Browsing by Author "Kanber, S."

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Destructive Effect of Heavy Metals on the Oxidative Defense Mechanism of Some Aromatic Plants
(Elsevier, 2025) Kanber, S.; Baran, Ayşe; Yildiztekin, M.; Baran, A.
Aromatic plants are used in the production of natural medicines, treatment of various diseases, production of essential oils, and as a food source. Many plants are cultivated for their aromatic compounds. The essential oils they produce are used as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and insecticidal agents, and as appetite suppressants against herbivores. Heavy metal pollution, which has become a significant environmental issue, can be highly reactive and toxic to living cells. Aromatic plants may be exposed to heavy metals in both natural and cultivated environments, leading to stress and oxidative damage in the plants. Some heavy metals cannot undergo biological degradation reactions, while others, due to their immobile nature, cannot be removed from the environment, resulting in accumulation. Those that are mobile can enter cells through various transport pathways and negatively affect physiological processes in the plant. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs as a result of these physiological processes. ROS types, such as O2 •-, 1O2, H2O2, and •OH, can be hazardous to cells, cause structural damage, and lead to cell death. The imbalance between the accumulation and removal of these oxidative molecules in the cell causes oxidative stress. The effects of oxidative stress can be observed in enzyme inactivation, disruption of membrane integrity, and inhibition of growth in plants. To mitigate the effects of oxidative stress and defend themselves, plants have antioxidant defense mechanisms. These mechanisms include enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and nonenzymatic antioxidants such as lipid-soluble and water-soluble reducing agents. The type, dose, and duration of heavy metal exposure, as well as the species and developmental stages of the plant, trigger various antioxidant defense mechanisms and responses. In this process, the role of ROS detoxifying enzymes is particularly significant. Due to their various properties, such as metal exclusion, aromatic plants are able to cope with oxidative stress. In conclusion, understanding the factors that affect the antioxidant defense mechanisms and enzyme inhibition in plants under heavy metal stress, and developing strategies to address them, is important for enhancing plant productivity and ensuring adaptation to environmental stress. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Miracle Plants of Turkey: Their Use in Traditional as Well as Modern Medicine
(CRC Press, 2024) Yıldıztekin, M.; Çelebioğlu, Berat; Çelebioğlu, B.; Baran, Mehmet Fırat; Kartal, B.; Baran, M.F.; Kanber, S.; Yıldıztekin, F.; 21.02. Department of Medical Services and Techniques / Tıbbi Hizmetler ve Teknikleri Bölümü; 08.02. Department of Architecture / Mimarlık Bölümü; 08. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture / Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi; 21. Vocational School of Health Services / Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu; 01. Mardin Artuklu University / Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi
Plants have been utilized in a variety of ways throughout history due to the broad-spectrum or particular components they contain. The mentioned parts are traditionally utilized as raw materials in the treatment of ailments or the creation of medications. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines medicinal plants as ‘plants that are medicinal and therapeutic to humans for the aim of avoiding diseases, maintaining health, and healing disorders’. Plants used in folk medicine are the first healing approach employed by individuals living in rural areas. The challenges and costs of receiving modern treatments, as well as insufficient medical treatments, have all contributed to the formation of this predicament. In terms of plants used in traditional medicine, Turkey has a particularly rich flora. When compared to global averages, Turkey has a greater rate of plant use in traditional medicine. Locals employ medicinal herbs to treat a variety of ailments. Examples of main areas of application include cardiovascular diseases, endocrine system abnormalities, respiratory system diseases, urinary system diseases, internal diseases, dermatological diseases, digestive system diseases, muscle and joint problems, and cancer cases. The type of plant and the portions used vary depending on the ailment being treated; traditional medicines are prepared in a variety of ways, such as brewing, boiling, chewing, mashing, or water suspension. Given that Turkey’s cultural heritage extends back to ancient times, it is critical to collect and record all of this rich information from the past to the present. Plants used in traditional folk medicine in various parts of Turkey were brought together in this study, with the goal of revealing how and which ailments our country’s diverse plant species are used to treat. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.