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The use of herbal medicines has become popular globally because of their efficacy and safety. Sternbergia species are known as imperative medicinal plants due to their alkaloid contents. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts from the bulbs of Sternbergia lutea ssp. lutea and Sternbergia lutea ssp. sicula. The antioxidant potentials of the extracts were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Measurement of anti-inflammatory activity was performed by heat induced hemolysis of human red blood cell membrane whereas antidiabetic activity by inhibition of in vitro α-glucosidase. It has been determined that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Sternbergia lutea ssp.sicula and Sternbergia lutea ssp.lutea possessed low antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This could be explained by low phenolic contents and different extraction procedures. In present study, we studied on maserates of two Sternbergia species similar forms used in traditional medicine, not a fraction of extracts rich in any chemical compounds. Ethanol extracts of Sternbergia lutea ssp. sicula possessed the strongest DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity with the IC50 value of 0.37 mg/ml and 0.10 mg/ml, respectively. Aqueous extracts of Sternbergia lutea ssp.sicula observed the highest effect on inhibiting α-glucosidase (IC50=0.01 mg/ml). Sternbergia lutea ssp. lutea aqueous extracts exhibited higher in vitro anti-inflammatory effect (IC50=8.02 mg/ml) than the other extracts. These results suggest that aqueous extracts were found to possess more potent anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity. However, further studies are needed for the isolation and identification of the effective compounds from the extracts of Sternbergia lutea ssp. lutea and Sternbergia lutea ssp. sicula.

Objectives This study describes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of galantamine in Sternbergia species growing in Turkey. Materials and Methods Galantamine was isolated from Sternbergia fischeriana bulbs and the structure of the compound elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of galantamine was investigated in Sternbergia lutea subsp. lutea, S. lutea subsp. sicula, Sternbergia candida, S. fischeriana, and Sternbergia clusiana using a specially developed and validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results S. lutea subsp. sicula had the highest content of galantamine, i.e., 0.0165±0.0002 g/100 g. The limits of detection and quantification were 7.5 μg and 25 μg, respectively. Conclusion Isolation of galantamine from S. fischeriana growing in Turkey is reported for the first time. An HPLC method was developed for identification and quantification of galantamine in Sternbergia species.

Natural products are rapidly becoming the primary sources of novel antimicrobial agents, as resistance to existing antimicrobial agents is increasing. Apart from determining the antimicrobial activity of natural products, it is also important to understand their effects on the virulence factors of microorganisms. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of Sternbergia species prevalent in Turkey and investigate their role in the inhibition of germination tube and biofilm formation, both of which are known to be important virulence factors of Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activities of the plant extracts were evaluated using bore-plate and broth microdilution method. The extracts’ capacity to inhibit the formation of the germ-tube was also evaluated. The findings of our study revealed that Sternbergia lutea, Sternbergia vernalis possessed antimicrobial activities, with MIC values ranging between 0.048 mg/mL and 0.39 mg/mL. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed against Candida dubliniensis (0.048 mg/mL). While evaluating the inhibition of fungal germination activities, S. vernalis extract (at a concentration of 0.09 mg/mL) was found to be the most effective against C. albicans ATCC 90028 strain. The results also indicated that S. vernalis extracts at sub-MIC levels inhibited germ tube formation and modulated the tail-length of germinated cells, both of which are important virulence factors of C. albicans. Furthermore, the inhibition of biofilm-formation was also investigated, and it was found that two Sternbergia spp. extracts at or below MIC levels inhibited biofilm formation.

Se aportan datos sobre dos especies no mencionadas hasta la fecha en la provincia de Alicante, Hyacinthus orientalis y Sternbergia lutea. It is shown some data about two new taxa for the Alicante province, Hyacinthus orientalis and Sternbergia lutea.

The phylogenetics of Sternbergia (Amaryllidaceae) were studied using DNA sequences of the plastid ndhF and matK genes and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal region for 38, 37 and 32 ingroup and outgroup accessions, respectively. All members of Sternbergia were represented by at least one accession, except S. minoica and S. schubertii, with additional taxa from Narcissus and Pancratium serving as principal outgroups. Sternbergia was resolved and supported as sister to Narcissus and composed of two primary subclades: S. colchiciflora sister to S. vernalis, S. candida and S. clusiana, with this clade in turn sister to S. lutea and its allies in both Bayesian and bootstrap analyses. A clear relationship between the two vernal flowering members of the genus was recovered, supporting the hypothesis of a single origin of vernal flowering in Sternbergia. However, in the S. lutea complex, the DNA markers examined did not offer sufficient resolving power to separate taxa, providing some support for the idea that S. sicula and S. greuteriana are conspecific with S. lutea

Sternbergia sicula (Tineo ex Guss), Amaryllidaceae, is a bulbous perennial plant native of Eastern Mediterranean countries growing in rocky areas 100 to 1000 m high. It bears bright yellow flowers in early autumn before leaves appear in a rosette form. It is an attractive plant with potential use in commercial floriculture mainly as a landscape plant. Seed propagations as well as tissue culture techniques were investigated in order to determine the most effective ways to propagate this species. Seed collected from native plants in Crete were sown in vitro and in vivo under different light and temperature conditions for 6 weeks. Germination percentage was highest at 15°C in darkness while at 25°C and light the seeds did not germinate. Best results were obtained if seeds were pretreated in wet vermiculite at 20°C for 4 weeks. For the in vitro culture, 0.5 × 0.5 cm explants were taken from bulbs of 5 cm circumference and cultured in MS basal medium supplemented with several combinations of BA and NAA at 25°C for 12 weeks. Each explant produced 3-4 bulblets with BA alone. After subculturing, more and bigger bulblets were produced which were then transferred to soil. The use of Sternbergia for ornamental use seems promising however further research is required for determining the optimum conditions for its growth and development.

Morpho-anatomical and karyologial studies were carried out on plants from S Italy of the three Italian species of the genus Sternbergia: S. colchiciflora, S. lutea and S. sicula. The morpho-anatomical features of the leaves are good taxonomic markers, especially concerning their colour, general shape, width and morphology of the median adaxial keel. Karyological analysis revealed the following chromosome complements: Sternbergia colchiciflora, 2n = 20; Sternbergia lutea, 2n = 22; Sternbergia sicula, 2n = 22. Karyotype variability is discussed in the light of previous literature. According to our results S. colchiciflora is confirmed to be the most isolated species, while S. lutea and S. sicula, easily recognizable on morphological grounds, appear instead very close karyologically.

Sternbergia fischeriana is an endangered geophyte and therefore in vitro micropropagation of this plant will have great importance for germplasm conservation and commercial production. Bulb scale and immature embryo explants of S. fischeriana were cultured on different nutrient media supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators. Immature embryos produced higher number of bulblets than bulb scales. Large numbers of bulblets were regenerated (over 80 bulblets/explants) from immature embryos on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4 mg l−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.25 mg l−1α-naphthaleneacetic (NAA) or 2 mg l−12,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) after 14 months of culture initiation. Regenerated bulblets were kept at 5 °C for 5 weeks and then transplanted to a potting mixture.

10 páginas, 5 figuras., [EN] The genus Sternbergia is studied in the Iberian Peninsula. Color drawings of the two Iberian species and distribution maps are given for the studied area. Sternbergia lutea has been traditionally cultivated and it is now naturalized in the Iberian Peninsula., [ES] Presentamos una revisión del género Sternbergia para la Península Ibérica. Se incluyen dos láminas a color de las dos especies ibéricas y sus mapas de distribución en el área estudiada. Sternbergia lutea, especie cultivada desde antiguo, se encuentra naturalizada en la Península Ibérica.

The genus Sternbergia Waldstein & Kitaibel (1804: 172) (Amaryllidaceae J.St.-Hil.) consists of 8 species, most of them having yellow flowers and autumnal flowering (Mathew 1983, Kamari & Artelari 1990, Artelari & Kamari 1991). The genus is distributed from the Mediterranean to the Caucasus, North Persia and mountains of Central Asia (Webb 1980, Mathew 1983). Sternbergia lutea (Linnaeus 1753: 292) Ker-Gawl. ex Sprengel (1825: 57) is a bulbous perennial plant with leaves up to 15 mm wide, subentire to minutely crenulate, appearing before or during anthesis, scape 4–10 cm at anthesis, the upper part not concealed, hypanthial tube (2–)5–8 mm, obconical, perianth-segments 4–15 mm wide, linear to oblong-elliptical (Webb 1980, Morales & Castillo 2004, Gage & Wilkin 2008, Aedo & Morales 2013), it is distributed from S. Europe, North Africa to W. Asia (Webb 1980, Conti et al. 2005, Aedo & Morales 2013). This plant is cultivated since ancient times as ornamental, but its cultivation is not very common (Morales & Castillo 2004).

Sternbergia is a genus containing mostly remarkable autum flowering taxa within Amaryllidaceae. Its distribution ranges from the Mediterranean region through the Irano-Anatolian region to Caucasus and Central Asia. In Flora of Iraq, the information about the occurrence, habitat, and distribution of its species is outdated or incomplete. The main aim of this study has been to contribute with new data from the field in order to update its status in the Kurdistan Region. Botanical field surveys were mostly carried out between 2013 and 2015 in autumn and spring. The main result of this study has been the occurrence of 3 species of Sternbergia: S. colchiciflora, which is reported in this study for the first time for the Kurdistan Region and therefore for Iraq; S. clusiana, which has been rediscovered in Iraq; and S. vernalis, which has been found again in the Berwarya Mountains, after being considered a lost species in Iraq over the last 80 years. These 3 observed species occur in the mountains of Amadiya District, making this area the richest territory for Sternbergia in the country. Due to certain factors that currently threaten their natural habitats, they are rare species and could be regarded as potentially endangered at regional level according to the IUCN criteria.

Studies on Alzheimer’s disease have been highlighted due to increasing prevalence of this disease. Oldest hypothesis about the pathophysiology strengthens the research of cholinesterase inhibitors for treatment. Amaryllidaceae plants are well known for alkaloids showing cholinesterase inhibiting activity. Among them, Sternbergia species gained attention as a source of metabolites of these alkaloid contents. Studies have focused mainly on the bulbs of these plants. In this study the potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of endemic Sternbergia candida Mathew & T. Baytop (Sc) species was evaluated in both bulbs and leaves in comparison with lycorine. We report for the first time that methanol and chloroform leaf extracts of the plant show AChE inhibitory (AChEI) activity. Among the leaf extracts methanolic extract was much more potent than chloroform extract by means of AChE inhibition. Although IC50 values for methanolic extract was found to be lower than reference drug lycorine; this value of inhibition did not reach to a statistically significant level. Future studies aiming at investigation of the AChE inhibitory activity could be considered using leaves of the plant.

Plants of the family Amaryllidaceae are well known not only for their ornamental value but also for the alkaloids they produce. Some of these alkaloids exhibit interesting pharmacological and/or biological properties. However, the most extensively studied effects are those of non-specific inhibition, such as antiviral and antitumour activities [1]. Sternbergia species, a member of this family, was found to contain lycorine as a major alkaloid. Sternbergia is represented by 6 taxa in Turkey [2].

The cytological features including chromosome counts, karyotypic measurements and localizations of C-banding were investigated in two species of Sternbergia Waldst. and Kit. from Turkey. Chromosome lengths were ranged from 18.04 to 6.62, am in S. fisheriana (Herbert) Rupr. and from 23.56 to 8.73, am in S. candida Mathew and T. Baytop. The karyotype of S. fischeriana was consisted from three pairs of metacentric and seven pairs of subtelocentric chromosomes. The karyotype formula of S. candida was consisted from three metacentric, four subtelocentric and three acrocentric chromosomes. One B chromosome was observed in each species. Predominate and also very faint telomeric and some faint centromeric and proximal C-bands were observed in both species.

The present study reports the potential antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of lycorine from Sternbergia fischeriana (Herbert) Rupr. (Amaryllidaceae). Lycorine was evaluated on mice by using acetic-acid induced writhing and tail-flick tests. Lycorine exhibited stronger inhibition than aspirin in acetic-acid induced abdominal stretching at 1.0mg/kg dose. Lycorine also showed antinociceptive activity at 1.0mg/kg dose in tail-flick test. The anti-inflammatory activity of lycorine was not found to be significant at dose of 0.5mg/kg. However, at doses of 1.0mg/kg and 1.5mg/kg, i.p. showed a significant reduction with 53.45% and 36.42%, respectively in rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan against the reference anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (3mg/kg, i.p.) (95.70%). The ED(50) of lycorine was determined as 0.514 mg/kg. Hepatoprotective activity of lycorine on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced acute liver toxicity following biochemical parameters were also evaluated. Rats were treated with lycorine at doses of 1.0mg/kg and 2.0mg/kg, i.p. Results of biochemical tests were confirmed by histopathological examination. Lycorine exhibited significant hepatoprotective effect at dose of 2.0mg/kg i.p. dose.

In the current study, we examined anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant activities of the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts from the bulbs of Turkish Sternbergia Waldst. & Kit. (Amaryllidaceae) species; S. candida, S. clusiana, S. fisheriana, S. lutea subsp. lutea, and S. lutea subsp. sicula. Anti-AChE activity was tested by spectrophotometric method of Ellman using ELISA microplate reader at 50, 100, and 200 mu g mL(-1) concentrations. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferrous ion-chelating capacity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, and beta-carotene bleaching assays at 500, 1000, and 2000 mu g mL(-1). Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined via Folin-Ciocalteau's and AlCl(3) reagents, respectively. The ethyl acetate extract of S. fischeriana was the most active in anti-AChE assay (90.94% and 98.02% of inhibitions at 100 and 200 mu g mL(-1) concentrations, respectively. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was found to be not significant.

In this study, the growth periodicity of Sternbergia plants grown outdoors was clarified and the effect of temperature on the initiation and development of flower buds was investigated.1. The Sternbergia bulb develops a sympodial branching system. Each unit has about 8 foliage leaves and terminates in 2 or 3 inflorescences. The bases of the foliage leaves, except the uppermost leaf, encircle the vertical axis of the bulb and gradually enlarge into scales which serve as food storage organ.2. Floret initiation on the primary inflorescence occurs between April and early May. Carpel primordia are visible in early July and the pollen tetrad are formed in early September. Anthesis occurs in late September. Floral differentiation on secondary and tertiary inflorescences follows that of the primary inflorescence after a short delay.3. Flower initiation occurs at temperatures between 10°and 30°C, but the optimum range was 20°-25°C. Once initiated, floral differentiation and development progressed most rapidly at 25°-30°C.4. The development of flower bud from carpel formation stage to flowering was faster at 20°-25°C than at 30°C. At 10°C flower buds ceased to develop and became blasted.5. Bulbs kept at 20°C after July 1, when the main inflorescence attained the carpel formation stage, bloomed earlier but produced fewer inflorescences as compared to those placed at 25°or 30°C from July 1 to August 19 and thereafter shifted to 20°C. This result suggests that bulbs should be kept at 25°-30°C after carpel formation in the main inflorescence to optimize the development of secondary and tertiary inflorescences.6. To retard development of flower bud until the Christmas season, bulbs were stored at 5°and 30°C after August 20. Bulbs stored at 30°C and planted in late November flowered in late December when forced in a glasshouse kept above 20°C, but those stored at 5°C did not flower because the flower buds became blasted.

Studies were carried out on structural and cytochemical aspects of the pistil of Sternbergia lutea (L.) KerGawl. The stigma is of the wet papillate type; the papillae are unicellular and are arranged densely around the rim of a funnel-shaped stigma. The stigma exudate is limited and is confined to the bases of the papillae and the inner lining of the stigma. The papillae are smooth in the distal part and are covered with intact cuticle-pellicle lining. The cuticle is disrupted at places towards the base of the papillae releasing the exudate. The exudate is rich in pectins and other polysaccharides but poor in proteins and lipids. The papillae show dense cytoplasmic profiles with extensive endoplasmic reticulum (ER), abundant mitochondria, polyribosomes and active dictyosomes. The style is hollow. The stylar cavity is surrounded by two to four layers of glandular cells. In the young pistil the canal is lined with a continuous cuticle, but in the mature pistil the cuticle becomes disrupted and the canal is filled with the secretion produced by the cells of the surrounding glandular tissue. Ultrastructurally, the cells of the glandular tissue are very similar to the stigmatic papillae. The inner tangential wall of the cells bordering the canal is uniformly thicker than other walls. The secretion in the stylar canal, as well as the intercellular spaces of the glandular tissue, stain intensely for pectins and polysaccharides but poorly for proteins and lipids. Pollen tubes grow through the stylar canal. Structural and cytochemical details of the pistil of Sternbergia are compared with other hollow-styled systems.

Amaryllis lutea Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 292. 1753. "Habitat in Hispania, Italia, Thracia." RCN: 2331. Type not designated. Original material: Herb. A. van Royen No. 897.324-58 (L); Herb. Burser III: 78 (UPS); [icon] in Clusius, Rar. Pl. Hist. 1: 164. 1601. Current name: Sternbergia lutea (L.) Ker-Gawl. ex Spreng. (Liliaceae / Amaryllidaceae). Note: Mathew (in Davis, Fl. Turkey 8: 361. 1984) indicated 416.1 (LINN) as the type, and has been followed by later authors including Kamari & Artelari (in Willdenowia 19: 375. 1990), and also Morales & Castillo (in Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 61: 124. 2004), who restricted the choice to the central leaf and flower. However, this collection, from Kähler, did not reach Linnaeus until 1757 and is not original material for the name., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part A), pp. 252-342 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 285, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

The ability of Sternbergia candida (SB Candidum Mathew.) extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fries) M. Larsen et Lombard (Mad 698), (a brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (L.ex Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. The extract was dissolved from Sterinbergia Candidum's bulb and leaves in 96% ethyl alcohol. Poisonous extract impregnated into wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Extract dosages were 0.25, 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00%. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attack for 12 weeks by the soil block method. Only extract dosages of 0.25 and 0.75% were found efficacious in suppressing attack. A tukey studentized test found both dosages significant at 5% level. In conclusion, the poisonous extracts could be used as effective wood preservative when concentration was adjusted. © 2007 Academic Journals.

The genus Sternbergia is studied in the Iberian Peninsula. Color drawings of the two Iberian species and distribution maps are given for the studied area. Sternbergia lutea has been traditionally cultivated and it is now naturalized in the Iberian Peninsula.

Lycorine, the most frequent alkaloid found in Amaryllidaceae plants, has been proven to have various biological activities. Therefore, it is important to quantify this compound in Amaryllidacaeae species. In this study, a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method has been used and validated for the determination of lycorine in Amaryllidaceae plants. A simple method for the extraction of lycorine in low-mass plant samples was employed utilizing columns pre-packed with diatomaceous earth (Extrelut®). This method was applied to the aerial parts and bulbs of Sternbergia sicula Tineo ex Guss., S. lutea (L.) Ker-Gawl. ex Sprengel and Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) collected during two different vegetation periods. The chromatographic separation was performed using an isocratic system with a mobile phase of trifluoroacetic acid-water-acetonitrile (0.01:90:10) applied at a flow rate 1 mL min−1 using diode array detector. Validation procedures showed that the method was specific, accurate and precise. The amount of lycorine in S. sicula samples ranged between 0.10-0.53%, whereas in those of S. lutea and P. maritimum, the range was 0.19-0.40% and 0.05-0.14%, respectively.