Soaproot (Radix Gypsophilae) is an important herbal drug having medicinal and economic importance and has been collected from nature for more than 30 years. The main goal of this study was to determine soaproot yielding plant species in East Anatolia, and their potential in nature. | Turk J Bot 32 (2008) 489-494 © TÜBİTAK Soaproot Yielding Plants of East Anatolia and Their Potential in Nature Mehmet KOYUNCU, Ceyda Sibel KILIÇ*, Ayşegül GÜVENÇ Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, 06100 Tandoğan, Ankara - TURKEY Received: Accepted: Abstract: Soaproot (Radix Gypsophilae) is an important herbal drug having medicinal and economic importance and has been collected from nature for more than 30 years. The main goal of this study was to determine soaproot yielding plant species in East Anatolia, and their potential in nature. Collected plants were determined by field studies; damage to the environment after collection was observed, and commerce, exportation, domestic utilisation of soaproot, and problems and proposed solutions were examined. Soaproot is presently obtained from a total of 7 plant species belonging to 2 genera in Turkey (6 Gypsophila L., 1 Ankyropetalum Fenzl): G. graminifolia Bark, G. arrostii Guss. var. nebulosa (Boiss. & Heldr.) Bark., G. eriocalyx Boiss., G. bicolor (Freyn & Sint.) Grossh., G. perfoliata L., G. venusta Fenzl, and Ankyropetalum gypsophiloides Fenzl. It is determined for the first time that G. graminifolia is also being collected as soaproot from Van province. Key Words: Soaproot, Gypsophila, Ankryopetalum Doğu Anadolu’da Çöven Elde Edilen Bitkiler ve Bunların Doğadaki Potansiyeli Özet: Bu çalışma yaklaşık 30 yılı aşkın bir süreden beri doğal floramızdan sökülerek yurt içinde kullanılan veya ihraç edilen, tıbbi ve ekonomik yönden önemli bir drog olan “çöven kökü” (Radix Gyspohilae)’nün elde edildiği türler üzerinde yapılmıştır. Çalışmanın asıl amacı Doğu Anadolu’da çöven elde edilen bitkiler ve bunların doğadaki potansiyellerinin araştırılmasıdır. Bu amaçla kökleri sökülen bitkiler arazi çalışmaları ile tespit edilmiş, söküldükleri doğal alanlar incelenmiş, söküm sonucu meydana gelen tahribatlar gözlenmiş, çöven ticareti, ihracatı, çövenin yurt içinde .
