Currant and gooseberry, the genus Ribes, is represented by eight species in the Flora of Turkey. We examined structures of glandular trichomes and composition of the essential oils from leaves of five Ribes species. The glandular trichomes were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The glandular hairs with multicellular stalk and usually multicellular head were observed in these species. The leaf volatiles of Ribes species obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC-FID (gas chromatography - flame ionization detector) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry techniques. The main constituent of Ribes orientale, Ribes alpinum, Ribes petraeum and Ribes rubrum oils was 1-octen-3-ol (28.1%, 19.7%, 13.3%, and 9.4%, respectively). Hexadecanoic acid (13.8% and 11.9%) was detected in R. petraeum and R. multiflorum as major component, respectively. (Z)-3-hexenal (11.7%) was found in R. rubrum oil as the major constituent.

Leaves and branches extracts of eight Ribes species were evaluated for antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial activities. Antiviral activities of the extracts were evaluated against Bovine Herpes Virus Type-1 (BHV-1) (Cooper strain). Generally, the extracts showed cytotoxic effect. The lyophilized water extract of R. multiflorum branches showed antiviral activity with minimum and maximum CPE values 15.62 and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts were screened against gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli), gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and fungi (Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis). The extracts showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. However, no antifungal activity was detected. Lyophilized water extracts of leaves and branches of Ribes species were assessed for antimycobacterial activity against clinical isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294. The extracts showed a stronger effect against M. tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 than clinical isolate of M. tuberculosis. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first investigation of antiviral and antimycobacterial activities of Ribes species growing in Turkey.

In the present study, the leaf anatomical structure and essential oil chemical composition of Cordia myxa (Boraginaceae) growing in Turkey were investigated. In the anatomical study of C. myxa conducted by light microscopy, anomocytic stomata, cystoliths, cystolithic trichomes, glandular trichomes, and calcium oxalate crystals were observed in the leaves, which are hypostomatic and bifacial. Long non-glandular trichomes, glandular trichomes, and calcium oxalate crystals were found in the petiole. The major components of the essential oil were phytol (19.2%) and linalool (8.4%). These findings can be used as distinguishing elements in the diagnosis of Cordia myxa.

Opuntia ficus‐indica (L.) Mill. has cultivated wild forms in many parts of the world, attracting notably with its fruit. Its fruits can be eaten raw or processed. Studies have shown that fruit juice has various pharmacological effects and significant nutritional value. This study investigated the phenolic composition of O. ficus‐indica fruit juice. Caffeic acid was the major component. Cytotoxic activity and wound‐healing effect were evaluated by in vitro assays. Results showed a concentration‐dependent response, with the lowest viability (111.89% ± 17.90%) at 1000 μ g/mL and the highest (162.25% ± 7.48%) at 250 μ g/mL. The extract (0–250 μ g/mL) had comparable wound closure to the control group. It increased the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans , an in vivo model, at 125 μ g/mL. The binding potential of O. ficus‐indica to matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3‐β) was investigated for its wound‐healing effect. The phytoconstituents are bound to MMP‐13 and GSK3‐β, but less than the native ligands. They bound more to MMP‐13 than to GSK3‐β. Caffeic acid showed the highest binding potential with MMP‐13 and one of the highest with GSK3‐β. This study suggests that the wound‐healing and anti‐aging effects of O. ficus‐indica fruit juice can be promising.