Micromorphological, anatomical and cytogenetical studies in endemic Crepis macropus Boiss. & Heldr. (Asteraceae) from Turkey

In the present study, the micromorphological structure of achene, pappus and style using scanning electron microscope (SEM), stomatal characteristics, anatomy of stem and achene together with chromosome number and nuclear DNA content of the Turkish endemic Crepis macropus Boiss. & Heldr. are provided in order to expand knowledge of its taxonomy. The SEM studies in this species show that dense spiny cells are found on the achene surface, the pappus bristle has 3–5 spikes and the style possesses slender papillae. The stem structure is composed of epidermis, collenchyma, parenchymatous cortex and pith. The species has anomocytic stomata in both the upper and the lower surface of the leaves. The pericarp of the achene is mainly composed of several layers of sclerenchymatous cells. In this species, the chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 8, karyotype consists of two submetacentric and six subtelocentric chromosomes and nuclear DNA content (2Cvalue) is 12.96 pg. These data are presented here for the first time and their taxonomic values are discussed

The Phenolics and Antioxidant Properties of Black and Purple versus White Eggplant Cultivars

The total phenolic content, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, antioxidant capacity and α-amylase inhibitory activity of black (Aydin Siyahi), purple (Kadife Kemer) and white (Trabzon Kadife) eggplants grown in Turkey were subjected to a comparative investigation. The black cultivar exhibited the highest total phenolic (17,193 and 6552 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg fw), flavonoid (3019 and 1160 quercetin equivalent/kg fw) and anthocyanin (1686 and 6167 g delphinidin-3-O-glucoside equivalent/kg fw) contents in crude extracts of the peel and pulp. The majority of the caffeic acid was identified in the ester (2830 mg/kg fw) and ester-bound (2594 mg/kg fw) forms in the peel of ‘Kadife Kemer’ and in the glycoside form (611.9 mg/kg fw) in ‘Aydin Siyahi’, as well as in the pulp of these two eggplants. ‘Kadife Kemer’ (purple eggplant) contained the majority of the chlorogenic acid in free form (27.55 mg/kg fw), compared to ‘Aydin Siyahi’ in the ester (7.82 mg/kg fw), glycoside (294.1 mg/kg dw) and ester-bound (2.41 mg/kg fw) forms. The eggplant cultivars (peel and pulp, mg/kg fw) exhibited a relatively high delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside concentration in the peel of ‘Aydin Siyahi’ (avg. 1162), followed by ‘Kadife Kemer’ (avg. 336.6), and ‘Trabzon Kadife’ (avg. 215.1). The crude phenolic extracts of the eggplants exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity values (peel and pulp, µmoL Trolox equivalent/kg fw) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 8156 and 2335) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC, 37,887 and 17,648). The overall results indicate that black and purple eggplants are the cultivars with greater potential benefits in terms of their phenolics and antioxidant values than the white eggplant

A nutritional evaluation of the berry of a new grape: 'Karaerik' (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grape berries are a good source of nutrients and nutraceuticals and have many benefits for human health. Growing interest in the export potential and consumption of a new grape (cv. Karaerik), cultivated as a table grape in Turkey, encouraged us to profile its major nutrient contents from six different locations. Due to its popularity, the nutritional value of this grape berry needs to be investigated to ascertain its potential economic and health benefits. The most abundant sugars in the grape berry were fructose and glucose (peel/whole fruit; averages 236.57 and 127.87, and 183.36 and 108.60 (g kg-1 fresh weight), respectively), while the major organic acids were tartaric and malic acids (7.17 and 2.81, and 2.61 and 1.76(g kg-1 fresh weight), respectively). Linoleic acid (peel/whole fruit/seed; 37.14, 33.12 and 57.83%, respectively) was the predominant fatty acid, while potassium (peel/whole fruit/seed; 9331.5, 10226.33 and 5354 mg/g dry weight, respectively) was the predominant mineral, followed by phosphorus (1592.8, 2672 and 3072.67) in the berry. Our results demonstrate that the nutrient components and physicochemical parameters varied significantly among the sampling locations. The grape berry contains considerable quantities of potentially beneficial healthy nutrients worthy of further evaluation

Effects of Quizalofop-p-Ethyl Herbicide on the Somatic Chromosomes of Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)

In this study, the genotoxic effects of the herbicide Quizalofop-p-ethyl (QPE) on the root meristem cells of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) were investigated. In the sunflower root growth tests, the effective concentration (EC50) value was determined as approximately 1.5 mg/L. The roots were treated with 0.75 (EC50/2), 1.5 (EC50), and 3 mg/L (EC50 x2) concentrations of Quizalofop-p-ethyl for 24, 36, and 48 h, with a control for each combination. The occurring morphological changes in the sunflower roots with the herbicide concentrations were monitored. The mitotic index and mitotic abnormalities were determined in both the control and test groups. The mitotic index decreased with the increase in the herbicide concentration at each exposure time. The mitotic abnormalities were recorded as disturbed prophase, c-mitosis, stickiness, laggard chromosomes, and chromatid bridges. The micronucleus was observed at interphase and its frequency was calculated in the different test solutions

Effects of Quizalofop-p-Ethyl Herbicide on the Somatic Chromosomes of Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)

In this study, the genotoxic effects of the herbicide Quizalofop-p-ethyl (QPE) on the root meristem cells of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) were investigated. In the sunflower root growth tests, the effective concentration (EC50) value was determined as approximately 1.5 mg/L. The roots were treated with 0.75 (EC50/2), 1.5 (EC50), and 3 mg/L (EC50 x2) concentrations of Quizalofop-p-ethyl for 24, 36, and 48 h, with a control for each combination. The occurring morphological changes in the sunflower roots with the herbicide concentrations were monitored. The mitotic index and mitotic abnormalities were determined in both the control and test groups. The mitotic index decreased with the increase in the herbicide concentration at each exposure time. The mitotic abnormalities were recorded as disturbed prophase, c-mitosis, stickiness, laggard chromosomes, and chromatid bridges. The micronucleus was observed at interphase and its frequency was calculated in the different test solutions

Accumulation of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity during Berry Development in Black ‘Isabel’ Grape (Vitis vinifera L. x Vitis labrusca L.)

Grapes are one of the most economically important fruits in the world and are of considerable benefit to human health due to their phenolic compounds. The black ‘Isabel’ grape (V. vinifera L. x V. labrusca L.) is widely grown in the Black Sea region of Turkey, where it is attracting increasing interest. The aim of this study was to investigate phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity (DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and CUPRAC (CUPric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity)) in the grape during berry development, which has been not reported yet from the region. A trend towards an increase in total phenolic compounds, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant capacity values was observed from un-ripened to overly ripened berries. In addition, anthocyanins in berries and proanthocyanidins seeds were characterized during berry development. Accordingly, malvidin-3-O-glucoside was the major anthocyanin in skin (1.05–1729 mg/kg fresh weight (fw)) and whole berry (0.23–895 mg/kg fw), followed by the content of peonidin-3-O-glucoside (0.98–799 mg/kg fw and 0.15–202 mg/kg fw, respectively). After veraison (onset of ripening or change of color in the grape berries), all proanthocyanidins showed a gradual decrease through ripening. The results showed that anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in the grape showed significant stage-dependent changes with positive or negative strong correlations. Considering the phenolic compounds, an optimum harvest date of the grape might be suggested between mid-September and mid-Octobe

Evaluation of chemical profile and antioxidant activity of <i>Tripleurospermum insularum</i>, a new species from Turkey

<div><p>This article presents the very first phytochemical investigation on new species <i>Tripleurospermum insularum</i> Inceer & Hayırlıoglu-Ayaz. The volatile profile of odorous parts of the plant was analysed by GC/MS, and compounds were identified in headspace and essential oil obtained from aerial parts, representing 70.81% and 92.44% in total, respectively. The major volatiles were <i>n</i>-alkanes (38.43–59.22%), while essential oil was also rich in globulol (13.45%) and β-sesquiphellandrene (9.29%). The content of phenolic compounds in methanolic extract and oil was 3621.62 and 14.4 mg GAE/100 g of dry plant, respectively. Moreover, potential medicinal effects were found in mean of antioxidant activity of this plant measured by using two different assays: radical-scavenging activity and ferric-reducing activity. Samples revealed values ranging from 0.33 to 146.80 μmol TE/100 g for DPPH assay, and from 2.29 to 5414.17 μmol AAE/100 g for FRAP assay.</p></div

The Phenolics and Antioxidant Properties of Black and Purple versus White Eggplant Cultivars

The total phenolic content, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, antioxidant capacity and &alpha;-amylase inhibitory activity of black (Aydin Siyahi), purple (Kadife Kemer) and white (Trabzon Kadife) eggplants grown in Turkey were subjected to a comparative investigation. The black cultivar exhibited the highest total phenolic (17,193 and 6552 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg fw), flavonoid (3019 and 1160 quercetin equivalent/kg fw) and anthocyanin (1686 and 6167 g delphinidin-3-O-glucoside equivalent/kg fw) contents in crude extracts of the peel and pulp. The majority of the caffeic acid was identified in the ester (2830 mg/kg fw) and ester-bound (2594 mg/kg fw) forms in the peel of &lsquo;Kadife Kemer&rsquo; and in the glycoside form (611.9 mg/kg fw) in &lsquo;Aydin Siyahi&rsquo;, as well as in the pulp of these two eggplants. &lsquo;Kadife Kemer&rsquo; (purple eggplant) contained the majority of the chlorogenic acid in free form (27.55 mg/kg fw), compared to &lsquo;Aydin Siyahi&rsquo; in the ester (7.82 mg/kg fw), glycoside (294.1 mg/kg dw) and ester-bound (2.41 mg/kg fw) forms. The eggplant cultivars (peel and pulp, mg/kg fw) exhibited a relatively high delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside concentration in the peel of &lsquo;Aydin Siyahi&rsquo; (avg. 1162), followed by &lsquo;Kadife Kemer&rsquo; (avg. 336.6), and &lsquo;Trabzon Kadife&rsquo; (avg. 215.1). The crude phenolic extracts of the eggplants exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity values (peel and pulp, &micro;moL Trolox equivalent/kg fw) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 8156 and 2335) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC, 37,887 and 17,648). The overall results indicate that black and purple eggplants are the cultivars with greater potential benefits in terms of their phenolics and antioxidant values than the white eggplant