Cemalettin Baltacı

Akçaabat meatballs, a traditional and commercially important Turkish meat product, are widely consumed and typically prepared using high-temperature cooking methods that may promote the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different cooking techniques, including pan cooking without added oil (dry pan cooking), electric grilling, oven baking, charcoal barbecue, and hazelnut shell charcoal barbecue, on PAH formation in Akçaabat meatballs. Samples obtained from eight different producers were analyzed for selected chemical properties and PAH contents using HPLC-FLD. While basic compositional characteristics varied among samples, the most significant differences were observed in PAH levels depending on the cooking method. The sum of four priority PAHs (∑PAH4) ranged between 7.70 and 112.38 µg/kg across all treatments. Among the cooking methods, barbecue applications (charcoal and hazelnut shell charcoal) resulted in the highest PAH levels, frequently exceeding regulatory limits. In contrast, electric grilling produced the lowest PAH concentrations and showed the highest compliance with food safety standards. These findings demonstrate that cooking method plays a critical role in PAH formation and highlight the importance of selecting appropriate cooking techniques to minimize health risks. In this context, electric grilling can be considered a safer alternative, whereas traditional charcoal-based cooking methods may pose a significant risk in terms of PAH exposure.

In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles were produced and characterized using a green synthesis method with Robinia pseudoacacia fruits. The structural and functional properties of the nanoparticles were investigated using XRD, TEM/EDX, and FTIR analyses. The results indicated that the produced iron oxide nanoparticles had nanoscale particle sizes and exhibited a poorly crystalline (predominantly amorphous) structure according to XRD analysis. The comparative adsorption performance of the synthesized FeONPs and fruit powder in the removal of malachite green (MG), phenol red (PR) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. According to the results, the adsorption capacity followed the order MB> MG > PR. FeONPs exhibited consistently higher Qₑ values across all dye systems compared to the fruit powder. High removal efficiencies were obtained at low and moderate initial concentrations, while increasing the adsorbent dose enhanced the overall removal but resulted in a reduction in the adsorption capacity per unit mass. The obtained findings indicate that biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as an efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent for eliminating environmental pollutants.

Wild fruits are valuable natural sources of bioactive compounds with significant nutritional and functional properties. This study comparatively evaluated the effects of freeze-drying (FD), oven drying (OD), and open-air drying (AD) on the physicochemical properties, total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin C content, and antioxidant properties of five wild fruit species naturally growing in the Gümüşhane region of Türkiye: wild pear (Pyrus elaegrifolia Pall.), hawthorn (Crataegus orientalis), rosehip (Rosa canina L.), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), and barberry (Berberis vulgaris). Drying method markedly affected both physicochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds. Oven drying produced the lowest water activity values (0.10–0.34), indicating enhanced microbiological stability, whereas freeze-dried samples generally showed superior preservation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. The highest TPC was observed in air-dried cornelian cherry (935.59 mg GAE/kg), while freeze-dried rosehip exhibited the highest TPC among freeze-dried samples (907.63 mg GAE/kg). Vitamin C was highly sensitive to thermal processing, and most oven-dried samples showed values below the detection limit (<0.30 mg/kg). In contrast, air-dried rosehip retained the highest vitamin C content (1594 mg/kg). Freeze-dried cornelian cherry exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (93.45%), whereas oven-dried rosehip showed the highest total antioxidant content (33.38 mg/g). Correlation and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed that antioxidant behavior and clustering patterns were strongly dependent on fruit matrix composition rather than drying method alone. The findings demonstrate that the effects of drying treatments are strongly fruit matrix-dependent and that no single drying method is universally optimal for preserving all quality attributes of wild fruits.

Natural plants are abundant in?their native habitats and are traditionally used to?treat a?variety of?health conditions. The Rosa genus stands out as?an?important species rich in?bioactive compounds. This study, conducted in?T?rkiye, aimed to?...

This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory properties of the methanolic extract of Gelasia sericea (Aucher ex DC.) Zaika, Sukhor. & N.Kilian. The extract demonstrated a moderate yield (6.55 g/100 g dry plant material) and was found to be rich in phenolic acids, particularly ferulic acid (17182.97 µg g-1), followed by caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, and p-coumaric acid. Antioxidant analyses revealed high total phenolic (388.86 mg GA eq./100 g), total flavonoid (74.03 mg QE eq./100 g), and total antioxidant capacity (503.33 mg AA eq./100 g). The extract exhibited remarkable ABTS radical scavenging activity (95.99%, IC₅₀ = 37.59 mg ml-1) and considerable ferric-ion reducing power (974.78 mg FeSO₄ eq./100 g). Antimicrobial assays indicated moderate inhibitory effects, with stronger activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and the yeast Candida albicans, whereas Gram-negative bacteria were less susceptible. The extract’s MIC values ranged between 0.20-3.25 mg ml-1, and MLC values between 0.41-6.50 mg ml-1, which were higher than those of standard antibiotics. Enzyme inhibition assays revealed moderate activity against carbonic anhydrase II (IC₅₀ = 0.0136 μg ml-1) and weak inhibition of cholinesterases and α-glucosidase, while α-amylase inhibition was relatively more pronounced (IC₅₀ = 13350.00 μg ml-1). Overall, these findings highlight G. sericea as a valuable natural source of phenolic acids and antioxidants, with promising potential for applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and phytopharmaceuticals. However, the relatively limited antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitory activities suggest the need for further studies on bioavailability, in vivo efficacy, and compound isolation to optimize its practical applications.

This study analyzed the physicochemical characteristics, mineral composition, and antioxidant potential of fifteen floral honey samples collected from five districts of Gümüşhane, Türkiye. The average values for moisture (17.44 g/100 g), insoluble solids (0.04 g/100 g), conductivity (0.35 mS/cm), diastase activity (54.15 DN), free acidity (38.18 meq/kg), and fructose + glucose content (68.95 g/100 g) were mostly within the acceptable limits defined by national honey standards. Proline content ranged from 562.66 to 1466.15 mg/kg, while hydroxymethylfurfural (0.37–18.89 mg/kg) confirmed the freshness of all samples. Potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium were identified as the major mineral elements in the analyzed honey samples, with considerable variation observed among samples collected from different districts. Antioxidant activity (Total phenolic content (mg GAE/100 g): 9.21–98.25; SC₅₀ (mg/mL): 5.23–41.29) revealed a strong antioxidant potential of Gümüşhane honeys. This work provides the first detailed characterization of Gümüşhane honeys, confirming their high physicochemical quality, rich mineral profile, and notable antioxidant potential, and underscores their value as a distinctive regional product with functional and commercial significance.

Driven by the increasing pursuit of eco-friendly and multifunctional nanomaterials, this study explores the eco-conscious production, detailed analysis, and cooperative antibacterial efficacy of silver (YAgNPs) and copper nanoparticles (YCuNPs) synthesized using Morus nigra leaf extract under alkaline aqueous conditions. The nanoparticles produced through biogenic methods showed unique physical and chemical features, as validated via FTIR, XRD, TEM, and EDX instrumentation, suggesting effective reduction and stabilization facilitated by plant-derived compounds. YAgNPs and YCuNPs synthesized in this study demonstrated markedly enhanced antioxidant capacities and significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, highlighting their prospective role in diabetes management. Antimicrobial assays showed superior activity of YAgNPs in solution-phase assays, whereas YCuNPs showed stronger inhibition in solid diffusion-based setups. Notably, lower MIC and MBC concentrations were observed for YAgNPs across multiple Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, including E. coli and S. aureus. The checkerboard assay demonstrated potent synergistic effects between both NPs and traditional antibiotics against clinically relevant pathogens. FICI values confirmed full synergy in several combinations, demonstrating their ability to potentiate antibiotic effects through membrane permeability enhancement and interference with bacterial resistance mechanisms. YAgNPs also showed notable cytotoxic effects against cancer cells against HeLa and HCT116 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values significantly lower, highlighting their oncological promise. Overall, the study emphasizes the diverse therapeutic applications of green-synthesized nanoparticles and suggests their potential use in cancer treatment and as enhancers for antimicrobial drugs.