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A field survey of traditional medicine in Turkey, specifically medicinal plants in East-Anatolia (Van-Bitlis Provinces), is discussed. Interviews with inhabitants, elder people, traditional practitioners and eyh (semi-religious persons) were conducted to determine the vernacular names of plants used as medicine. The plants were all taxonomically identified, and their medicinal uses and administration routes are listed. The use of medicinal plants is usually the first choice of treatment among the rural people in this region.

Two cDNA clones (LEPAL-1 and LEPAL-2) encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were isolated from cell suspension cultures of Lithospermum erythrorhizon. Northern kinetic studies showed that LEPAL-1 mRNA contents markedly increased one day after inoculation of the cells into fresh medium, then decreased to the steady-state level. The course of mRNA accumulation paralleled that of PAL enzyme activity. The rapid induction of PAL activity seems to reflect the induction of dihydroechinofuran biosynthesis, while shikonin was produced at the steady-state level of PAL activity. The course of LEPAL-2 mRNA accumulation seemed to be similar to, but much lower than that of LEPAL-1. In the intact plant, both genes are expressed mainly in the root, the organ in which shikonin is exclusively produced and accumulated. Genomic Southern blot analyses showed that both genes are present in the genome as single copies.

Perilla frutescens(perilla) is a common herb used in Japan for garnishing raw seafood to protect the alimentary tract from inflammatory diseases. The present study was performed to investigate whether or not perilla prevents the development of lesions of IgA nephropathy in ddY mice which spontaneously develop this disease. After orally administering perilla extract to ddY mice from 8 to 42 weeks of age, the changes in urine, serum, and kidneys were evaluated. Perilla extract significantly suppressed proteinuria and glomerular IgA deposition (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The decreased serum IgA concentration in perilla-treated mice showed a significant correlation with glomerular IgA deposition. Such findings suggest that perilla reduced glomerular IgA deposition via suppression of IgA production in the serum. On the other hand, the nitric oxide concentration in the serum of perilla-treated mice was significantly higher than that observed in the controls. The addition of the sera of perilla-treated mice to quiescent cultured murine mesangial cells resulted in a cell proliferation which was less than in controls, suggesting that perilla might either directly prevent mesangial cell proliferation or prevent proliferation by regulating circulating cytokines. Such results indicate that perilla should prevent IgA nephropathy, thus representing a promising herbal medicine for glomerulonephritis.

AbstractThe chemical components of the essential oil obtained from the steam-distillation of Microtoena patchouliileaves were investigated by GC and GC/MS, and twenty-one compounds were identified. The major compounds of the oil were patchouli alcohol (54.4%), 1-octen-3-ol (21.4%), and α-guaiene (2.4%). The composition of M. patchouliioil is similar to that of commercial patchouli oil, and similar pharmacological effects could be expected when it is used as a substitute for Pogostemon cablin.