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Plants display several biological activities as a result of the production of various chemicals inside their metabolic processes. In recent times, the growing prevalence of alternative medicine uses has elevated the significance of plants. The present work aimed to assess the biological activities, phenolic and chemical compositions, applicability, mineral composition, and overall characteristics of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. as documented in existing literature. Literature study revealed that it possesses significant antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, it has been observed that it may serve as a potential reservoir for the minerals documented inside its structure. It is also thought to be an important source, especially in terms of potassium. From this perspective, it became evident that the fruit components of the plant, in particular, could serve as a significant natural resource for promoting health.

Essential oils (EOs) are compounds that are biosynthesized autonomously by aromatic plants as their secondary metabolites. Vitex agnus-castus plant leaves, flowers and fruits are of pharmacological importance. In this study, the chemical composition determination of the essential oils of the Vitex agnus-castus flowers with different colors (white, pink, purple) growing in Aydin ecological conditions was carried out with the extraction using Clevenger hydro-distillation apparatus and then the essential oil composition was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). As a result of the study, ‘Çakmar’ pink-flowered population had the main component (-)-allospathulenol (14.59%), ‘Çakmar’ purple-flowered and ‘Koçarli’ purple-flowered populations had the main component pyrrolo (3,2,1-jk) carbazole (14.42% and 14.68%, respectively), while ‘Çakmar’ white flowered, ‘Koçarli’ white flowered and ‘Koçarli’ pink flowered populations had the main component caryophyllene (15.54%, 12.64%, and 19.05 respectively).

In this study, phylogenetic analyses of some Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. populations based on SCoT marker technique and cpDNA trnL intron sequence analysis were performed. Specimens from the populations were collected from the Aegean region of Turkey and brought to the laboratory for genomic DNA isolation. To determine the phylogenetic analysis of Eriobotrya japonica populations, seven SCoT primers were used. In the SCoT analysis, a total of 54 bands were obtained, 49 of which were polymorphic and 5 were monomorphic. In chloroplast trnL intron region, trnC, trnD primers were used for PCR amplification. Eriobotrya japonica trnL intron sequence lengths were determined to be between 530 and 547 nucleotides. The average nucleotide rate detected as 38.9% for thymine, 18.1% for cytosine, 28.2% for adenine and 14.8% for guanine. Rosaceae family trnL intron sequences belonging to Rhaphiolepis Lindl., Heteromeles M.Roem., Photinia Lindl. Cotoneaster Medik, Sorbus L., Malus Miller, Pyrus L., Prunus L. and Rosa L. were retrieved from NCBI and their phylogenetic relationship with Eriobotrya japonica populations were revealed. As a result of the study, polymorphism rate was determined as 90.74% in SCoT analysis. According to cpDNA trnL intron results, Eriobotrya japonica populations were identified in the same group with Rhaphiolepis indica, a finding supported by past phylogenetic analyzes.

In this study, phylogenetic analysis of Turkish Conringia (Brassicaceae) species was conducted based on nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrITS) and chloroplast DNA (trnL-F) sequences. In addition, the relationships between the sequences of some Brassicaceae family species retrieved from NCBI, and Conringia species were documented. All of the plant specimens were collected at their flowering and vegetation periods from different regions of Turkey, and brought to the laboratory. Total genomic DNA was extracted using the GeneMark kit. In PCR analyses, ITS4 and ITS5A primers were used for the amplification of the nrITS region, while the trnLe and trnLf primers were used for the cpDNA trnL-F region. The DNA sequences obtained were then edited using BioEdit and FinchTV, and analyzed using MEGA 6.0 software. Neighbor joining (NJ) and bootstrap trees were constructed in order to identify the relationships among Conringia taxa. The nrITS sequences ranged between 573 and 672 nucleotides, while the trnL-F sequences ranged between 346 and 764 nucleotides. The divergence values of nrITS sequences differed between 0.177 and 0.00 and divergence values of trnL-F sequences differed between 0.902 and 0.00. NJ tree generated using nrITS and trnL-F sequences consisted of two clades. In trees generated with both the nrITS and trnL-F sequences, C. orientalis, C. grandiflora and C. austriaca appeared within the same group. In addition, according to the phylogenetic analysis results obtained with other Brassicaceae species, it is revealed that the Conringia genus is polyphyletic.

Within the present study, it was conducted a genetic diversity analysis using ISSR markers for some apple genotypes grown in Ardahan region, Turkey. Total genomic DNA (gDNA) isolation from apple leaves was performed using commercial kits. Five ISSR primers were used to determine the genetic diversity among the genotypes studied. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed with all gDNA samples to produce bands to score. PCR products were run in agarose gel and visualized under UV light. Bands on the gels were scored as “1”, while no bands at the corresponding positions were scored as “0”, to generate the matrix file. Five ISSR primers produced a total of 35 bands, and 20 of them were polymorphic. The polymorphic bands rated approximately 57%. Phylogenetic relationships and genetic distances between the genotypes were calculated by using the PAUP [Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (and Other Methods)] program. According to the PAUP data, the closest genetic distance was 0.03704 between ‘Kaburga’ and ‘Japon Apple’ genotypes, while the furthest genetic distance was 0.48148 between ‘Karanfil Apple’ and ‘Sisli Uruset’. The phylogenetic analysis obtained using UPGMA algorithm produced a phylogenetic tree with two clades. The results suggest that ISSR markers are useful tools for determining genetic relationships among apple genotypes.

In the present study, chemical composition determination and in vitro antimicrobial effects of essential oil of Achillea biebersteinii plant grown under Erzincan ecological conditions were evaluated. Extractions were carried out with Clevenger apparatus and essential oil composition was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Microorganisms used for the antimicrobial studies were Salmonella enterica serovar typhimirium ATCC 14028, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus ATCC 25923, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis ATCC 911, Bacillus cereus 702 ROMA, Enterobacter aerogenes CCM 2531, Bacillus subtilis IMG 22 and Proteus vulgaris FMC 1. As a result, a total of 29 components were detected in Achillea biebersteinii. Among them, 1,8-cineole (20.36%), cyclohexanone (8.39%), 2-cyclohexen-1-one (5.38%) and spathulenol (4.19%) were found as the major components. For the in vitro antimicrobial activity determination of essential oil, disc diffusion method was used in our study. Furthermore, 12-14 mm zone diameters were detected in antimicrobial activity assay. The highest resistance zone was detected against B. subtilis with 14 mm diameter while the least resistance zone was detected against Y. pseudotuberculosis, E. aerogenes and P. vulgaris with 12 mm diameter. Consequently, it was concluded that the essential oil extracted from the A. biebersteinii grown under Erzincan ecological conditions had an inhibitory effects on the pathogenic microorganisms in used method.

RuBisCO is an important enzyme for plants to photosynthesize and balance carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This study aimed to perform sequence, physicochemical, phylogenetic and 3D (three-dimensional) comparative analyses of RuBisCO proteins in the Carthamus ssp. using various bioinformatics tools. The sequence lengths of the RuBisCO proteins were between 166 and 477 amino acids, with an average length of 411.8 amino acids. Their molecular weights (Mw) ranged from 18711.47 to 52843.09 Da; the most acidic and basic protein sequences were detected in C. tinctorius (pI = 5.99) and in C. tenuis (pI = 6.92), respectively. The extinction coefficients of RuBisCO proteins at 280 nm ranged from 17,670 to 69,830 M-1 cm-1, the instability index (II) values for RuBisCO proteins ranged from 33.31 to 39.39, while the GRAVY values of RuBisCO proteins ranged from -0.313 to -0.250. The most abundant amino acid in the RuBisCO protein was Gly (9.7%), while the least amino acid ratio was Trp (1.6 %). The putative phosphorylation sites of RuBisCO proteins were determined by NetPhos 2.0. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that RuBisCO proteins formed two main clades. A RAMPAGE analysis revealed that 96.3%-97.6% of residues were located in the favoured region of RuBisCO proteins. To predict the three dimensional (3D) structure of the RuBisCO proteins PyMOL was used. The results of the current study provide insights into fundamental characteristic of RuBisCO proteins in Carthamus ssp.

In this study, we performed a genetic diversity analysis using RAPD markers for some Vitex agnus-castus populations grown in Aydin, Turkey. Total genomic DNA isolation from the leaves of Vitex agnus-castus was performed using a commercial kit. Seven RAPD primers (OPA-02, OPA-05, OPA-13, OPA-15, OPA-16, OPA-18, OPA-20) were used to determine genetic diversity among populations. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed with all genomic DNA samples and primers. PCR products were run in agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized under UV light. The amplified products were scored as bands (1) and no bands (0) for all gel images and their matrix files were generated. A total of 36 characters were obtained from the primers. Phylogenetic relationships and genetic distances between the cultivars were calculated by using the PAUP* (Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony and other methods) program. According to PAUP analysis, the closest genetic distances were between Çine pink flower and Çakmar purple flower, and Çakmar pink flower and Çakmar purple flower populations with a value of 0.05556; and the greatest genetic distance was between Çakmar pink flower and Köşk purple flower populations with a value of 0.36111. In the phylogenetic analysis obtained using UPGMA algorithms, the phylogenetic tree consisted of four groups. The results suggest that RAPD markers are useful tools for determining genetic relationships among Vitex agnus-castus genotypes.

Mentha L., recognized as a medical and aromatic plant, is a general name affiliated to mint species and belongs to Labiatae family. Some species are used as fresh vegetables in the Turkish kitchen and they can also be used in salads. In addition, some species have been used as a spice in food. In this study, chemical composition and antimicrobial activity towards some pathogenics (gram + and gram -) microorganisms of the essential oils Mentha spicata L. subsp. tomentosa (Briq.) Harley, Mentha pulegium L. grown under West Anatolian ecological conditions were investigated. Extractions were carried out with Clevenger apparatus and essential oil composition was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Microorganisms used for the antimicrobial studies were Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterecoccus faecium DSM 13590, Escherichia coli Q157:H7 and Bacillus cereus CCM99. As a result, M. pulegium and M. spicata subsp. tomentosa were found to be rich in piperitenone oxide: 72.77% and 28.84%, respectively. Each of the oils was found to possess antimicrobial properties against test microorganisms. Essential oils obtained from Mentha species give positive effect on all microorganisms.

Simple, fast, low-cost and high throughput protocols are required for DNA isolation of plant species. In this study, phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol and commercial (Sigma) DNA isolation kit methods were applied on some Inula species that belong to Asteraceae family. Genomic DNA amounts, A260, A280, A260/A230 and purity degrees (A260/A280) that were obtained through both methods were measured through electrophoresis and spectrophotometer. Additionally, PCR amplification was realized by primer pairs specific to nrDNA ITS, cpDNA ndhF (972F-1603R) and trnL-F regions. Results showed that maximum genomic DNA in nanograms obtained by phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol method. The study also revealed that I. macrocephala had the maximum DNA and I. heterolepis had the minimum DNA amount. A260/A280 purity degrees showed that the highest and lowest purity in gDNAs obtained through phenol-choloform isoamyl alcohol method were in I.aucheriana and I. salicina, respectively. The highest and lowest purity degrees of gDNAs obtained through commercial kit was observed in I. fragilis and I. macrocephala samples, respectively. PCR amplification results showed that while band profiles of each three regions (ITS, trnL-F and ndhF) did not yield positive results in PCR amplifications using phenol-choloform isoamyl alcohol method; PCR band profiles obtained through commercial kit yielded positive results. As a result, it is fair to say that the relation of genomic DNA with PCR was found to be more efficient although the maximum amount of genomic DNA was obtained through phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol method.

In the current study, sequence analysis of some Turkish Lactuca L. species using nrITS DNA and trnL-F cpDNA sequences were performed to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among the taxa under study. Hieracium umbellatum was used as an outgroup. Different plant materials of Lactuca were collected from different parts of Turkey during excursions of summer 2013. Plant materials were either kept in silica gel or kept fresh for immediate DNA isolation. Both phenol chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method and commercial kits were used to extract genomic DNA for PCR reactions. ITS4 and ITS5A primers were utilized for ITS region, while trnLe and trnLf primers were used to amplify the trnL-F region. Obtained DNA sequences were edited both manually and by using BioEdit 7.0.4.1. Sequencing data were aligned via ClustalW program and analyzed using PAUP 4.01b10 software. nrITS sequences varied from 639 nucleotides to 735 nucleotides. Average nucleotide composition for nrITS was 22.1% (T), 27.9% (C), 23.2% (A) and 26.8% (G). It was also found that divergence values differed between 0.0000 and 0.10290. The trnL-F sequences varied from 296 nucleotides to 385 nucleotides. Average nucleotide composition of trnL-F sequences was 34.1% (T), 18.4% (C), 31.6% (A) and 16.0% (G). It was also found that divergence values differed between 0.0000 and 0.09674. Neighbour Joining (NJ) trees were constructed in order to identify the relationships among Lactuca species. Phylogenetic trees based on ITS region were found to be more useful than phylogenetic trees based on trnL-F region. After analysis of the results obtained, the data suggest that Lactuca contains 2 clades, with clade 1 having 2 subclades. These results support the prior phylogenetic studies on Lactuca and hence provide an up to date review of Turkish Lactuca species.