Phenolic composition,enzyme inhibitory,and antioxidant activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bituminaria bituminosa</Emphasis>

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Bituminaria bituminosa. In phosphomolybdenum assay, the methanol extract showed the highest activity (166.78 μmol TEs/g dry plant). The water extract exhibited the highest scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazloine-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS^?+). In addition, it exhibited the highest activity in cupric ion reducing (CUPRAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays (41.26 and 46.82 μmol TEs/g dry plant). The extracts did not show cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity. However, α-glucosidase inhibition assay resulted in the superiority of water extract (1233.86 μmol ACEs/g dry plant). In the case of α-amylase inhibitory assay, the ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity (53.65 μmol ACEs/g dry plant). The water extract exhibited the highest phenolic content (31.70 μmol GAEs/g dry plant). In contrast, the methanol extract was found rich in flavonoid compounds (5.29 μmol REs/g dry plant). The water extract contained considerable amounts of rosmarinic acid, luteolin, quercetin, and rutin. Therefore, it can be used as a source of new and alternative antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory agents.     

The effects of immunological castration against GnRH with recombinant OL protein (Ovalbumin-LHRH-7) on carcass and meat quality characteristics,histological appearance of testes and pituitary gland in Kıvırcık male lambs

The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of immunization against GnRH using OL protein (Ovalbumin-LHRH-7) on feedlot performance, carcass, meat quality and some reproductive traits in K?v?rc?k ram lambs. Ram lambs in the immunization (I, n = 7) group were immunized against GnRH using OL protein and boosted 2 weeks later. Control (C, n = 7) group was not treated. The animals were kept at pasture for 6 weeks after the first immunization, subjected to a 70 day fattening program, and then slaughtered. Growth performance, various carcass and meat quality characteristics were not affected from the immunization. GnRH immunization induced GnRH antibody production, suppressed testosterone production and testicular growth (P < 0.01). Testicular structure was negatively affected from the immunization, but not pituitary. These results suggest that immunization against GnRH with OL could be an alternative castration technique in ram lambs without negatively affecting carcass and meat quality characteristics.     

Fatty acid composition and sensory properties of Wels catfish (Silurus glanis) hot smoked with different sawdust materials

This study aims to compare chemical, physical and sensorial parameters of the Wels catfish (Silurus glanis), hot smoked using vine, poplar, lemon tree and oak sawdust as well as corncob. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in proximate composition were found between fresh and smoked samples; however, the changes in fatty acid composition were less significant. In the fatty acid composition of control group, monounsaturated fatty acids (41.60%) had the highest share in fatty acids, which was followed by saturated fatty acids (29.95%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (28.34%). The major fatty acids were observed to be C16:0, C18:0; C16:1 n‐7, C18:1 n‐9c, C18:1 n‐9t and C18:2 n6c. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the groups considering their colour measurement results. General preference criteria such as appearance, odour, texture, colour and taste were chosen for the sensorial analysis, which were rated by the panellists. According to the results of overall appearance, the fillet pieces smoked with lemon tree (9.00), poplar (8.66), corncob (8.00), oak (7.33) and vine (5.33) sawdust were determined as the most preferred, in order.     

Detection of the frequency, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genotypic discrimination of Aeromonas strains isolated from municipally treated tap water samples by cultivation and AP-PCR

The frequency, antibiotic susceptibility, and genotypic discrimination of Aeromonas strains isolated from municipally treated drinking tap water distribution systems were investigated in this study. We have analyzed 148 tap water samples collected from 8 different locations by bacterial cultivation and arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR). Gram negative, hemolytic, oxidase (+) and catalase (+) bacterial colonies were applied to the study. Identification of bacterial colonies was done by conventional biochemical method and API ID 20E panel (BioMerieux-France). Molecular epidemiological discrimination of the isolates was done by AP-PCR. Aeromonas spp. was detected in 6 of 148 (4%) tap water samples from 8 different locations. Five isolates were identified as Aeromonas hydrophila and one isolate was identified as Vibrio fluvialis by conventional biochemical method. These data were also confirmed by API 20E panel. One of 6 isolates was resistant to gentamicin, 2 of 6 isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, 4 of 6 isolates were resistant to ampicillin and ampicillin-sulbactam and all of 6 isolates were resistant to cephalothin. All isolates were found to be susceptible to amikacin, aztreonam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin. All 6 strains of Aeromonas were discriminated by AP-PCR and were determined that all isolates were from different genotypic sources. Although the frequency of the isolates was under the standard limits, the results indicate that hemolytic A. hydrophila are present in municipally treated tap water samples in Mersin City. While all strains were genotypically distinct, all of them were resistant to first generation beta lactam antibiotics tested in this study.     

Proximate composition and fatty acid profile of three different fresh and dried commercial sea cucumbers from Turkey

Proximate composition and fatty acid (FA) profile of three commercial sea cucumbers; Holothuria tubulosa, Holothuria polii and Holothuria mammata caught from Aegean Sea of Turkey were analysed. The effects of regional variation and drying process on FA composition were also investigated. Moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of the species ranged between 81.24% and 85.24%, 7.88% and 8.82%, 0.09% and 0.18%, and 5.13% and 7.85%, respectively, with a significant changes among species (P < 0.05) with some exceptions. Although FA values varied significantly (P < 0.05) among species and regions, the changes for most FA types representing the same region for different species were not significantly different. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were found to be higher than total saturated (SFA) and monosaturated FAs (MUFA) accounting for 53.0–62.12% for ∑PUFA, 13.28–16.41% for ∑MUFA and 13.99–19.21% for ∑SFA. While some individual SFAs and PUFAs decreased after drying process, various individual FAs of MUFA increased in their amounts (P < 0.05). Among PUFAs, the highest mean value of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid for all regions were determined for H. polii as 7.25% and H. tubulosa as 12.37% in fresh samples, respectively. This study represents new information relating to FA contents and drying effect on FA profile for these species.