Evaluation of antioxidant and antifungal activities of several plants against agents of postharvest citrus sour rot and green mould rot

The antifungal activities of chloroform extracts of 10 plants species belonging to Lamiaceae family, which were collected from Kirklareli (Turkey), against Geotrichum candidum, theagent of postharvest citrus sour rot and Penicillium digitatum, the agent of postharvest citrus green mould rot, were researched. The lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values against G. candidum and P. digitatum were obtained in the extract of Marrubiumperegrinum L. (250 and 125 mu g/ml). In 1000 mu g/ml, the extracts of Melissa officinalis showed 100% inhibition on the spore germination of G. candidum and P. digitatum. In the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations of G. candidum and P. digitatum that was subjected to M peregrinum extract (4MIC) degenerative changes in the hyphal morphology were seen in the form of cell wall degradation, lysis and collapsing. The highest values of total phenolics were obtained from Mentha pulegium extracts (739.57 mg GAE/g). The lowest EC50 values (0.08 mg/ml) were found in the extracts of M peregrinum and Sideritis montana. The highest flavanol content was determined from M. officialis exctracts (12.71 mg CE/mg). This study demonstrates M. peregrinum extracts may possess high antifungal activity against G. candidum and P. digitatum.Research Foundation of the University of Kirklareli, Turkey [KLUBAP/020]This study was supported financially by the Research Foundation of the University of Kirklareli, Turkey. Project number: KLUBAP/020.WOS:00049268970000

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities and Antifungal Activity of Different Plants Species Against Pink Mold Rot-Causing Trichothecium roseum

Trichothecium roseum causes the pink mold rot in many fruits and vegetables around the world. Due to this infection, significant losses arise in foods. In order to control this infection, plant extracts offer alternative treatment for fungicides. In this study, 50 plant species were screened for their antifungal effects against T. roseum. Anthemis arvensis, Origanum vulgare, Sambucus ebulus and Thymus longicaulis powders totally inhibited the mycelia growth of T. roseum at 10% (w/v). The powders of Chelidonium majus and Clinopodium vulgare were effective to T. roseum, with a percentage of inhibition of mycelia growth higher than 70%. MIC of A. arvensis aqueous extracts were lower than the other extracts (125 mu g/ml). Also its extracts inhibited the spore germination by 100% at 1000 mu g/ml. The incidence of the pink mold rot on tomatoes which were treated with C. majus aqueous extracts (75, 150 and 300 mg/ml) was lower than the extracts of other plants when compared to control. At concentration of 300 mg/ml, C. majus extracts prevented the disease by 71.42%. By the SEM, it was determined at the 4MIC extracts, cell wall degradation, swelling, flattening, lysis, collapsing and wrinkling on the hyphal structure. The highest total phenolic and flavanol contents were observed in O. vulgare extracts (310.49 mg GA/g) and T. longicaulis (5.24 mg CE/g). The EC50 values of the experimented extracts were lowered than the EC50 value of Gallic acid (1.87 mg/ml). Meanwhile, in all of the extracts there were phenolic compounds, protocatechuic, chlorogenic, caffeic acid and kaempferol as determined with HPLC system. This research demonstrates that C. majus aqueous extracts may possess high potential to control the pink mold rot on tomatoes as new natural antifungal products.Scientific and Technological Research Council of TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [114Z104]This study was financed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Project No. 114Z104.WOS:0004020815000102-s2.0-8501975519

Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

WOS: 000404652900059PubMed ID: 28667414Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey-TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [111T925]; Management of CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre (Utrecht-The Netherlands)We are very grateful to the "The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey-TUBITAK" for financially supporting our study, Project Number: 111T925. Also special thanks to the Management of CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre (Utrecht-The Netherlands) and Prof. Dr. Robert A. SAMSON for their support in molecular studies in their laboratory for some problematic fungal species from our project and for their kind permission for some of our project staff for working there for certain periods. We wish to thanks Neonatal Managers of Trakya University Medical Faculty, Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medical Faculty, Ege University Medical Faculty, and Celal Bayar University Medical Faculty for allow our study in mentioned units