Sabri Erbas

The influence of harvest time on essential oil composition, phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties of Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.)

BACKGROUND The aim of this research was to determine essential oil composition, phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties of Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.) leaves harvested during the months of June to September. RESULT The maximum essential oil yield in the leaves appeared in the middle of July. The main components of oregano oil were carvacrol, thymol, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene, alpha-terpinene and alpha-pinene. Carvacrol was highest in the July harvest. The maximum extract yield was found in September. Oil distilled from early-season (June) harvested leaves had the highest antioxidant ability, expressed as low concentration providing 50% inhibition of free radical scavenging activity and high levels of reducing/antioxidant capacity. Twelve phenolic compounds of oregano extract were identified and the main components were found to be rosmarinic acid and acecetin. The maximum rosmarinic acid and acecetin were found in harvests of July and June, respectively. Total phenolic contents, free radical scavenging activities and reducing/antioxidant capacities were found to be highest in the July harvest. DISCUSSION All yields, chemical compositions, free radical scavenging activities and reducing/antioxidant capacities of extracts and essential oils of Turkish oregano changed importantly depending on vegetative periods of growing season.

Influences of Fermentation Time, Hydro-distillation Time and Fractions on Essential Oil Composition of Damask Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.)

Abstract Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is known for its high quality oil, used in the perfumery industry. The aim of this study was to determine the influences of fermentation time, hydro-distillation time and fractions with sequential intervals on essential oil composition, particularly on methyl eugenol content of Damask rose. Essential oil of the rose flowers was produced by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Six fermentation times (6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 h at 25°C in sack), 6 distillation times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min.) and 7 fractions (0–15, 16–30, 31–60, 61–90, 91–120, 121–180, and 181–240 min.) during a hydro-distillation were used. The components in the essential oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Rose oil was characterized by high percentage of acyclic monoterpene alcohols, represented particularly by citronellol, geraniol and nerol, and long-chain hydrocarbons represented particularly such as nonadecane, nonadecene and heneicosane. The oil yield started to decrease through the fermentation (from 0.055 to 0.025 %). Fermentation increased the citronellol and methyl eugenol contents in opposition to the content of geraniol and nerol. Each one of hydrocarbons increased their percentages nearly two times and more during the fermentation. Extending of distillation time up to 150 min increased the essential oil yield. The longer distillation time gave a higher methyl eugenol concentration, whose content increased steadily up to last distillation time (from 0.69 to 1.65 %). Contents of monoterpene alcohols decreased, whereas the hydrocarbons steadily increased up to late fractions.

Effect of harvesting hour on some physical and mechanical properties of Rosa damascena Mill.

BACKGROUND Mechanization of Rosa damascena flower harvest is limited because of the asynchronous flowering period, the necessity for the harvest operation to take place in the early hour of the morning, and a lack of knowledge regarding the physical-mechanical properties of R. damascena. This study investigated the effect of harvesting hour on some physical-mechanical properties of R. damascena. RESULTS The terminal velocity of the rose flower ranged from 4.00 to 2.38 m s(-1) . The highest picking force was found to be 6.29 N for the harvesting hour of 06:00 am. Tear forces of petal changed from 1.54 to 0.97 N for the harvesting hour of 06:00 am and 12:00 pm, respectively. The tension force of pedicel varied between 8.25 and 7.76 N. The weight of the rose flower was measured as an average of 1.61 and 1.50 g at 06:00 am and 12:00 pm, respectively. Horizontal and vertical projection areas of rose flowers were positively correlated with harvesting hour, with an R(2) of 0.97 and 0.75, respectively. Results showed that there was a minor loss in colour for both inner and outer surfaces of petals. CONCLUSION The results of physical-mechanical properties of R. damascena obtained from this study should be considered for the operation of flower harvest mechanization.

Comparison of Aroma Compounds in Distilled and Extracted Products of Sage (salvia officinalis L.)

Salvia (Salvia officinalis), a member of Lamiaceae family, is valuable medicinal and aromatic plant. Although extraction products like concrete, absolute, and hydrosol from the oil of sage have an economical interest and there are very limited studies on these products. Sage oil and sage water (hydrosol) were released from the fresh herb of sage plants by using steam distillation. Sage concrete was extracted from the fresh herb by using n-hexane as a solvent. Also sage absolute was produced from the concrete with ethyl alcohol extraction. Essential oils from these products were analysed by a gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fresh herb essential oil yield was 0.55 % while hydrosol (aromatic water) oil yield was 0.17 %. The yield of sage concrete was 1.05 % and the concrete had 68.77 % sage absolute. Camphor, cis-thujone, 1,8-cineole, and trans-thujone were the major components of sage oil, hydrosol oil, sage concrete and sage absolute. Higher amount of viridiflorol was found in the concrete and absolute oils (8.72 % and 10.95 %, respectively) compared with steam distillation oil (2.21 %).

Effect of dietary formic acid on the in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters of barley-based concentrated mix feed of beef cattle

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the effect of 0 (FA0) and 1, 2, 4 or 8 mL/kg (FA1, FA2, FA4 and FA8) formic acid addition to barley-based concentrated mix feed on in vitro gas kinetics [gas production from quickly soluble fraction (agas), gas production constant rate (cgas), gas production of insoluble fraction (bgas), potential gas production (a + b)gas], methane production, organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolic energy (ME), net energy lactation (NEL), pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), total bacteria count and number of ciliate protozoa. The in vitro cumulative gas production, cgas, bgas, (a + b)gas, ME, NEL and OMD values and ammonia-N concentration were decreased by formic acid (P < .05). Formic acid supplementation increased in vitro methane production up to about 12% (P < .05). Total bacteria count and number of protozoa and molar concentrations of total VFAs, acetic, propionic and butyric acids decreased with formic acid supplementation (P < .001). The numbers of Isotricha spp. and Dasytricha spp. increased with high formic acid (P < .001). The numbers of Diplodiniinae and Entodiniinae decreased in FA4 and FA8 groups (P < .05). The results indicated that formic acid addition to feed decreased ruminal microbiota count, digestibility, proteolysis and molar VFA values also increased ruminal methane emission. Besides, formic acid supplementation could increase energy loss during ruminal fermentation of feed.

Mobilization of seed reserves during germination and early seedling growth of two sunflower cultivars

The present study was carried out to determine the mobilization of seed storage components of sunflower seeds during germination and early seedling development. Two sunflower cultivars (DUET CL and TR 3080) were used as plant materials. Seeds were germinated for 120 h and samples were taken every 24 h. The total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of the germinating seeds of both cultivars significantly increased till 96 h, and then decreased. While the total soluble and reducing sugar contents were decreased during the first 24 h, their amounts increased significantly afterwards. The total protein contents of the germinating seeds of TR 3080 and DUET CL decreased from 48.1% and 40.9% to 35.5% and 28.4%, respective-ly. However, their free amino acid contents were steadily increased during germination and early seedling growth. The oil contents of DUET CL and TR 3080 started to decrease significantly after 72 h and dropped to 41.3% and 40.2%, respectively, at the end of the study. Free fatty acid contents of the seeds increased until 72 h, but decreased thereafter. While, oleic acid contents of the cultivars decreased during the germination period, their linoleic acid contents increased. These results suggest that significant changes occur in the pigment, sugar, lipid and protein metabolisms during germination and early seedling growth period of sunflower.

Effect of supplementing milk replacer with aromatic oregano (Oreganum onites L.) water on performance, immunity and general health profiles of Holstein calves

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supplementing milk replacer (MR) with aromatic oregano (Origanum onite L.) water on weaning age, performance during the pre- and post-weaning periods, immune systems, blood parameters and general health of 40 Holstein Friesian calves. The calves fed with oregano water (OW)-supplemented MR were weaned earlier than those in the Control group. There were no statistical differences in the liveweight and body measurements among the groups at the weaning age and post-weaning period. The feed intake of the calves fed with OW was higher than that of calves in the Control group in the pre-weaning period. The OW supplementation significantly increased the faecal firmness of calves (P < 0.05). It also decreased the number of E. coli, Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae pathogens, but only the amount of Enterobacteriaceae was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Non-pathogens, such as Lactic acid bacteria, were not affected by OW supplementation. The OW supplementation had no significant effect on hematologic and biochemical blood values. There was significant interaction between age and groups in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P < 0.05). The immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) values of calves were steadily higher than those of the calves in the Control group. The general health profiles of the calves improved. It can be concluded that MR containing 1–2% OW fed to calves in the early weaning period is a promising treatment to improve their wellbeing and shorten the weaning period.

Effect of Different Nitrogen Doses on Plant Growth, Quality Characteristics and Nutrient Concentrations of Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric ex Loisel. var. Super A)

Abstract This research was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the yield, yield components and nutrient concentrations of lavandin (Lavandula×intermedia Emeric ex Loisel. var. Super A). Experiment was designed as randomized block design with three replications. Nitrogen fertilization increased yields and some quality parameters such as plant height, branch height, length of flower, essential oil content and affected essential oil components (such as: linalool, linalyl acetate and camphor). Nitrogen fertilization also led to increase nutrient concentrations, generally. Results obtained from two years of the study showed that the most effective level of N on lavandin yielding and plant nutrient concentrations appeared to be 100 kg n ha-1.