Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory

Chemical contents and structures of the biologically active compounds of folkloric medicinal plants and indigenous plants of Turkey were extensively investigated in the Research Laboratory of Pharmacognosy Department. Since most of the drug active substances of contemporary medicines were either directly isolated or semi-synthetically prepared from the biologically active compounds isolated from plants, or at least their structures were designed after such molecules, these investigations forge an important step toward a comprehensive drug discovery and development program.

The Departmental Research Laboratory has been equipped with unique infrastructure and our scientists have up-to-date knowledge for the isolation and structure elucidation of alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanines, coumarins and various organic acids from medicinal plants. Isolation and structure elucidation studies were based on the chromatographic separation (by thin-layer, column, preparative thin-layer chromatography, etc.) of the individual components of extracts prepared from the medicinal plants. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by UV, IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and mass spectrometric measurements. If necessary, advanced NMR techniques were employed for the structure elucidation of complex compounds.  As a result of the isolation studies performed through out an extended period of time in the Departmental Research Laboratory, a highly diverse and rich collection of plant secondary metabolite standards belonging to the aforementioned compound classes were accumulated. The Departmental Research Laboratory has a state of the art infrastructure that could support the extraction and isolation studies of both national and international projects.

Istanbul University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Block B, 34116-Beyazit, Istanbul

Total resource (BAP): 61.000,00 TL