations were generally found in slightly stony areas inappropriate to agricultural practices. The study area is in Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region and found in C7 square in Grid System (Davis 1965 - 1985).

Morphological, anatomical and palynological characteristics of Salvia halophila endemic toTurkey

Salvia halophila Hedge (Lamiacae) is an endemic plant species of the Irano–Turanian phytogeographic region. It grows in salt steppes of central Anatolia. Morphological and anatomical features of the plant is examined in this study. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to describe the morphology of pollen and trichomes. Salvia halophila pollen is shown to be hexacolpate and mostly prolate. The exine is perforated and distictly bireticulate with prominent muri. Morphological characters such as±fleshy leaves, shapes of leaves and calyx, bracts, corolla and type of stamens (B type) are helpful to distinguish species of Salvia. In addition, anatomical characters such as trichome features, crystals, mesophyll structure and vascular bundles in leaves and petioles provide information of taxonomic significance.

Systematic Study of Annual Weed Phalaris minor Retz. (Poaceae) in Iran

Phalaris minor is an anuual grass in North temperate regions. This weed is inhabited in damp soils and swamps of Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. Anatomical structure of leaf trans-sections, dorsal epidermis and morphological variation of 23 accessions of Phalaris minor from different parts of Iran were studied. Coastal and inter-coastal characters were evaluated and the intra-specific variations were studied. Results indicate a lot of variations in shape and wall thickness of long cells, the number and type of short cell, stomata number per leaf area, shape of silica bodies, guard cells and the presence of different kind of hairs. Also sclerenchyma position, the shape of midrib and furrows of leaf blade and the features of vascular bundles show a lot of variations. Different accessions show variations in shoot length and spike shape and length. The results indicate that there may be some ecotypes in Phalaris minor of Iran. Statistical analysis is provided for Iranian populations of weedy Phalaris minor.

Phytosociological studies on salty steppe communities of Central Anatolia, Turkey

The salty steppe vegetation of the Central Anatolian subregion of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region was examined synecologically and syntaxonomically. In the vegetation surrounding the salt lakes of this region, a new alliance Achilleo wilhelmsii-Artemision santonici and two new associations belonging to it were described. These syntaxa were attached to order Onobrychido armenae-Thymetalia leucostomi Akman, Ketenoglu, Quezel 1985, which characterizes the Central Anatolian steppes, and the classic Astragalo microcephali-Brometea tomentelli Quezel 1973, which includes a vast part of the Turkey's steppe vegetation.