Investigation of some basil genotypes in terms of their effect on bacterial communication system, and antimicrobial activity

The exponential growth of multiresistant bacterial strains creates the need to explore new or combined strategies to combat bacterial resistance. Medicinal plant-derived compounds against pathogenic bacteria may provide new, simple approaches to developing more environmentally friendly antimicrobial agents. Many researchers focus on exploring novel or combined strategies for combating bacterial resistance. Aromatic plants containing essential oils, such as basil, are often used as therapeutic agents in the pharmaceutical industry. Recent research has shown that basil is effective against certain harmful food phytopathogenic bacteria and has antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties, which were investigated in this study. Our results have shown that the essential oil and ethanol extract of basil exhibits both antibacterial activity and anti-quorum sensing activity against some Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species. It has also been found to have antifungal effects on C. albicans. Among the tested microorganisms, the genotypes of PI 531396, PI 296390, PI 414199, PI 253157, PI 296391, PI 652071, midnight, and Dino cultivars have been found to be more effective than other genotypes. The highest effect on quorum sensing system was found in Moonlight and Dino cultivars, PI 296391, PI 414199, PI 652070, PI 172997 and PI 190100 genotypes. Dendrogram analysis has shown that there is a relationship between different genotypes depending on microorganisms and anti-quorum sensing activity. Ames 29184, PI 207498, and PI 379412 genotypes were in the same group. Biplot analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the studied properties, and the results showed that more than 47% of the total variation was in all forms.

Analyses and evaluation of the main chemical components in different tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genotypes

The nicotine, reducing sugar and ion contents from the threshing of tobacco can re-used from the industry. The crude oil and fatty oil compositions of tobacco seeds can be considered as an alternative source of raw material for biodiesel. In this study, the nicotine, reducing sugar content, crude oil, fatty acid composition and ion content were determined in 29 genotypes and 1 cultivar of tobacco. The genetic diversity was determined among the tobacco cultivar and genotypes base on examined properties. The nicotine content varied between 0.10-0.87%, reducing sugar ranged from 9.70-21.30%, crude oil varied between 24.33-47.00% and fatty acid compositions was found in the range of 77.94-100%. Linoleic (13.92-75.04%) and butyric (0.33-64.98%) acids were the major components. Overall, the BSR-5 (52.56 mg/g) and ESR-5 (44.58 mg/g) genotypes exhibited the highest potassium contents and ESR-7 (6.54 mg/g) and ESR-8 (1.28 mg/g) genotypes had the lowest chlorine contents. As a result of this study, the highest nicotine content, reducing sugar and crude oil of tobacco were found in ESR-4, ESR-11 and BSR-5 genotypes, respectively. The dendrogram analysis divided the tobacco into two main groups and most of the same origin genotypes fell into the same group. The results indicated that the different tobacco leaves and seeds can be evaluated as an alternative source in the industry as cigarettes, biodiesel and different industrial applications such as cosmetic, oil paints and varnishes based on their chemical properties.

Biological value and chemical components of essential oils of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown with organic fertilization sources

BACKGROUND

Environmental safety of the agricultural utilization of livestock and poultry manures from intensive farming is attracting great attention and is effective as a good source of nitrogen for sustainable crop production. The present study aimed to determine the effects of organic poultry manure applications on the biological value and essential oil content of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). In this context, different doses of chicken, kıbele (fermented chicken manure) and turkey manure (750, 1000, 1250 and 1500 kg da^-1 ) with a control (no manure) were applied by sowing.

RESULTS

The essential oils consisted of p-Allyl-anisole as the most abundant component (5.65-17.90%), followed by nerol (6.69-16.11%), linalool (5.10-10.81%) and z-citral (5.23-10.73%). The contents of most of the chemical constituents varied significantly (P < 0.05) with organic poultry manure applications. The highest concentration for essential oils components was found in the chicken manure application. Both the antioxidant activity and total phenolic amounts of the basil extracts varied significantly as the organic poultry manure applications changed. The highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic amounts were obtained in the treatments with chicken manure doses of 1000 and 1250 kg da^-1 , which were significantly different compared to the other treatments and the control treatment. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against bacterial strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was assessed by the disc diffusion method and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration. The results of antimicrobial assays indicated that all of the tested microorganisms were affected. The highest antibacterial activity against all tested microbial species was observed with 1250 kg da^-1 chicken manure applications.

CONCLUSION

Among the organic poultry fertilizations, chicken fertilization was of particular interest. Especially, chicken manure doses of 1000-1250 kg da^-1 had the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activity, as well as total phenolics, flavonoids and essential oil components. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Potassium Sulfate [K2SO4] on The Element Contents, Polyphenol Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Milk Thistle [Silybum Marianum]

Background:

Silybum marianum L. (Milk thistle) is native to the Mediterranean basin and is now widespread throughout the world. It's sprout is used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of liver disease for centuries. The seeds of milk thistle contain silymarin, an isomeric mixture of flavonolignans [silybin, silychristin, and silydianin]. Silymarin acts as a strong anti-hepatotoxic.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influences of potassium sulfate [K₂SO₄] fertilizer doses on polyphenol content, some nutrient elements, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of milk thistle at experimental fields of Ordu University in Turkey.

Methods:

The antimicrobial activities of seed ethanol extracts and seed oil were tested in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Escherichia coli, (E. coli) Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) using the disc diffusion method. Free radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic extracts of milk thistle was determined spectrophotometrically by monitoring the disappearance of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) at 517 nm according to the method described by Brand-Williams et al.[17] The phenolic contents in the ethanolic extracts of milk thistle were determined according to the procedure described by Slinkard and Singleton[19] with a slight modification of using a Folin-Ciocalteu phenolic reagent. The amount of total flavonoid in the ethanolic extracts was measured by aluminum chloride [AlCl₃] colorimetric assay. The ions in aerosol samples were determined by using Dionex ICS 1100 Series ion chromatography.

Results:

Seed and seed oils obtained from obvious doses of potassium sulfate [0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha ^-1 fertilizer applications showed antimicrobial activities against E. coli, A. niger and P. aeruginosa. The application of 90 kg ha ^-1 of K₂SO₄ on seed oil resulted in the highest antimicrobial activities. At 100 µg mL^-1 and 200 µg mL^-1, except the highest potassium application [120 kg ha ^-1 extract, all extracts showed high and similar DPPH scavenging activity. The highest phenolic compounds were obtained with 30 kg ha ^-1 of K₂SO₄, whereas the use of 60 kg ha ^-1 caused the highest total flavonoid content. This plant is a good source of K⁺, Ca⁺², PO4^-3, and Cl^-1.

Conclusion:

In this study, increasing doses of potassium sulfate had significant effect on element, polyphenol content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the milk thistle.

SUMMARY

All tested extracts were active against all tested microbial species.

All extracts have shown high and similar DPPH scavenging activity.

There was a gradual increase in the biological properties of the milk thistle seeds with rising levels of potassium sulfate.

The milk thistle seeds are rather rich sources of K⁺, Ca⁺², PO4^-3 and Cl^-1 potentially bioavailable for human consumption.

Abbreviations used: AlCl₃: aluminum chloride, Ca⁺²: calcium, Cl^-: chloride, Cr: chromium CE: catechol equivalents, DPPH: 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl, ABTS: 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, DAP: diamonyum fosfat, F^-: fluoride, Fe: iron, K₂SO₄: potassium sulfate, K+ : potassium, Li+: lithium, Mg⁺² : magnesium, NH₄⁺ : amonyum, Na⁺: sodium, NO₂^-: nitrite, NO₃^-: nitrate, Ni: nickel, NaNO_2: sodium nitrite, NaOH: sodium hidroksit. ND: Not detectable, PO4^-3: phosphorus, Zn: zinc

A study of yield and yield components of different ornamental pepper (Capsicum sp.) species and lines in cukurova ecological conditions

This study examined some phenological, morphological and pomological features of different ornamental pepper (Capsicum sp.) species and lines under the conditions of Cukurova Region, Turkey. The field trials used a randomized complete block design with three replications. Different ornamental pepper species and lines varied depending on testing years, in terms of plant height (cm), the number of branches (number/plant), the number of fruits (number/plant), the weight of fresh fruit (g plant(-1)), the yield of fresh fruit (kg ha(-1)) and the breadth and length of fruit. Fresh yields of different ornamental pepper species and lines varied between 9412 - 24418 kg ha(-1) in the testing years. The highest fresh yield was observed from line C. frutescens 26 (24418 kg ha(-1)). It was determined that the fresh yield from the first harvest was higher than the others.