Morphologic, Anatomical, and Chromatographic Studies on Eucalyptus (L’Hér.) Samples from the Market
Ayşe Gül TOMBUL, Nilüfer ORHAN°, Ekrem SEZİK, Fatma ERGUN

Gazi Üniversitesi, Eczacılık Fakültesi, Farmakognozi Anabilim Dalı, 06330, Ankara
This paper is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Dr. Turhan BAYTOP
This study was a part of Ayşe Gül Tombul’s M.Sc. thesis called “Eucalyptus’ of Turkey”
° Corresponding Author E-mail: nsendogdu@gazi.edu.tr, nympis@gmail.com


Summary

Eucalyptus (L’Hér.) species (Myrtaceae) are known as “okaliptus agaci” or “sitma agaci (malaria tree) ” in Turkey. Eucalyptus genus is indigenous to Australia and represented by up to 700 species. It forms small forests in some regions of Anatolia. Decoction of E. camaldulensis leaves is used for sinusitis, bronchitis and toothache in Turkey as folk medicine. The aim of this study is to identify the species of the Eucalyptus leaves sold in the Turkish market, named as okaliptus. Morphological, anatomical examinations and thin layer chromatographic analyses were used to analyse the samples collected from the Turkish market. For this purpose, 10 samples were collected from different herbal shops in Ankara, Istanbul and Konya, and compared with E. camaldulensis Dehnh., E. globulus Labill., and E. grandis Hill Ex Maiden leaves collected from the Eucalyptetum in Karabucak (Tarsus, Mersin). Additionally 3 essential oil samples were purchased from herbal shops, their thin layer chromatography profiles were also compared with the essential oils obtained from Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. globulus, and E. grandis leaves. According to the results, all the leaf samples sold in the market as E. globulus, were determined as E. camaldulensis and adulterations were detected in essential oil samples.

Key Words :
Anatomy, Eucalyptus, morphology, Myrtaceae, essential oil, adulteration.