Use of Thymbra Species Spreading in the Flora of Turkey for Medicinal Purposes

Thymbra spicata L

Thymbra spicata L. species has been widely used by the public as both spice and medicine since ancient times [1,2]. T. spicata var. spicata dried leaves and flowers are used as spice and herbal tea (zahter) in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, especially in Kilis, Hatay and Gaziantep provinces, and its fresh shoots are used as salad material. It is also used in winter by making brine with lemon juice or preserving in olive oil. The mixture prepared with various nuts (chickpeas, pineapple, wheat, watermelon-melon seeds, peanuts) and other spices (cumin, coriander, fennel, anise, sesame, sumac, dried vermicelli, etc.) is known as ‘breakfast zahter’ and is consumed with olive oil for breakfast [1,3-6]. It is stated that T. spicata var. spicata is also used in the production of various foods such as meat products, drinks, canned food, tomato paste sauces and sausage [1]. The use of T. spicata as a folk medicine and for medical purposes is used in the traditional medicine systems of Turks, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis [7], and today it is used for colds, asthma, bronchitis, cough, colic. It has been reported that it is used as herbal tea in diarrhea and diarrhea [8,9] The tea of the plant, which is stated to have antiseptic and stimulating effects, is used by the people living in Kilis and Gaziantep as a cholesterol-lowering and digestive aid [3,6]. Many scientific studies have been conducted to date on T. spicata, which is generally used as a spice and herbal tea, both in Turkey and in other countries where the plant grows, and as a result of these studies, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, liver protective effects of plant essential oil and different extracts have been shown. In a study conducted in mice fed a high-fat diet using diethyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial part of spicata and the remaining aqueous extract, it was determined that the extracts had different levels of antihypercholesterolemic, antioxidant and liver protective effects [10-14].

Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. & Azn

Thymbra sintenisii Bornm. & Azn. species is popularly known as “ak zahter” among the people. It is one of the species of the Lamiaceae family, used for medicinal purposes, belonging to the Mediterranean basin. It has been used in folk medicine since ancient times and is also used as a spice and condiment in herbal teas and meals [15]. This species is used for its antiparasitic, antiseptic and effect on blood circulation. In Southeastern Anatolia, the dried leaves and bunches of the plant are used for its antiseptic and stimulating tea effect. As a result of some studies, it has been shown to have antioxidant, antibacterial, insecticide, anthelmintic, cholesterol-lowering, analgesic, antifungal, liver protective and anti-carcinogenic properties [10,12-14].

Thymbra sintenisii subsp. isaurica P.H.Davis

T. sintenisii subsp. isaurica is known as “eşek zahteri” in our country. It is an endemic subspecies that grows in Alanya, Antalya, Turkey. In studies, it has been observed that the essential oil of this species has antimicrobial activity [16].

Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav

Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. the species has been used for many years to treat all kinds of diseases. It is a species that spreads in a wide spectrum in the Mediterranean region. Its local name is known as “acı kekik” and it is used as herbal tea, condiment and food additive. The oil obtained from the plant is also used by adding to salads, soups, ice creams and pastries. It is used in folk medicine for colic, ulcer and hypertension [17,18]. It also has the feature of removing warts, diuretic and stimulating menstrual flow. When the leaves and flowers of the plant are evaluated as an infusion, it has been used against diarrhea, respiratory and digestive system disorders. In addition, its leaves have antiseptic and cleansing properties. Thymbra capitata (L) species is mainly known for its antibacterial, antioxidant, antimycotic and spasmolytic activities. It is widely used in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries due to its terpene and phenol content [19-22].

Tea or essential oils of the species Thymbra spicata is used for analgesis effect on stomach pain and is also used for its antiseptic and antiparasitic effects. The infusion prepared from aboveground parts of the plant by the local people living in Ida Mountains is consumed as tea both in order to balance blood sugar and against the common cold. It is also known that Thymbra spicata essential oil has the effect of increasing bile acids. Thymbra capitata is used as a preservative in some foodstuffs de to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Thymbra sintenisii species are used as herbal tea and antiseptic.

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