The investigation on the terpenoids and flavonoids of an endemic Taraxacum species from Turkey

Taraxacum genus (Asteraceae) has about 2000 species in the world. The 48 species are naturally found in Turkey [1]. Some species of these plants are wellknown in Turkish folk medicine and are used medicinaly [2]. Many biological activities of Taraxacum genus were determined in the earlier reports. Actually, the terpenoids and flavonoids play a role of showing the most of these biological activities.

Taraxacum farinosum Hausskn. & Bornm., an endemic Taraxacum species, is mainly distributed in Central Turkey. And this plant has not been investigated so far. The plant materials were collected in a flowering stage during the spring. The ethanolic extracts of root and herb samples were examined by RP-HPLC. They were found to be rich in terpenoid and flavonoid contents. From root extract of the plant taraxasterol was isolated.The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the root and herb extracts were also screened against six bacterial, and six fungal strains. Agar well diffusion and agar tube dilution techniques were performed for evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the extracts. Taraxacum farinosum root extract was active to Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The root and herb extracts of the plant have shown significant activity against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton longifusus.

References: 1. Davis, P.H. (1982) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, University Press, Edinburgh.

2. Baytop, T. (1984) Therapy with Medicinal Plants in Turkey (Past and Present), Publication f Istanbul University, Istanbul.