East Mediterranean Region Research Articles

The Inland Cladocera and Copepoda Fauna in Greece

Greece is situated in the East Mediterranean region and in the Balkan peninsula, i.e., a European biodiversity hotspot with high endemism in subterranean and freshwater fauna, highlighting the need to understand its biodiversity. A literature search was undertaken to present a checklist of cladocerans and copepods based on a compilation of published and current data, from 1892 up to 2022 from inland surfaces and subterranean water bodies from different regions of Greece. For Cladocera, 80 species were recorded (9 families with 35 genera). The most diverse families were Chydoridae (20 genera with 33 species) and Daphniidae (5 genera with 27 species). For copepoda, 134 taxa were recorded, in surface water bodies (12 families with 34 genera), subterranean water bodies (7 families with 27 genera), and parasitic copepods (3 families with 3 genera). The most diverse families in surface waters were Cyclopidae (15 genera with 41 taxa) and Diaptomidae (5 genera with 17 species), while those in subterranean waters were Cyclopidae (11 genera with 35 taxa) and Canthocamptidae (6 genera with 17 taxa). More species are expected to be discovered after sampling understudied regions, especially islands, as well as water bodies such as temporary pools, swamps, ditches, puddles, and the littoral parts of lakes, while molecular studies are needed to clarify various cases of complex taxonomy.

'Root of all success': Plasticity in root architecture of invasive wild radish for adaptive benefit.

Successful plant establishment in a particular environment depends on the root architecture of the seedlings and the extent of edaphic resource utilization. However, diverse habitats often pose a predicament on the suitability of the fundamental root structure of a species that evolved over a long period. We hypothesized that the plasticity in the genetically controlled root architecture in variable habitats provides an adaptive advantage to worldwide-distributed wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum, Rr) over its close relative (R. pugioniformis, Rp) that remained endemic to the East Mediterranean region. To test the hypothesis, we performed a reciprocal comparative analysis between the two species, growing in a common garden experiment on their native soils (Hamra/Sandy for Rr, Terra Rossa for Rp) and complementary controlled experiments mimicking the major soil compositions. Additionally, we analyzed the root growth kinetics via semi-automated digital profiling and compared the architecture between Rr and Rp. In both experiments, the primary roots of Rr were significantly longer, developed fewer lateral roots, and showed slower growth kinetics than Rp. Multivariate analyses of seven significant root architecture variables revealed that Rr could successfully adapt to different surrogate growth conditions by only modulating their main root length and number of lateral roots. In contrast, Rp needs to modify several other root parameters, which are very resource-intensive, to grow on non-native soil. Altogether the findings suggest an evo-devo adaptive advantage for Rr as it can potentially establish in various habitats with the minimal tweak of key root parameters, hence allocating resources for other developmental requirements.

Evaluation of the health performances of the regions affiliated to the the ministry of health by multi-criteria decision making techniques

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the health performances of the regions in the 2019 Health Statistics Yearbook by using multi-criteria decision making techniques.
 Material and Method: The study is a cross-sectional study and the data used in the study were obtained from the Ministry of Health Statistics Yearbook 2019. The population of the study consists of 12 regions (Western Anatolia, Western Black Sea, Eastern Black Sea, Eastern Black Sea, Eastern Marmara, Aegean, Istanbul, Central Anatolia, Mediterranean, Northeastern Anatolia, Western Marmara, Southeastern Anatolia, and Central Anatolia) included in the 2019 Health Statistics Yearbook. No sample was selected, and all regions were included in the study. ENTROPY Method was used for weighting the criteria and TOPSIS Method was used for ranking the alternatives. A total of 11 criteria, including six benefit criteria (number of general practitioners per 100,000 people, number of specialists per 100,000 people, number of hospital beds per 10,000 people, number of nurses and midwives per 100,000 people, number of hemodialysis devices per million people, and number of MRI devices per million people) and 5 cost criteria (infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, population per family medicine unit, crude mortality rate, population per 112 emergency aid station) were evaluated. Analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel program.
 Results: In the study, the three most effective criteria used to determine the health performances of the regions were respectively determined as maternal mortality rate (28.68%), population per 112 emergency aid stations (17.43%), and crude death rate (15.63%). As a result of the analyzes of the TOPSIS Method, the five regions with the best health performance among the regions are Western Anatolia (0.68), Western Black Sea (0.66), Eastern Black Sea (0.65), Eastern Marmara (0.63), and Aegean (0.56) has been identified. While the average performance score of the regions is found as 0.53, Istanbul (0.51), Middle East Anatolia (0.50), Mediterranean (0.49), Northeast Anatolia (0.46), West Marmara (0.44), Southeastern Anatolia (0.40), and Central Anatolia (0.33) regions remained below this average.
 Conclusion: The most important criteria in evaluating the health performances of regions are; maternal mortality rate, population per 112 emergency aid stations, and crude death rate. The regions with the best health performance are Western Anatolia, Western Black Sea and Eastern Black Sea. In order to improve the health performance of the regions, maternal mortality rate, crude death rate and population per family physician should be reduced.

Contributions to the knowledge of the vernal butterflies of East Mediterranean region in Turkey

The present paper is a continuation of the previously published spring butterflies of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The information of collection station of the previously listed species of 68 stations was included in this study. The stations were divided into 8 groups according to their vertical distribution. Habitat types at various altitudes have been defined. The communities of Lepidoptera detected in these habitats are given. The status of the Pontia daplidice/edusa species group in the region is discussed.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Using the Health Belief Model: A Cross-Sectional Study in Low-Middle- and High-Income Countries of the East Mediterranean Region.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) booster doses decrease infection transmission and disease severity. This study aimed to assess the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in low, middle, and high-income countries of the East Mediterranean Region (EMR) and its determinants using the health belief model (HBM). In addition, we aimed to identify the causes of booster dose rejection and the main source of information about vaccination. Using the snowball and convince sampling technique, a bilingual, self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data from 14 EMR countries through different social media platforms. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the key determinants that predict vaccination acceptance among respondents. Overall, 2327 participants responded to the questionnaire. In total, 1468 received compulsory doses of vaccination. Of them, 739 (50.3%) received booster doses and 387 (26.4%) were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. Vaccine booster dose acceptance rates in low, middle, and high-income countries were 73.4%, 67.9%, and 83.0%, respectively (p < 0.001). Participants who reported reliance on information about the COVID-19 vaccination from the Ministry of Health websites were more willing to accept booster doses (79.3% vs. 66.6%, p < 0.001). The leading causes behind booster dose rejection were the beliefs that booster doses have no benefit (48.35%) and have severe side effects (25.6%). Determinants of booster dose acceptance were age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.03, p = 0.002), information provided by the Ministry of Health (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.79–6.49, p = 0.015), perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.21–2.93, p = 0.005), perceived severity of COVID-19 (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 137–3.16, p = 0.001), and perceived risk of side effects (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.19–0.34, p < 0.001). Booster dose acceptance in EMR is relatively high. Interventions based on HBM may provide useful directions for policymakers to enhance the population’s acceptance of booster vaccination.

National surveillance of cancer survival in Iran (IRANCANSURV): Analysis of data of 15 cancer sites from nine population-based cancer registries.

Cancer survival is a key indicator for the national cancer control programs. However, survival data in the East Mediterranean region (EMR) are limited. We designed a national cancer survival study based on population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) from nine provinces in Iran. The current study reports 5-year net survival of 15 cancers in Iranian adults (15-99 years) during 2014 to 2015 in nine provinces of Iran. We used data linkages between the cancer registries and the causes of death registry and vital statistics and active follow-up approaches to ascertain the vital status of the patients. Five-year net survival was estimated through the relative survival analysis. We applied the international cancer survival standard weights for age standardization. Five-year survival was highest for prostate cancer (74.9%, 95% CI 73.0, 76.8), followed by breast (74.4%, 95% CI 72.50, 76.3), bladder (70.4%, 95% CI 69.0, 71.8) and cervix (65.2%, 95% CI 60.5, 69.6). Survival was below 25% for cancers of the pancreas, lung, liver, stomach and esophagus. Iranian cancer patients experience a relatively poor prognosis as compared to those in high-income countries. Implementation of early detection programs and improving the quality of care are required to improve the cancer survival among Iranian patients. Further studies are needed to monitor the outcomes of cancer patients in Iran and other EMR countries.

Clay and climatic variability explain the global potential distribution of Juniperus phoenicea toward restoration planning

Juniperus phoenicea is a medicinal conifer tree species distributed mainly in the Mediterranean region, and it is IUCN Red Listed species, locally threatened due to arid conditions and seed over-collection for medicinal purposes, particularly in the East-Mediterranean region. Several studies have addressed the potential distribution of J. phoenicea using bioclimatic and topographic variables at a local or global scale, but little is known about the role of soil and human influences as potential drivers. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the most influential predictor factors and their relative importance that might be limiting the regeneration of J. phoenicea, in addition, identifying the most suitable areas which could be assumed as priority conservation areas. We used ensemble models for species distribution modelling. Our findings revealed that aridity, temperature seasonality, and clay content are the most important factors limiting the potential distribution of J. phoenicea. Potentially suitable areas of the output maps, in which J. phoenicea populations degraded, could be assumed as decision-support tool reforestation planning. Other suitable areas, where there was no previous tree cover are a promising tool for afforestation and conservation planning. Finally, conservation actions are needed for natural habitats, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions, which are highly threatened by global warming.

Response to COVID 19 Pandemic in MENA Region. Practices and Polices

Backgrounds: The response Covid19 pandemic by different EMR national and regional health systems reflected tangible fragility and clear weakness pandemic in management at the policy and practice level in the face of rapid epidemic spread and steadily accelerating mortality and morbidity. Many lessons can be learned from the exuberance of the existing pandemic, as pandemic control measures were not guided by strong local evidence and were not tailored to national contexts. In this review, we sought to assess the gaps and challenges of COVID-19 control measures in Eastern Mediterranean Region during the early months of the pandemic. Objectives: To study policy and practices evidenced gaps in response to Covid19 pandemic in the east Mediterranean region. Methodology: The design of scoping review was applied in the existing work; by applying Search engines strategy with highly selected keywords in the following medical data base, Google Scholar, PubMed, LitCovid, MedRx, ChemRxiv, BioRx, and, Web of Sciences, Embase. Original peer-reviewed research articles preprinted on COVID- for the period (January 2020- December 2021) were included in this review. About 200 articles were identified, and exclusion/ inclusion criteria were applied based on originality, study designs. Relevant Technical reports &amp; official governmental releases were considered as well. Findings: The 22 countries of the eastern Mediterranean region will likely report over 17 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 314,000 deaths by the end of 2021; the current study revealed that the global health system showed remarkable fragility and obvious weakness in confronting the rapid out breaking and spreading of the epidemic and the continuous increase in the number of sicknesses and deaths resulting from it. There are many lessons to be communicated regarding the current pandemic: Pandemic management strategies –experienced strict containment measures during an early stage of the pandemic out breaking.........

Comprehensive chemical characterization of PM2.5 in the large East Mediterranean-Middle East city of Beirut, Lebanon

The chemical composition of PM2.5 at two sites in Lebanon, a country in the East Mediterranean - Middle East region, is investigated in the spring and summer seasons. The average PM2.5 concentrations were of (29 ± 16) µg/m3 for Beirut urban site and (32 ± 14) µg/m3 for Beirut suburban site. This study showed that the geographic location of the East Mediterranean region, such as its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the dust storm intrusion are a significant contributor to the high PM levels from natural sources, which cannot be mitigated, rendering the PM2.5 WHO annual Air Quality guideline unattainable due to high natural background, which also applies to the entire Middle East region. Turkey and Eastern Europe are the dominant origin of air masses throughout our sampling days, suggesting the long-range transport as an important potential contributor to the high observed concentrations of V, Ni, and sulfate in this region most probably in other East Mediterranean countries than Lebanon too. Main local sources determined through the chemical speciation including organics are road transport, resuspension of dust and diesel private generators. A health risk assessment of airborne metals was performed and the carcinogenic risk for all the metals exceeded by 42 (adults) and 14 (children) times the acceptable risk level (10−6) at both sites. Vanadium was the predominant carcinogenic metal, emphasizing the need to replace energy production with cleaner energy on a regional level and highlighting the severe impact of air pollution on the health of inhabitants in this region's main cities.

Validity and reliability of a food frequency questionnaire for community dwelling older adults in a Mediterranean country: Lebanon

BackgroundFood frequency questionnaires (FFQ) is an easy and inexpensive tool that can be used to evaluate nutrient and dietary trends of groups and individuals. Few studies in the East Mediterranean region tailored FFQs to describe dietary intakes of older adults. The purpose of the study is therefore to assess the validity and reproducibility of a FFQ, designed for use with older adults living in a Mediterranean Arabic speaking country, Lebanon.MethodsThe FFQ is composed of a list of 90 food items, commonly consumed by adults above 60 years of age. Validity of the FFQ was tested using the mean of two 24-hours dietary recalls (24HDR), and reproducibility, by repeating the questionnaire within a one-month period, along the second dietary recall. Our study included 42 and 76 participants, for the repoducibility and validity analysis respectively. Subjects were randomly selected from 2 of the 8 governorates in the country.ResultsFFQ reproducibility showed a mean relative difference of 1.03% without any significant difference between all paired components of nutrients. Intra class correlation (ICC) showed good and excellent reliability for caloric intake and all macronutrients, moderate to good reliability for all remaining nutrients, except for poly-unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A, B12 and fibers. Correlation coefficients for all nutrients were fair to strong. Both administrations of the FFQ showed good internal validity. Validation of FFQ showed a mean relative difference between FFQ and mean 24HDR at 19.5%. Agreements between the 2 methods, for classifying individuals in the same or adjacent quartile, for nutrient intake and nutrient adequacy, were 80 and 78.2% respectively. Mean Kappa coefficient was 0.56 and energy-adjusted correlations were within the recommended values for all items except for vitamin A and B12. Adjusting for nutrient-dense food intake improved the agreement for theses 2 vitamins to 0.49 and 0.56, respectively.ConclusionThe proposed FFQ can be considered a valid tool to help describe nutrient intake of older individuals in an Arabic speaking Mediterranean country. It could serve for possible use in the East Mediterranean region for the evaluation of regular dietary intake of community-dwelling older adults.

Suicide in the COVID-19 Pandemic

A literature search using PubMed and Google Scholar identified 64 articles assessing suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with the pre-pandemic period in the six WHO regions of the world. Most studies come from high- and middle-income countries. There is a scarcity of data from South America, and no studies from the African and East-Mediterranean Regions. Compared to trends in previous years, suicide rates remained largely unchanged globally or declined in the early phase of the pandemic. However, increased suicide rates were reported among non-white residents and Afro - American groups in the US, as well as among adolescents in China. Japan and India showed a statistically significant increase in suicide rates after an initial decline. Similarly in Peru, after an initial decline, suicide rates increased among men during the course of the pandemic. This is in line with previous findings in the context of natural disasters and other epidemics where a similar increased suicide trend can be expected in the post-pandemic period in other countries. Among adolescents, there were no significant changes in suicide rates during the period of school closure, but an increase has been observed in the period after coming back to schools. The assessment of suicidal thoughts and attempts during the pandemic was mostly conducted through online cross-sectional surveys and showed significant increases, particularly in females and the young. Suicide can be prevented if evidence-based methods that exist are implemented in a systematic way (Wasserman et al. 2020; https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20801).DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Assessment of depression, anxiety and stress and its association factors among medical students in the east Mediterranean region related to COVID-19 outbreak in 2020

article: Assessment of depression, anxiety and stress and its association factors among medical students in the east Mediterranean region related to COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 - Minerva Psychiatry 2022 June;63(2):99-103 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Imported ornaments of a Late Antiquity community in Christian Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Several thousand glass beads excavated in the Maryam Anza (Tigray, Ethiopia) cemetery over three seasons between 2014 and 2016 tell the story of the direct or indirect long-distance contacts of the people buried there. By combining typological and quantitative studies of drawn glass beads, this paper provides new bead evidence on the subject of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade in Late Antiquity. The assemblage is dominated by tiny monochrome glass beads of mid-fourth/fifth-century AD date that were brought as ships’ cargo from South Asia through Arabian ports, reaching Northeast Africa at a time of intensive Indian Ocean trade. Close proximity to the Red Sea port at Adulis (in modern Eritrea) also allowed the transport of other overseas bead imports produced in Egypt or the East Mediterranean region. Comparative percentage analysis makes Aksum and the Maryam Anza community one of the major accumulators of India/Sri Lankan beads in Northeast Africa.

Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Properties of Pine Honey Produced across Greece.

Pine honey is a honeydew honey produced in the East Mediterranean region (Greece and Turkey) from the secretions of the plant sucking insect Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius) (Coccoidea: Marchalini-dae) feeding on living parts of Pinus species. Nowadays, honeydew honey has attracted great attention due to its biological activities. The aim of this study was to study unifloral pine honey samples produced in Greece regarding their physicochemical parameters and antioxidant and antibacterial activity against five nosocomial and foodborne pathogens. These honeys showed physicochemical and microscopic characteristics within the legal limits, except for diastase activity, a parameter known to be highly variable, depending on various factors. Substantially higher levels of H2O2 were estimated compared to other types of honeydew honey, whereas protein content was similar. The total phenolic content was 451.38 ± 120.38 mg GAE/kg and antiradical activity ranged from 42.43 to 79.33%, while FRAP values (1.87 to 9.43 mmol Fe+2/kg) were in general higher than those reported in the literature. Various correlations could be identified among these parameters. This is the first attempt to investigate in depth the antibacterial activity of pine honey from Greece and correlate it with honey quality parameters. All tested honeys exerted variable but significant antibacterial activity, expressed as MIC and MBC values, comparable or even superior to manuka honey for some tested samples. Although honey antibacterial activity is mainly attributed to hydrogen peroxide and proteins in some cases (demonstrated by elevated MICs after catalase and Proteinase K treatment, respectively), no strong correlation between the antibacterial activity and hydrogen peroxide concentration or total protein content was demonstrated in this study. However, there was a statistically significant correlation of moisture, antioxidant and antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneuomoniae, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activity against Salmonella ser. Typhimurium. Interestingly, a statistically significant negative correlation has been observed between diastase activity and Staphylococcus aureus antibacterial activity. Overall, our data indicate multiple mechanisms of antibacterial activity exerted by pine honey.

Integrated organic geochemical/petrographic and well logging analyses to evaluate the hydrocarbon source rock potential of the Middle Jurassic upper Khatatba Formation in Matruh Basin, northwestern Egypt

The present national and international pursuit of converting Egypt into a regional hub of natural gas in the East Mediterranean region resulted in conducting extensive exploration activities in several areas of northern Egypt. Therefore, organic petrographic, geochemical, and geophysical analyses were carried out on the upper Khatatba Formation from the OBA 2-2A well in the Matruh Basin.Restoration of the original sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of the upper Khatatba Formation suggest deposition of this formation in deltaic settings. Few shale and partly calcareous shale units of the Upper Safa and the uppermost Zahra members accumulated in TST in prodelta settings under dysoxic-anoxic conditions. These shale units had an original gas/oil-prone organic facies BC. Other shales and partly calcareous shales of the Upper Safa and Zahra members accumulated in HST in deltafront settings under relatively oxic conditions and had an original lower gas-prone organic facies C.The Upper Safa Member had an original active fair to excellent organic richness (0.76–7.35, avg. 3.38 TOCo(live) wt%) and hydrocarbon source rock potential (S2o: 2.22–17.97, avg. 8.05 mg HC/g org. C). It was characterised mainly by original active mixed gas/oil-prone kerogen type IIIo(live)-IIo(live) (HIo(live): 200.27–297.34, avg. 238.03 mg HC/g TOCo(live)) and subordinately by gas-prone kerogen type IIIo(live) (HIo(live): 181.50 mg HC/g TOCo(live)). The Upper Safa Member had original poor to fair proportions of active oil-prone (0.15–1.47, avg 0.68 TOCo(live, oil) wt%) and higher fair to very good proportions of active gas-prone (0.61–5.88, avg. 2.70 TOCo(live, gas) wt%) kerogens. The Upper Safa Member originally possessed poor to very good oil (S2o(oil): 0.44–3.59, avg. 1.16 mg HC/g org. C) and good to very good gas (S2o(gas): 1.77–14.37, avg. 6.44 mg HC/g org. C) generation potential. The carbonates and partly calcareous shales of the uppermost Safa and the Zahra members possessed poor oil and gas generation potential due to their organic-lean status.The present-day organic geochemical characterization indicates that the Upper Safa Member still shows active fair to excellent organic richness (0.68–6.75, avg. 3.11 TOCpd(live) wt%). However, this member shows a relatively lower present-day good to very good/excellent source rock potential (S2pd: 1.33–10.78, avg. 4.83 mg HC/g rock) and lower active kerogen quality IIIpd(live) (HIpd(live): 115.97–198.21, avg. 151.07 mg HC/g TOCpd(live)). This is related to the current high thermal maturation (gas-window: Tmax: 459–468, avg. 469 °C, thermal alteration index: TAI of 4-) and conversion of the original kerogen IIIo(live)-IIo(live) into oil and gas. The present-day high organic richness, high remaining generative potential, high shale volume of the thermally mature gas-prone kerogen, classify the Upper Safa Member as an active fair to excellent shale gas play in the Matruh Basin. Intrabasinal and interbasinal correlations across northwestern Egypt indicate that the upper Khatatba Formation shows locally and regionally dual source and reservoir rock characteristics due to the lateral facies changes.

A Research on Quality Evaluation of Eight Wild Edible Macrofungi Collected from East Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

Eight edible macrofungal species (Suillus collinitus, Rhizopogon roseolus, Lactarius sanguifluus, Lycoperdon molle, Ganoderma adspersum, Pleurotus cornucopiae, Lycoperdon perlatum, Macrolepiota procera) grown in Osmaniye were studied. Besides the evaluation of fresh forms, the mushrooms were dried at 40 °C, and the color, texture, protein and mineral contents, and bioactivities (total phenolic content, (TPC) and antioxidant activities by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS techniques) were determined. The protein, macro and micro mineral contents of dried samples were in range of 11.31-55.31 %, 132.75-50844.80 and 0.30-812.05 mg/kg, respectively. TPC of fresh samples were 10227.13-42216.89 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/kg dry matter (DM) in methanolic solution, 3625.31-28809.99 mg GAE/kg DM in ethanolic solution, and decreased by drying process. ABTS method yielded higher results in fresh specimens, however, DPPH method in ethanol and FRAP method in methanol were the superior in dried forms.

Investigation of Chemical Composition and Phytotoxic Effects of Essential Oils Obtained from Schinus Molle Leaves and Resins

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Chemical composition of the essential oils of Schinus molle leaves and resins, collected from East Mediterranean region of Turkey were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and phytotoxic effects of the oils at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 μl/ml) were investi- gated on Portulaca oleracea L. and Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin. At the highest concentration, it was found that the essential oil of S. molle leaves and resins inhibited at rates of 57%, 67% and 70%, 80% the seed germination of purslane and radish, respectively, when compared to the control. Also, S. molle leaves essential oil at the same concentration decreased Radicle length (RL) and Plumule lengths (PL) of purslane and radish in the rates of 82.94, 78.09% and 94.36, 81.30%, while RL and PL of both plants tested were inhibited in the rates of 78.03, 68.99% and 88.91, 76.95% by S. molle resins essential oil. This study is the first report on P. oleracea L. and R. raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin about phytotoxic effects of the essential oils of Schinus molle leaves and resins&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Antioxidant Activities of Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. Extracts and Sulfur Compounds

Objective: Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb. is grown in East and Southeast Mediterranean regions of Turkey, and is commonly used as an edible plant in these regions. The aim of the current study was to determine the antioxidant activities of different E. spectabilis M. Bieb. extracts and some sulfur compounds. Materials and Methods: In this study, the antioxidant activities of aqueous, ethanolic, and ethyl acetate extracts of E. spectabilis M. Bieb. and sulfur compounds (α-lipoic acid, cysteamine, cysteine, diallyl sulfide, glutathione, homocysteine, N-acetyl cysteine, vitamin U and 1,4-dithioerythritol) were assessed in several antioxidant tests. These tests included reducing power, cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, N,N-dimethyl-4-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating activities and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power. The phytochemical profiles and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of all extracts were investigated. Results: It was found out that the antioxidant activities of all the extracts and sulfur compounds generally increased with concentration increases, the highest antioxidant activity was found in ethyl acetate extract, while the aqueous extract was found to have the lowest antioxidant activity. Diallyl sulfide was found to have the highest antioxidant activity, whereas vitamin U had the lowest antioxidant activity. It was observed that all extracts of E. spectabilis M. Bieb. and the sulfur compounds showed antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The E. spectabilis M. Bieb. and sulfur compounds investigated in this study could be considered as a source of antioxidants.

Potential Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Vectors of Plum-pox Virus (Virus:Potyviridae) and Status of Sharka Disease in Stone Fruit Orchards in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey

This study was conducted in stone fruit orchards in five provinces of the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey between the years of 2009-2011. The aim of the study was to determine the potential aphid vectors of the quarantine pathogen PPV (plum pox virus, family Potyviridae) that causes serious yield losses. During the surveys, 542 orchard/nurseries were sampled and 6 aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) [Brachycaudus persicae (Passerini,1860), B. helichrysi (Kaltenbach, 1843), B. cardui (Linnaeus, 1758), Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy, 1762), Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) and M.cerasi (Fabricius, 1775)] from stone fruit trees and 4 aphid species [Aphis craccivora (Koch, 1854), A. fabae Scopoli 1763, A. gossypii Glover 1877, A. nasturtii Kaltenbach 1843)] from weeds that were known as the efficient vectors of PPV were detected in the stone fruit orchards. Stone fruit samples (flower, leaf, fruit), weed samples and aphid samples were tested by DAS-ELISA to determine the presence of PPV. PPV infected samples that resulted uncertain from DAS-ELISA were processed to conventional RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) to finalize the decision of PPV presence. A total of 8 orchards were resulted as PPV-infected with both analyzing methods in the region. Three of these orchards were infected with aphids as well. B.cardui collected from the PPV-infected orchard in Hatay-Samandağ were also run to analyse for the presence of PPV and resulted virus positive.

Asafoetida, Natural Medicine for Future

Background: Asafoetida is dried latex that is extracted from the taproot of many species of Ferula, a perennial herb native to the East Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. It is also a common ingredient in some cuisines. Objective: The goal of this manuscript is to survey on medicinal values and natural benefits of Asafoetida. Methods: A literature search was conducted in Science Direct, Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Springer, and Medline. Results: The most important health benefits consist of reducing bloating, helping to relieve asthma, lower blood pressure and menstrual pain, as well as treating headaches, insect bites, indigestion, and as a laxative. It is good for diabetic people, treats nerve disorders, helps fight free radicals, aids in reducing acne, treats corns and calluses, and reduces hair loss. Conclusion: This review article allowed verifying Asafoetida as sources of compounds with valuable nutritional and bioactive properties with great incorporation into foods with functional properties.