Rhododendron L. cinsi, çoğu Kuzey Yarım Küre'de doğal olarak yetişen binden fazla tür ile temsil edilir. Orman gülleri, güzel çiçekleri nedeniyle dünyanın birçok yerinde peyzaj alanında yaygın olarak kullanıldığından, ticari olarak da yetiştirilmektedir. Bu bitkilerle ilgili ilk yazılı bilgiler MÖ 401 yılına kadar uzanır ve orman gülü balının (deli bal) toksik etkilerinden bahseder. Rhododendron türleri üzerinde yapılan çalışmalar ile bitkide ve bitkiden elde edilen balda bulunan bazı toksik bileşenler tanımlanmıştır. Görülen zehirlenmelerin özellikle yağda çözünen grayanotoksinlerle ilişkili olduğu bildirilmiştir. Bu bileşikler hücre zarındaki sodyum kanallarını etkileyerek bir takım nörolojik, gastrointestinal ve kardiyovasküler işlev bozukluklarına neden olur. Grayanotoksinler, çiçekler ve nektar da dâhil olmak üzere bitkinin her yerinde bulunur. Toksik içeriğine ve etkilerine rağmen Rhododendron türleri ve deli bal, geleneksel Çin ve Ayurveda tıbbı gibi eski tıp sistemlerinde ve ayrıca Avrupa ve Kuzey Amerika halk tıbbında inflamasyon, ağrı, ateş, soğuk algınlığı semptomları, cilt rahatsızlıkları gibi çeşitli semptomların ve gastrointestinal bozukluklar, diyabet, astım ve hipertansiyon gibi rahatsızlıkların tedavisinde kullanıldığı bildirilmiştir. Deli bal, Nepal ve Türkiye'de hem sofralık olarak hem de geleneksel tedavilerde tüketilmekte olup en sık zehirlenme vakaları bu bölgelerde görülür. Bu çalışmada, Rhododendron cinsinin genel botanik özellikleri, etnobotanik kullanımları, fitokimyasal yapıları, farmakolojik özellikleri ve deli bal toksisitesi hakkında bir derleme yapılması amaçlanmıştır.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Etnobotanik; deli bal; orman gülleri; toksikoloji
The genus Rhododendron L. is represented by more than a thousand species, most of which grow naturally in the Northern Hemisphere. Rhododendrons are also grown commercially, as they are widely used in landscaping in many parts of the world for their beautiful flowers. The first written information about these plants dates back to 401 BC and mentions the toxic effects of rhododendron honey (mad honey). Studies on Rhododendron species have identified some toxic components in the plant and in honey obtained from the plant. It has been reported that the observed poisonings are especially related to fat-soluble grayanotoxins. These compounds cause some neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular dysfunctions by affecting the sodium channels in the cell membrane. Grayanotoxins are found all over the plant, including flowers and nectar. Despite their toxic content and effects, rhododendrons and mad honey were used in ancient systems of medicine such as traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, as well as in European and North American folk medicine. It has been reported to be used in the treatment of various symptoms such as inflammation, pain, fever, cold symptoms, skin disorders, and ailments such as gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes, asthma and hypertension. Mad honey is consumed both as a nutrient and in traditional treatments in Nepal and Türkiye, and the most frequent poisoning cases were seen in these regions. In this study, it is aimed to make a review about the general botanical characteristics, ethnobotanical usage, phytochemical structures, pharmacological properties of the genus Rhododendron and mad honey toxicity.
Keywords: Ethnobotany; mad honey; rhododendrons; toxicology
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