Effects of the drying temperature on essential oil content of bay leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) harvested at different times

Bay leaf essential oil is one of the main products from bay trees that are used in food, spice, flavoring and cosmetic industries. Drying is an important post-harvesting process, which affects the essential oil content and the quality of bay leaf. In the present study, the effects of drying temperatures on the essential oil contents of bay leaf harvested at different times were studied. The leaves were harvested in the months of October, December, January, February, April and June and then dried in the cabinet dryer at 35, 50, 65 and 80°C for 12 hours. The essential oil contents in dried bay leaf samples were determined by hydrodistillation. According to our results, essential oil contents of dried bay leaves varied from 2.02% to 3.02% by different harvesting time and drying temperatures. The highest values were obtained in 35 and 50°C drying temperatures for the October harvest. Higher drying temperatures caused greater loss in the essential oil content

An unexpected delayed complication of cataract surgery: Retinal detachment secondary to capsular tension ring dislocation

We aim to present a case of retinal detachment secondary to capsular tension ring dislocation following cataract surgery. A 45-year-old man who underwent cataract surgery 2 years previously presented with decreased vision in his left eye. The patient's posterior capsule was intact with a well-located posterior chamber intraocular lens. Fundus examination revealed retinal detachment with retinal tears, and a capsular tension ring located around the tear was noticed during pars plana vitrectomy; it was removed through the sclerotomy site. In conclusion, dislocation of the capsular tension ring is a rare and unexpected complication of cataract surgery. Although the integrity of the posterior lens capsule is partially preserved, the ring may shift through a small tear in the bag even during its placement, and may cause retinal tears, retinal detachment or just remain silently suspended in the vitreous. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Seasonal and diurnal variability of essential oil and its components in Origanum onites L. grown in the ecological conditions of Çukurova

Turkish Oregano (Origanum onites L.) is one of the most commonly collected from nature as well as cultivated Origanum species in Turkey. In addition, Turkish Oregano is the most exported Origanum species from Turkey to the entire World. In this study, the seasonal and diurnal variability of the essential oil content in Origanum onites L. grown in the ecological conditions of Cukurova was studied from September 2000-August 2001. Monthly variability of the essential oil composition was also studied. The plant cuttings collected from the region were rooted in the greenhouse and transferred to the field in a split plot design with three replications. One year later from transplanting, fresh leaves from the top shoots were collected every week three times a day on Monday (at 08.00, 12.00 and 16.00 o'clock) throughout the year. The content and composition of the essential oil were analysed in fresh leaf samples by hydrodistillation. The essential oil content changed according to the seasons and the hour of day. The highest essential oil content (% 1.92) was found in the post-flowering -at the beginning of the seed formation period in the afternoon harvests during the second half of June (40th week). The essential oil composition varied monthly and the highest value (% 73.65) of carvacrol, the main component of the essential oil, was obtained from the flowering period in May

Interactions between two introduced species of whiteflies in the mediterranean area of Turkey: Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) and Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

Two introduced species of citrus whiteflies, Dialeurodes citri and Parabemisia myricae met in the east mediterranean area of Turkey and proved to be ecological homologues. P. myricae is the superior competitor on account of its faster development and broader ecological niche and started to replace D. citri. After a most effective parasitoid of P. myricae, the aphelinid Eretmocerus debachi was released and successfully suppressed this species, D. citri recovered and became dominant even in regions where it had not been present before. In this way the otherwise excellent economic success of the biological control of P. myricae was partly reduced. 1994 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Effects of varying nitrogen doses on yield, yield components and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L.

Artemisia annua L. is an aromatic-antibacterial herb that destroys malarial parasites, lowers fevers and checks bleeding, and of which the secondary compound of interest is artemisinin. The objective of the present study was to determine yield, yield components and artemisinin content of A. annua L. grown under four nitrogen applications (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) in the Çukurova region of Turkey in 2004 and 2005. Field trials were conducted at Çukurova University, Agricultural Faculty Field Crops Department. In the study, plant height, number of branches, fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield, fresh leaf yield, dry leaf yield, essential oil content and artemisinin content (by high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) were examined. By analysis of variance, nitrogen doses had no any statistical effect on the traits investigated except for artemisinin content. Artemisinin content of the dried leaves were significantly affected by nitrogen applications, which varied from 6.32 to 27.50 mg 100 g-1. Contents were from 120 and 80 kg ha-1 nitrogen for the years of 2004 and 2005, respectively. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The authors would like to express their appreciations to Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) which supported this study through project no. TOVAG-3228