Research Article EMUJPharmSci ISSN 2651-3587 https://dergipark.org.tr/emujpharmsci Morphological and leaf anatomical structure of Pimpinella cypria Boiss. Sevdenur Muti, F. Neriman Ozhatay* Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Famagusta, North Cyprus, Mersin 10 Turkey. Abstract Pimpinella cypria Boiss (Apiaceae) is an endemic species of Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. It is locally known as ‘Cyprus-rocky anise’. Three species of the genus Pimpinella that are P. cretica Poir., P. peregrina L., and an endemic P. cypria grow in Cyprus. Specimens of P. cypria were collected from their nature habitats; St. Hilarion castle, and specimens were dried according to the standard procedures, as herbarium specimens and kept in the Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Pharmacy Herbarium (EMUH). Anatomical structure of leaves were examined. Leaves were bifacial, multicellular and long hairs were observed especially on the midrib. Leaves are amphistomatic where stomata are less on upper epidermis than those of lower epidermis. Stomata guard cells have a characteristic shaped resembling kidney. Keywords Apiaceae, anatomy, leaf, Pimpinella cypria, North Cyprus Article History Submitted: 28 August 2020 Accepted: 30 October 2020 Published Online: December 2020 Article Info *Corresponding author: F. Neriman Ozhatay email: [email protected] Research Article: Volume: 3 Issue: 3 December 2020 Pages: 169-181 ©Copyright 2020 by EMUJPharmSci – Available online at dergipark.org.tr/emujpharmsci. 170 INTRODUCTION Cyprus is the third largest island in the et al., (2009) and Gucel et al., (2008). The Eastern Mediterranean region after the aim of the present study was to investigate Sicilia and Sardinia islands that is a the anatomical structures of the leaves of crossing point of Asia, Africa and Europe. Pimpinella cypria. It measures 240 kilometres long and 100 According to the Flora of North Cyprus is kilometres wide. Cyprus is 75 kilometres one of the richest floras in the away from Turkey. Other neighbouring Mediterranean region (Meikle, 1977). The regions include Syria (105 kilometres flora comprises 1649 indigenous taxa away) and Lebanon (108 kilometres to the (species and subspecies), 254 introduced east), Israel (200 kilometres to the taxa occurring in the wild, 43 hybrids and southeast) and Egypt (380 kilometres to the 81 species with unclear status (as at March south). The land of North Cyprus is divided 2019). For the Flora of North Cyprus; it has into three areas; Besparmak Mountains – 1610 species and 1738 taxa (Viney, 1994; lying along the cape of Korucam to cape of Viney, 1996) 19 of species endemic for the Zafer, Mesaria plain- extending from Northern Cyprus (Yildiz and Gucel 2008). Guzelyurt district to the eastern coastline Many species of North Cyprus especially and the third plain along the shore in the endemics are guaranteed because of they North (Yildirim, 2010). The general view are smaller and few populations. Many of and location of North Cyprus is shown in these species become endangered by the Figure 1. Apart from limited number of human influence; increase of the danger floristic studies (Meikle, 1977; Viney, depends on the changes in agriculture, 1994; Viney, 1996) carried out in North increasing the tourism activity and Cyprus, the data related with the anatomical urbanization of natural places. The location structure of the leaves of P. cypria are and distribution of the species shown in scarce. Palynological studies belonging to Table 1 (Yildiz and Gucel 2008; Gucel et the endemic taxa were published by Yıldız al., 2009). Figure 1: Location of South and North Cyprus. Muti S et al. EMUJPharmSci 2020; 3(3):169-181. 171 Table 1: Location of some endemic species of Northern Cyprus. Taxa , family Locality Delphinium fissum subsp. caseyi (Burtt) C.Blanché & Molero Kyrenia, St. Hilarion castle, (Ranunculaceae) Southwest limestone hill, north slope. Kyrenia, Girnekaya, Brassica hilarionis Post (Brassicaceae) scrubs and limestone cliffs. Arabis cypria Holmboe (Brassicaceae) Kyrenia, St. Hilarion castle limestone cliffs and rocks. Nicosia, Halevga, Dianthus cyprius A.K.Jacks. & Turrill (Caryophyllaceae) rocks and near road, southeast slopes. Nicosia, Halevga, Silene fraduatrix Meikle (Caryophyllaceae) under forest. Kyrenia between Halevga- Girnekaya Sedum lampusae Boiss. (Crassulaceae) north slope Kyrenia from Halevga to Girnekaya, north slope. Pimpinella cypria Boiss. (Apiaceae) Kyrenia, St. Hilarion castle, rocky places. Kyrenia, from to Nicosia, under St. Hilarion castle. Ferulago cypria Post (Apiaceae) Famagusta between Geçitköy-Geçitkale, near road Limonium albidum (Guss.) Pignatti subsp. cyprium Meikle Kyrenia, Tatlısu Village, sea level. (Plumbaginaceae) Nicosia, Halevga-Kalavaç road. Onosma caespitosum Kotscy (Boraginaceae) Nicosia, Buffavento castle, south slopes. Nicosia above Değirmenlik Salvia veneris Hedge (Lamiaceae) lake, sandstone hills. Chemical composition and medicinal against acute lymphoblastic leukoma usage of the family Apiaceae and genus (Zidorn et al., 2005). Another important Pimpinella constituent is coumarin. It is common in all This family plants accumulate in plants and expansively distributed, but for flavonoids, mainly in the form of flavones the carrot families (Apiaceaeor and flavanols; significant antioxidant, Umbelliferae) are high in coumarin. antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory Coumarins has vascular effect, effects, due to the effects they are often hepatoprotective effect, anticancer effect, used for muscle pain, stomach cramps, antispasmodic effect, hormonal effect and irritable bowel syndrome and nausea immune enhancing effect (Stansburg (Gebhardt et al., 2005). Common 2016). Common coumarins are osthol, flavonoids are; apigenin, quercetin, lutein, umbelliferon, scopoletin, bergapten, bisabolene, rutin. Vegetables in the family angelicin, impertorin, avicennin, avicenol, Apiaceae e.g fennel, carrot, parsley, celery xanthotoxin etc., in the terms of plants are high in polyacetylene especially which are rich in coumarin especially falcarinol, some research shows to be ‘osthol’; shows anti-aggregating effects, cytotoxic to five different cancer cell line to antiproliferative effects on vascular smooth Muti S et al. EMUJPharmSci 2020; 3(3):169-181. 172 muscle, protective effect on liver and food industry. It has antispasmodic, antihypertension effects (Ramesh and antioxidant, antimicrobial, insecticidal and Pugalendi 2005; Lee et al., 2003; Guh et al., antifungal activity (Tunc and Sahinkaya 1996; Chiou et al., 2001). ‘Umbelliferone’ 1998; Tirapelli et al., 2007; Tepe et al., constituent shows an anti-hyperlipidaemic, 2006; Ozcan and Chalchat 2006; Gulcin et improve the glycaemic action in diabetic al., 2003). Also, it can be used in throat patient and most important activity is pain, flu and expectorant (Blumenthal anticancer effect include the inhibition of 1998). Some hormonal effect has been cell proliferation and the induction of noted in this family especially in Fennel apoptosis. This constituent also shows as an (Foeniculum vulgare) and Anise antiviral effect as well as direct effect on (Pimpinella anisum) seeds tea promote skin disorders, it’s photosensitizing lactation in nursing women and some (Ramesh and Pugalendi 2005; Okamoto et gonadotropin activity in central nervous al., 2005). Approximately 70-80% of world system (Stansburg 2016; Tabanca et al., population treated with the traditional 2004). Lastly this family plants can be used medicine practices by using the plants. in allergy treatment; Angelica species has People uses plant extract for medicinal been found to have an antihistaminic and purposes by making the syrup, tablets and antiserotonin effect, so used in asthma or oral spray to treated the anxiety, central bronchitis (Matsuda et al., 2002). It has nervous system disorder, some spasmodic cognitive function to improve the enhance disorders and decreases some pain about memory especially the essential oil forms headache, teeth or throat (Arceusz et al., (Stansburg 2016). For this family plants 2010). Also, the essential oils are obtained mostly, contraindications are limited to from the plants; they have special odour hypersensitivity to active substance. Many and aroma therapeutic properties. They of the oils in this family especially green have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anise (Pimpinella anisum) are neurotoxic anticancer effects (Hammer et al., 1999; because of the presence of particular Jayaprakasha et al., 2002; Lee and ketones or phenonic ethers ( Price and Price Shibamoto 2002; Vardar-Unlu et al., 2003). 2011). Some species produce phototoxic For the Apiaceae family especially Anise substances mainly furanocoumarin and Caraway seeds are very important constituent species may cause effects on traditional medicine. Anise photodermatitis also some (Pimpinella anisum) is an important plant members (carrot, celery, fennel, parsley, and spice; used in pharmacy, perfume and parsnip) exhibit a cytotoxic effects Muti S et al. EMUJPharmSci 2020; 3(3):169-181. 173 (Stansburg 2016). Apart from some white or pinkish and frequent in north- chemical analysis; P. cypria contains central area. P. peregrina hairy biennial essential oils which is 81.7% of the total plant to 1m with a carrot-shaped taproot, composition. The essential oils are; basal leaves are simple or ternate but oxygenetaned sesquisterpenes (33.9%), normally withered by flowering time, upper sesquiterpenes (22.0%), monoterpenes leaves pinnate with 5-7 oval, toothed (11.4%),