Phytochemical Contents of Different Parts of the Seeded Raisins from the South-East Anatolia: Enzyme Inhibitory Potential of Pulp Extracts.

In this study, some phytochemical properties of six seeded raisin species that are mainly cultivated in Southeastern Anatolia were investigated. Additionally, some physical and quality characteristics, phenolic contents (by LC-MS/MS; Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass/Mass Spectrometer System), anticholinesterase, and antioxidant capacities (DPPH; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging, ABTS; 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid cation-radical scavenging activity and CUPRAC; cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) of the cultivars were investigated on ground raisins. In all three methods, the antioxidant activity values of seed extracts were determined to be higher than those of leaf and pulp extracts. Remarkably, the seed extract of Banazi Siyahi showed the highest antioxidant activity in ABTS (IC50 : 4.35±0.02 µg/mL), DPPH (IC50 : 10.78±0.78 µg/mL), and CUPRAC (A0.5: 9.33±0.45 µg/mL) methods. Additionally, the ethanol extracts of all pulp samples showed higher anticholinesterase activity against acetyl-(AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes than galantamine. According to the LC-MS/MS results, catechin (21.362 mg analyte/g extract) and epicatechin (44.667 mg analyte/g extract) found to be quite rich in Kerküs seed extract and isoquercitrin (116.873 mg analyte/g extract) and astragalin (31.915 mg analyte/g extract) detected to be quite rich in Banazi Siyahi leaf extract. Considering the mineral content of the varieties and the soil samples they grow in, all of the grape varieties analyzed in the study was found to be rich. Based on these findings, it might be suggested that Banazi Siyahi and Kerküs varieties have potential to be utilized in pharmaceutical and food industries, due to their contents of catechins, isoquercitrin and astragalin.

Phosphorus speciation in the surface sediment and river water from the Orontes (Asi) River, Turkey.

The paper presents the results of the distribution of phosphorus bioavailability (total, organic, and inorganic phosphorus) in surface sediment and river water from the Orontes (Asi) River (Samandag, Antakya, Turkey) in March 2008. Speciation of inorganic phosphorus was carried out using a method on sequential extractions, with each releasing four forms of inorganic phosphorus-loosely sorbed phosphorus, phosphorus bound to aluminum (P-AL), phosphorus bound to iron (P-Fe), and phosphorus bound to calcium (P-Ca). Total phosphorus concentrations are, on average, 3.724 mg/L and 312.30 mg/kg dry weight in the river water and surface sediment, respectively. The interstitial water of the surface sediment contains less than 1% of the surface sediment's total phosphorus pool. The most abundant form of inorganic phosphorus is P-Ca. Relative abundances of the remaining phosphorus forms both in surface sediment and river water follow the order P-Al > loosely bound-P > P-Fe.

A sequential extraction to determine the distribution of phosphorus in the seawater and marine surface sediment.

The distribution of phosphorus species among environmental compartments (e.g., between water and sediment), significantly affects the bioavailability of these species to organisms. The eastern Mediterranean Sea is one of the most extreme oligotrophic oceanic regions on earth in terms of nutrient concentrations and primary productivity. The paper presents the results of inorganic and organic forms in surface sediment and seawater from NE Mediterranean Sea (Burclar Bay, Erdemli, South Anatolia of Turkey) in May 2007. Speciation of phosphorus in seawater and surface sediment using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) has been reported here. The method is based on sequential extractions of the seawater and sediment each releasing four forms of inorganic phosphorus: loosely sorbed phosphorus, phosphorus bound to aluminium (P-Al), phosphorus bound to iron (P-Fe) and phosphorus bound to calcium (P-Ca). The most abundant form of inorganic phosphorus in the seawater and surface sediment is calcium-bound phosphorus. Relative abundances of the remaining phosphorus forms in sediment follow the order: P-Al>P-Fe>loosely bound-P and in seawater follow the order P-Fe>P-Al>loosely bound-P.