Ayhan Ulubelen

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Ayhan Ulubelen
Analytical Chemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of Istanbul

Ayhan Ulubelen (20 August 1931 – 29 November 2020) was a Turkish analytical chemist. She was a member of the

natural products
from Turkish plants relevant to spontaneous abortion, cancer, HIV, and diabetes.

Life and career

Ulubelen was born August 20, 1931, in

Madame Curie and soon wanted to be a chemist. [citation needed] She sought a position in chemical industry, but became analytical chemist at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Istanbul University,[when?] partly through her having passed the language examination.[citation needed
]

She received her degree[

University of Texas at Austin (support by NATO
).

Ulubelen has published more than 300 papers, and has authored two books and 12 chapters in international books; her work has received support from

academia
, as well as pharmaceutical and chemical companies.

Ulubelen died from COVID-19 on 29 November 2020, at the age of 89.[3]

Research

Ulubelen's research focuses on isolation, structure determination, and pharmacological investigation of Turkish plants and compounds isolated from them, and especially on isolates from plants abundant in Turkey and mentioned in Turkish folklore and medicine. Her work with

spontaneous abortion[specify] and wound healing.[specify
]

During tests on mice, Ulubelen found an abortive factor developing cystic degeneration in the ovaries,[clarification needed] but was unsure whether the effect was caused by the abortive agent or by some other compound. Ten compounds from the source plant were studied, including screening by a Faculty of Medicine group for toxic effects to the ovaries, livers, kidneys, and brain. At that time, Ulubelen said

"...we can't recommend that women should be using these plants as an abortive agent. We have so informed the pharmacist who sent them to us, and I'm sure she's passing this information on to the villagers."[4]

Perilla frutescens var. crispa[5] and tenual (II) and tenucarb (III) from Asphodeline tenuior, which Ulubelen helped to isolate.[6]

Structural formulae for perilloxin (I), tenual (II), and tenucarb (III)

Honors

Ulubelen's honors include: Honorary Membership to the Chemical Society of Turkey (first award recipient, 1985), NATO Scientific Committee membership (selected from among ten NATO countries, 1986–1990), Science Award by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (1991), full member (1994–2001) and honorary member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (2001-2020), and the American Pharmaceutical Association Young Scientist awards (1962, 1963, 1964). She has served in the Chemrawn Committee of IUPAC as an associate and full member (2003–2009).[7]

References

  1. ^ "Kurucu Üyemiz Ayhan Ulubelen'i Kaybettik (1931-2020)". Bilim Akademisi. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ "An Independent Science Academy Founded in Turkey". Bilim Akademisi. 2011-08-27. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  3. ^ TTB: Bir haftada 20 sağlık çalışanı hayatını kaybetti
  4. ISBN 1-86094-151-6
    .
  5. PMID 10757731
    .
  6. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(89)80076-7
    .
  7. ^ "New Challenges in Natural Products Chemistry". Conference in honour of Prof. Dr. Ayhan Ulubelen. International Year of Chemistry 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2012.[permanent dead link]
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