Sedat Bozari

Determination of chemical composition and genotoxic effects of essential oil obtained from Nepeta nuda on Zea mays seedlings.

We aimed to determine the genotoxic potential of essential oil (EO) obtained from Nepeta nuda. The chemical content of EO was measured via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The most abundant contents were 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (18.10%), germacrene (15.68%) and elemol (14.38%). For genotoxic effects of EO, Zea mays’ seeds were exposed to four different concentrations of this oil. Inhibition of root and stem growth were observed with an increase in EO concentrations. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used to determine the genotoxic effects of EO. Some changes occurred in RAPD profiles of germinated EO-treated seeds. Even though total soluble protein quantity vary, the data observed from the protein profiles of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that there was a little differentiation between band profiles of treated samples and control group. We concluded that the basis of interactions between plants, like allelopathy, may be related with genotoxic effects of EO.

The protective role of zinc and calcium in Vicia faba seedlings subjected to cadmium stress

The aim of the present study was to evidence the possible antagonistic effect of Zinc (Zn2+) and Calcium (Ca2+) against cadmium (Cd2+)-induced DNA damage by using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and metabolic activities in Vicia faba. The results showed that all doses of Cd2+ (10 -3 M, 10-5 M) caused an increase in polymorphism value and a decrease in genomic template stability (GTS %). In addition, when 10 -4-10-6 M Ca2+, 10-6 M Zn2+ were added together with 10-3 M, 10-4 M, 10-5 M of Cd2+, polymorphism value decreased besides GTS, total protein and chlorophyll content increased. Results suggested that Zn2+ and Ca2+ have an antagonistic effect against Cd2+. The order of the antagonisms of Ca2+, Zn2+ against Cd2+ toxicity was Ca2+ > Zn2+. Especially, the degree of antagonistic effect of Zn2+ against Cd2+ is probably related to its concentration ratio.

Determination of protective role of selenium against aflatoxin B1-induced DNA damage

Selenium is an essential mineral for a healthy life. Appropriate doses of it may undertake a protective role in the organism. In this study, the protective role of selenium (Se4+) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced DNA damage was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA on two plants including Vicia faba and Zea mays. It was observed that the concentrations of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ppm of AFB1 have increased polymorphism value, total chlorophyll inhibition rate (IRc, %) and total protein IR (IRp, %). Unlike protein, chlorophyll contents and genomic template stability were decreased. With the addition of different concentrations (0.8 and 80 ppm) of Se4+ to the treated samples with AFB1, the values return to normal. An 800-ppm concentration of Se4+, on the contrary, could not inhibit the toxicity of AFB1 but caused an increase in toxicity level of AFB1/enhanced the toxicity level of AFB1. Results suggested that Se4+ has an antagonistic effect against AFB1 toxicity and that the degree of antagonistic effect of Se4+ against AFB1 was related to its concentration.

Protective effects of methanol extracts from Cladonia rangiformis and Umbilicaria vellea against known mutagens sodium azide and 9-aminoacridine

Lichens and their various extracts have been occasionally used in the treatment of many diseases. Cladonia rangiformis and Umbilicaria vellea are two important species of these lichens and they have several biological activities. In the present study, methanol extracts of these lichens, which are grown in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, were isolated, and their mutagenic and antimutagenic properties were investigated by using AMES-Salmonella and Zea mays Root Tip Mitotic Index mutagenicity and antimutagenicity assay systems. Known mutagens sodium azide (NaN3) and 9-Aminoacridine (9-AA) were used to determine antimutagenic properties of methanol extracts. The results showed that all methanol extracts, investigated in the present study, can be considered genotoxically safe because they do not have mutagenic activity at the tested concentrations. Besides, all of them have antimutagenic activity against 9-AA known as a model intercalator agent in the AMES-Salmonella test system. The inhibition rates obtained from the antimutagenicity assays ranged from 37.07% (C. rangiformis—5 µg/plate) to 54.39% (C. rangiformis—5 µg/plate). Furthermore, all the methanol extracts have significant antimutagenic activity against NaN3 mutagenicity in Z. mays Root Tip Mitotic Index assay system. These activities are valuable towards an extension of the employ of these drugs as new phytotherapeutic or preservative ingredients.

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of essential oil obtained from Nepeta nuda against phytopathogenic bacteria

The increase in agricultural production can be possible with the discovery and utilization of chemical compounds for plant disease control. However, indiscriminate use of chemical compounds against microorganisms causes many negative side effects on environment and mammalian health. Therefore, we aimed to find a new natural antimicrobial product from medicinal plants against phytopathogenic bacteria. In this study, the essential oil (EO) of Nepeta nuda was isolated by the hydrodistillation method and the chemical composition of the EO was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), as its biological activity was connected to its content. Then, the antibacterial property of EO was evaluated against twenty phytopathogenic bacteria. Nepeta contains 4aα,7β,7aα-nepetalactone (18.10%), germacrene (15.68%), elemol (14.38%), β-caryophyllene (8.81%), spathulenol (6.14%) and cubenol (5.10%) as major components. In conclusion, the present study is valuable for future investigations on controlling plant pathogenic bacteria.

Application of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to detect genotoxic effect of trifluralin on maize (Zea mays)

Trifluralin is a widely used dinitroaniline herbicide throughout the world. However, limited efforts have been made to study its genotoxic effects on different plants. The present study aimed to evaluate the herbicide’s genotoxic potential on maize (Zea mays) by using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. For this purpose, maize seedlings were treated with aqueous solutions of trifluralin at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3 ppm for 7 days. In the RAPD analyses, 15 primers were used and 91 bands were obtained, with an average of 6.06 bands per primer in the control seedlings. After trifluralin treatment, significant changes were observed in RAPD profiles. These changes included loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands, in comparison to the control group, and they were dose dependent. In addition, root growth and total soluble protein level in trifluralin-treated seedlings were analyzed and compared for genomic template stability (GTS), which was performed for the qualitative measurement of changes in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. The results showed that GTS, root growth, and total soluble protein content of the seedlings gradually decreased with an increase in trifluralin concentration. These findings suggest that the RAPD technique is a useful biomarker assay to evaluate the genotoxic effects of herbicides on plants.

Detection of putative virulence genes in Aeromonas isolates from humans and animals

INTRODUCTION Aeromonas are food- and water-borne bacteria that are considered to be zoonotic human pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the presence of genes associated with virulence in human and animal Aeromonas isolates and the potential role of animal isolates with regards to human Aeromonas infections. METHODOLOGY The presence of aerA, hlyA, alt, ast, laf, ascF-G, stx1 and stx2 putative virulence genes in 40 human and animal Aeromonas isolates (16 human and 24 animal isolates) were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA fragments of expected sizes were purified and sequenced. BLAST in the NCBI was used to verify any amplified products. RESULTS PCR screening showed that hlyA, alt, and laf genes were determined at ratios of 6.25%, 50%, and 6.25%, respectively, in human isolates. The ratios of hlyA, alt, ascF-G, laf, stx2, and stx1 genes in animal isolates were 58.3%, 20.83%, 33.3%, 20.83%, 8.33%, and 4.17%, respectively. Neither aerA nor ast genes were detected in any isolates. Any one of eight putative virulence genes was not detected in seven human and eight animal isolates in the study. CONCLUSIONS The current study is the first to investigate the presence of the virulence gene in gull Aeromonas isolates. The manifestation of the presence of the virulence gene and gene combinations was considerable, especially in fish and gull isolates when compared with clinical human isolates. The current study demonstrates the potential importance of fish and gulls in terms of human Aeromonas infections.

Mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of some lichen species grown in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey

All the methanol extracts did not show mutagenic activity in Ames/Salmonella and Z. mays MI test systems. Furthermore, some extracts showed significant antimutagenic activity against 9-AA in Ames test system. Inhibition rates for 9-AA mutagenicity ranged from 25.51% (P. furfuracea—0.05 μg/plate) to 66.14% (C. islandica—0.05 μg/plate). In addition, all of the extracts showed significant antimutagenic activity against sodium azide (NaN3) mutagenicity on MI values of Z. mays.

Chemical Content, and Toxic Effects of Essential Oil of Origanum vulgare L. ssp vulgare Against to Zea mays Seedlings

Abstract This study was designed to examine essential oil based changes at the genetic and physiological level on Zea Mays seeds. To this end EO obtained from Origanum vulgare by hydrodistilation were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The most abundant contents were observed as caryophyllene oxide (34.44 %), β-caryophyllene (20.40 %) and α-cadinol (7.02 %). Total of the volatiles were applied to Zea mays’ seeds at four different (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 µl/mL) concentrations. Comparing with the control germination, some DNA alterations were observed in random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles of germinated EO treated seeds. The alterations affected the genomic template stability. On the other hand, data observed from protein profiles by using SDS-Page showed some differentiation between band profiles of EO treated samples and control group. The results suggest that EO not only affect the DNA, but also its products (proteins). As a conclusion, the possible biological activities of EO of Origanum vulgare L. ssp vulgare are related to their genotoxic activity.

The Use of Essential Oils of Origanum rotundifolium as Antimicrobial Agent Against Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract In this study, the antibacterial effect of Origanum rotundifolium Boiss’s essential oil was evaluated against 20 plant pathogenic bacteria. The essential oil (EO) of O. rotundifolium was hydrodistillated from wild O. rotundifolium plants that grown in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Then, 10 chemical compounds of EO were identified via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main compounds were determined as thymol (40.86%-GC), carvacrol (43.62%), p-cymene (5.95%) and borneol (2.49%). According to the results of the study, the essential oil of O. rotundifolium exhibits considerable antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria that cause significantly crop loss.