Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of selected fig (Ficus carica L.) accessions from the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Fig has been a typical fruit component of the health-promoting Mediterranean diet for a very long time. Phytochemical characters and antioxidant capacity of green-, yellow-, brown-, purple-, and black-fruited fig (Ficus carica L.) accessions were investigated. In this study, total phenolics (TP), total anthocyanins (TA), fructose (FRUC), glucose (GLUC), sucrose (SUC), and variables (such as L*, a*, C*, and hue°) describing fruit skin colors were examined. Also, the antioxidant capacity (TAC) of fig fruits was determined by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antioxidant capacity was significantly correlated with the polyphenol and anthocyanin (r = 0.74 and 0.63, respectively) contents of fruits. Black fig accessions had the highest TAC (range of 7.9–16.1, mean 12.4 Fe²⁺ mmol/kg FW), TA (range of 32.3–356.0, mean 128.4 μg cy-3-rutinoside/g FW), and TP content (range of 69.1–220.0, mean 118.9 mg GAE/100 g FW). These black-fruited accessions had 2-fold greater TAC, 15-fold greater TA, and 2.5-fold greater TP than green and yellow fig accessions. However, the FRUC, GLUC, and SUC content of brown and purple fig accessions were higher than those of other color groups. The predominant sugars present were fructose (∼56%) and glucose (∼43%), as determined by HPLC.     

Effects of inactive parapoxvirus ovis on cytokine levels in rats

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of iPPOV on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in rats. iPPOV (1 ml/rat) was administered intraperitoneal route to 49 rats, except for 7 rats (Control, 0 group). Serum samples were collected from 7 rats at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th hr after treatments. Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-10 were determined using ELISA. Administration of iPPOV stimulated TNF-α (16th and 24th hr) and IL-6 (12th, 16th and 24th hr) synthesis and caused fluctuations in IL-10 and IL-12 concentrations. In conclusion, increased cytokine levels could be attributed to immunomodulatory activity of iPPOV, however, detailed studies are required to fully understand effects of iPPOV on immune system.     

Fruit characteristics of fig cultivars and genotypes grown in Turkey

In this study, fruit quality characteristics of some cultivars and types of fig (Ficus carica L.) were determined in Dortyol, Hatay, Turkey, which has a Mediterranean climate. The main fig cultivars grown in Turkey (‘Sarilop’, ‘Bursa Siyahi’, ‘Goklop’, ‘Yediveren’, ‘Yesilguz’, ‘Morguz’, ‘Sari Zeybek’, and ‘Ufak Yesil’) were evaluated along with 24 selections from a larger collection from the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Several pomological characteristics of the genotypes were determined on 5-year-old trees during the 2001 and 2002 growing season. Averaged over the 2 years, fruit weight ranged between 22 and 52 g, total soluble solids content (TSS) ranged between 20.1 and 27.4%, and acidity ranged between 0.09 and 0.26%. ‘Bursa Siyahi’, ‘Goklop’, 31-IN-17, 31-IN-11 and 31-IN-09 produced the largest fruits in terms of fruit weight and dimensions. 31-IN-01, 31-IN-02, ‘Yesilguz’, ‘Morguz’ and ‘Ufak Yesil’ had the highest TSS. ‘Yediveren’, ‘Goklop’, ‘Bursa Siyahi’ and 31-IN-16 scored the highest in overall quality according to the weighted ranked method. Based on the results obtained ‘Yediveren’, ‘Goklop’ and 31-IN-16 could be alternatives to ‘Bursa Siyahi’, currently the most favored fresh table fig cultivar. These alternatives appear to have potential for both local consumption and export markets. Our results also indicate extensive diversity among Turkish figs permitting marketing of a broad range of fresh fig traits.     

Spatial distribution of wind-driven sediment transport rate in a fallow plot in Central Anatolia,Turkey

Wind erosion is a serious land degradation phenomenon in semi-arid parts of Turkey. It is even becoming more critical problem considering the current effects of global warming and climate change in the region. The objectives of this study are to model spatial variation of aeolian sediment transport and to map Sediment Transport Rate (STR) by geostatistics in a fallow plot in the Central Anatolia. STRs for four consecutive wind cases with different vegetation cover rates were determined using the cyclone BEST sediment traps. Plant cover ratio and height changed between 8 and 25% and 3–12?cm throughout the research period, respectively, and soil moistures ranged between 10.9 and 12.7%. The windstorms lasted for 400, 835, 1240, and 50 minutes with the mean wind velocities of 8.6, 7.7, 7.7, and 6.3?m?s^?1, respectively, for cases 1, 2, 3, and 4. The calculated STRs varied between 0.0248?±?0.0170?kg?m^?1?h^?1 and 0.190?±?0.084?kg?m^?1?h^?1. Spatial analysis revealed that the spatial correlations were between 19 and 48?m and different spatial patterns occurred from one case to another. The study results indicated that the amount of transported sediment and its spatial variation were mostly related to velocity and duration of erosive wind in the fallow area of the arid region.