Mallow (Malva sylvestris L.)

The genus Malva comprises 495 species, with 10 distributed in our country. These are used as mallow without distinction. One of the most commonly grown species is Malva sylvestris, which is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean region, Central Asia, North Africa and many parts of Europe. M. sylvestris is a herbaceous plant with annual and perennial species. Its leaves are palmate-lobed and deeply dissected. The epicalyx is (2-)3-segmented, linear, ovate or oblong. The sepals and petals are 5 in number. The stamens are numerous, with filaments united into a tube enclosing the stamen. The pistil is solitary, and the ovary is superior. The pollen grains are spiny, and the fruit is usually a schizocarp (bearing a developed carpophore) that is separated into a multi-segmented mericarp. However, it can also be a capsule.

The genus name Malva means soft in Ancient Greek. This refers to the relaxing effects of the genus. The genus name, Malva, was first used by both Dioscorides and Theophrastus. It was later translated into Latin as Malva, and then into Turkish as hibegümeci. The Turkish name means "in the forest." The species name, campestribus, means "plain," as defined by Carl Linnaeus. However, the species is found in a wide range of habitats, from coastal areas to lakeshores, from woodlands to open meadows, from slopes to fields. Since the epithet is a traditional description of the species, it was retained in scientific literature.

The leaves, flowers, and stems of this species contain a mucilage substance, as in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). The leaves at the end of the long stems of the small-leaved plant are rounded and notched. The flowers are light pink to magenta in colour. It also has a round fruit. Flowers, leaves, and stems can be collected between June and September. In our country, mallow is widely used. Due to the mucilage it carries in the form of infusion and decoction, it is used internally as a preservative in irritations and inflammations of the respiratory and digestive system and externally as a poultice in the treatment of boils and wounds on the skin. In rural areas of our country, fresh hibiscus branches are used as an abortifacient. In some regions, pregnancy can be prevented as a result of mechanical effect and infection. However, such use is quite dangerous. In addition, the leafy branches are cooked and eaten like spinach. A study conducted in the Şile region revealed that M. sylvestris plant is used in nettle dipping and asthma treatment (Çatalca-Kocaeli Region). The plant is also used in the treatment of crusted wounds, asthma and diarrhoea. A study conducted on the plants used in the treatment of haemorrhoids in some sources revealed that a decoction prepared from plant mixtures, including M. sylvestris, was used externally as a local bath (around Isparta). In addition to medicinal use, boiled young leaves are consumed for food purposes, adding a mild and pleasant flavour to soups and salads. The leaves contain iron, zinc and many vitamins. In some areas of Kocaeli, the plant is collected, boiled and cooked, and then sold in village markets.

When the chemical content was evaluated in general, it was determined that the fixed oil obtained from the seeds contained 5.6 % sterculic acid, 11 % malvic acid, 1.6 % vernolic acid, 26.6 % palmitic acid, 5.6 % palmitoleic acid, 23 % oleic acid, 4 % lineoic acid and a very small amount of stearic acid. In another study, in addition to the known fatty acids (stearic, oleic, behenic, behenic, erucic, caprylic, α-linolenic, γ-linolenic, myristic acid), it was found to carry malvic and sterculic acid. It was also found to contain terpenes (carveol, neral, 1,8sineol, pulegol) and retinol. M. sylvestris contains 2.3 % polyenoic acid. It was determined that M. sylvestris species contains mono-, di-, tri-, tetragalactosyl- and sulfoquinovosyl- diacylglycerol.