ABSTRACT

Species of Rosa L. (Rosaceae), which naturally grow in Turkey have a wide distribution and represented by 24 species. The ripened fruit of Rosa consists of achenes and hairs enclosed in fleshy cup shaped hypanthia. The medicinal drug should contain ripened and dried hypanthia of the false fruit largely free of the achenes and hairs and it should contain not less than 0.3 % of ascorbic acid. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological and anatomical characters of the rose hip samples (Dog rose, Rosae pseudo-fructus) that are sold by herbalists in Ankara and also to compare their characteristics with standard samples and data in pharmacopoeia to determ ine suitability of the samples to the pharmacopoeia (specifically European Pharmacopoeia 2008). According to results of the morphological and anatomical characters of the purchased samples from the herbalists, it has been thought that the samples are most probably Rosa canina, however, it has been seen that the morphological characters of the samples were not suitable to the officinal drug standards in European Pharmacopoeia.