Antibacterial and Antitumor Activities of Some Wild Fruits Grown in Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACTTwo different bioassays (antibacterial and antitumor) were performed to show the biological activities of eight different wild fruits [Viburnum opulus L. (guelder rose), Viburnum lantana L. (wayfaring tree), Cornus mas L. (cornelian cherry), Pyracantha coccinea Roemer (firethorn), Rubus caesius L. (dewberry), Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers (tansy-leaved thorn), Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (hawthorn) and Rosa canina L. (dog rose)] grown in Turkey. For each fruit, 8 different extracts (aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from hot and cold treatments offresh and dried fruits) were obtained and a total of 64 extracts were evaluated. The disc diffusion assay (Kirby-Bauer Method) was used to screen for antibacterial activity. Among the tested fruits, best antibacterial activity was obtained with fresh fruits of wayfaring tree, firethorn and hawthorn. Hot ethanol extracts of these fruits showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. pyogenes. Antitumor activity was evaluated with potato disc tumor induction assay. Best antitumor activity was obtained with cold water extract offresh fruits of R. caesius (100% inhibition). Cold or hot ethanol extracts of fresh V. lantana fruits (90.5% and 95.2%, respectively), cold water extract of fresh C. monogyna fruits (85.7%) and hot ethanol extracts of fresh C. tanacetifolia fruits (71.4%) also exhibited strong tumor inhibition.