Fatmagül Geven

Antimicrobial activity of endemic Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers and observation of the inhibition effect on bacterial cells.

Up to now an increasing number of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria have been reported and thus new natural therapeutic agents are needed in order to eradicate these pathogens. Through the discovery of plants such as Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers that have antimicrobial activity, it will be possible to discover new natural drugs serving as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of nosocomial pathogens and take these antibiotic‐resistant bacteria under control. The objective of the present study was to determine antimicrobial activity and the activity mechanism of C. tanacetifolia plant extract. The leaves of C. tanacetifolia, which is an endemic plant, were extracted using methanol and tested against 10 bacterial and 4 yeast strains by using a drop method. It was observed that the plant extract had antibacterial effects on Bacillus subtilis, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes among the microorganisms that were tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results obtained at the end of an incubation of 24 h were found to be ≥6.16 mg ml−1 for B. subtilis, <394 mg ml−1 for Shigella, and ≥3.08 mg ml−1 for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were found as ≥24.63 mg ml−1 for B. subtilis, ≥394 mg ml−1 for Shigella, ≥6.16 mg ml−1 for L. monocytogenes, and ≥98.5 mg ml−1 for S. aureus. According to the MBC results, it was found that the plant extract had bactericidal effects and in order to explain the activity mechanism and cell deformation of bacterial strains treated with plant extract, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used. The results of SEM showed that the treated cells appeared shrunken and there was degradation of the cell walls. This study, in which the antibacterial effect of C. tanacetifolia was demonstrated, will be a base for further investigations on advanced purification and effect mechanism of action of its active compounds. Copyright

Habitat classification and evaluation of the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Protected Area (Muğla/Turkey)

AbstractThe aim of this study is the classification and evaluation of the habitats in Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Protected Area (SPA) in accordance with the international criteria, determination of the unique, rare and threatened habitats and making proposals for the sustainability of the habitats and its balanced use. Köyceğiz-Dalyan SPA hosts different habitats such as forests, maquis, garrigue, phrygana, lakes, stream, sand hills, reeds, fresh water and oceanographic regions and the diversity of the species living there, the complex web of relations among these species and the diversity biological processes constitutes a relevant model for Thermo and Eu-Mediterranean zones for East Mediterranean Basin. Nowadays the rate of loss in biological diversity stemmed from the anthropogenic sources is a thousand times higher than the geological extinction. That is why the determination and description of the habitats with unique properties is of extreme importance. This study involves the classification of Köyceğiz-Dalyan SPA habitat types in accordance with the European Union Nature Information System (EUNIS) habitat classification. The habitats were evaluated with regard to the criteria such as size of area, biodiversity, naturalness, rarity, typicalness, the reparation and/or restoration potential. The evaluations are based upon the indices of class area (CA), number of patches (NP), percentage of landscape [Perceland (Pİ)], the largest patch index (LPI), modified Shannon–Simpson diversity index (MSHDI-MSIDI). As a result of this study EUNIS habitat types of Köyceğiz-Dalyan SPA located at the southwest of Turkey have been determined and there were 11 new habitats found which are not included in AB habitat list. These habitat types were evaluated by the use of evaluation indices in addition to biological and ecological processes. There were proposals made for the protection of rare and endangered habitats.

Comparison of Essential Oil Components of Salvia forskahlei L. Collected from Nature and Cultivated

Abstract The objective of present study was to compare essential oil components of Salvia forskahlei L. collected from nature and cultivated. Experiment materials were collected from Zonguldak province (in Turkey) and cultivated in Faculty of Agriculture of Ankara University. Essential oil components were analyzed by GC-MS. According to results, there were significant differences in terms of essential oil content and components of Salvia forskahlei. The essential oil content varied from 0.01 to 0.10 %. The essential oil components varied depending on climatic and geographic factors. Thirteen components in Salvia forskahlei were determined in nature and germacrene D and β-caryophyllene were the main components of essential oil, representing 19.4 % and 23.6 %, respectively. Germacrene D (29.2 %), α-cadinol (21.2 %) and δ-cadinene (20.5 %) were the major components at first, second and third cutting of 2008, respectively.