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In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and genotoxic activities of the fruit and leaf extracts of Melia azedarach of Turkish origin were evaluated for the first time. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Gram (+) and ( − ) bacteria, four Candida species and three dermatophytic fungus ( Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum). The insecticidal activity of the methanolic fruit extract was performed against the larvae of Aedes aegpyti, Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus. The genotoxicity of this extract was evaluated against Drosophila melanogaster by somatic mutation and recombination test. The extracts showed higher antibacterial effect against Gram ( − ) strains (16-32 μg ml− 1 of minimal inhibition concentration, MIC), while the leaf extracts were more effective on Candida albicans (32 μg ml− 1 of MIC). The extracts did not exhibit insecticidal activity and genotoxicity. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically, and the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves was the richest in total flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several extracts of the leaves and fruits of Juglans regia L. were assessed for their neuroprotective effects through antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase methods. Anticholinesterase activity was determined against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), the enzymes vital for Alzheimer's disease, at 50, 100 and 200 μg ml− 1. Antioxidant activity was tested using radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), N, N-dimethyl- p-phenylenediamine (DMPD), superoxide (SO), nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals, as well as ferric ion-chelating capacity, ferric- and phosphomolybdenum-reducing antioxidant power at 500, 1000 and 2000 μg ml− 1. Total phenol and flavonoid quantification of the extracts was calculated. The extracts scavenged DPPH radical in varying degrees; however, they did not scavenge DPMD and H2O2. Only the dichloromethane and water extracts were able to quench SO (10.09 ± 1.38%) and NO (24.09 ± 2.19%) radicals, respectively, at low level. The extracts showed either low or no BChE inhibition and no AChE inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dichloromethane (DCM), acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the leaves and berries of Myrtus communis L. were screened against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and tyrosinase (TYRO), the enzymes linked to neurodegenerative diseases, at 200 μg ml− 1. Antioxidant activity was tested using radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and N, N- dimethyl- p-phenylenediamine (DMPD) radicals, metal chelation capacity, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and phosphomolybdenum-reducing antioxidant power (PRAP) assays. Total phenol and flavonoid quantification of the extracts was calculated spectrophotometrically. The extracts showed a moderate AChE (17.49 ± 3.99% to 43.15 ± 1.55%) and TYRO inhibition (4.48 ± 1.50% to 40.53 ± 0.47%). The leaf extracts were ineffective against BChE, while the berry extracts displayed inhibition between 21.83 ± 3.82% and 36.80 ± 2.00%. The polar extracts exerted remarkable scavenging effect against DPPH and DMPD and also in the FRAP assay, where the DCM extract of the berries had the best metal chelation capacity (79.29 ± 1.14%). This is the first study that demonstrates in vitro neuroprotective effects of myrtle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol extracts from the leaves, roots, and flowers of the five species of Gentiana ( Gentiana asclepiadea, Gentiana cruciata, Gentiana olivieri, Gentiana septemfida, and Gentiana verna) and Gentianella caucasea were investigated for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and antioxidant effect using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, metal-chelation capacity, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. The presence of some characteristic compounds found in Gentiana species (gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, isoorientin, isovitexin and vitexin) was analyzed in the extracts by thin layer chromatography. The flower DCM extract of G. verna exerted the highest inhibition against AChE (53.65 ± 1.03%), whereas the root EtOAc extract of G. cruciata was the most effective in BChE inhibition assay (50.72 ± 0.75%) at 100 μg ml− 1. The extracts of G. verna were also found to be more active in the antioxidant tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts obtained from eight varieties (Faikbey, Y-1779, CI-8357, Cheokota, Seydişehir, Y-330, Sivas and YVD-18) of oat (Avena sativa L.), one variety (Larende) of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), one variety (Tatlicak 97) of triticale (Triticale sp.) and one rye variety (Aslim 95) (Secale cereale L.) were investigated for their antioxidant effects in seven test systems. Anticholinesterase activity of the extracts was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) microplate reader. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were calculated using Folin Ciocalteau and AlCl3 reagents, respectively. All of the extracts were ineffective in cholinesterase inhibition assays and had weak-to-moderate activity in antioxidant assays. The extracts exerted better activity in iron-chelation capacity ranging between 43.17 ±  2.04 and 62.97 ± 1.29%. Triticale extracts showed higher activity in reducing power experiments. A notable difference in the results of the antioxidant activity assays was observed among the oat varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]