This paper includes the results of the first study about the phenolic characteristics and antimicrobial analyses of Geranium ibericum subsp. jubatum species found in Turkey . In the present work, the phenolic contents of different parts of the G. ibericum (flower, root, leaf) were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–DAD (diode-array detector) and liquid chromatography (LC)–MS/MS (mass spectrometry). The following phenolic compounds were investigated: catechin, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p -coumaric acid, rutin, naringenin, kaempferol . Based on the results obtained, the roots and flowers of the plant are found to be very rich in ellagic acid (3473.57 µg g-1 dry plant) and catechin (2228.76 µg g-1 dry plant). The amount of chlorogenic acid (54.570 µg g-1 dry plant) is also high in the roots. The amounts of protocatechuic acid (122.5 µg g-1 dry plant) and gallic acid (725.34 µg g-1 dry plant) are high in the leaves. In addition, the total extract of G. ibericum obtained from leaf, flower, and root was tested against 6 gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans . The G. ibericum extract was nearly as effective as commercial antibiotics at some concentrations (500-750 µg µL-1) for Acinetobacter baumannii , Klebsiella pneumonia , Proteus mirabilis , and Bacillus cereus .

Background: Accurate shooting distance estimation is critical in forensic investigations. Traditional color tests like the Modified Griess Test (MGT) and Sodium Rhodizonate Test (SRT) are commonly used but lack sensitivity and objectivity, necessitating improvements in reproducibility and validation. Methods: A 7.62x39 mm cartridge was fired using an assault rifle (Sarsılmaz® SAR 308) at fabric samples from distances ranging from 0 to 100 cm. MGT and SRT were employed to estimate shooting distances, and the presence of inorganic and organic gunshot residues was confirmed using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEMEDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIRATR). Inter-laboratory reproducibility was assessed through Relative Standard Deviation (RSD), paired t-tests, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC). Results: MGT and SRT showed high reproducibility at short distances (RSD <11% up to 30 cm), but sensitivity decreased at longer distances, with an RSD of 28.6% for SRT at 100 cm. Paired t-tests revealed statistically significant consistency between laboratories (p < 0.05), and a strong negative correlation (PCC = -0.72) was found between shooting distance and residue area. Conclusion: Integrating SEM-EDS and FTIR-ATR with MGT and SRT enhances the sensitivity, objectivity, and reproducibility of shooting distance estimations. This multi-method approach provides more reliable forensic evidence for criminal investigations.

This study evaluated the phenolic, carotenoid, and elemental compositions of three hawthorn species—Crataegus: C. tanacetifolia (yellow), C. orientalis (orange), and C. microphylla (red)—collected from Şebinkarahisar, Türkiye. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) analysis revealed that C. microphylla had the highest phenolic content, notably epicatechin, gallic acid, and quercetin. It also showed the highest levels of β-carotene and lutein, highlighting its nutraceutical potential. C. orientalis was rich in rutin and taxifolin. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) results showed significant mineral content, including Fe, Mn, Ca, and Se. About 60 g of dried hawthorn could meet 7–8% of daily selenium needs. In C. tanacetifolia, toxicological tests showed no substantial health hazards, with target hazard quotient (THQ) values below 1 and carcinogenic risk (CR) values within tolerable levels (e.g., Ni-CR: 4.68 × 10⁻⁵). Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) levels were below detection thresholds in all samples, indicating that hawthorn fruits from this location are safe. The study also shows how species-specific and geographical factors affect hawthorn fruit nutrition and safety.

The biologically important potential of polyphenols and carotenoids from plants motivates the exploration of new natural sources and medicinal uses for these chemicals. Plants with colorful flowers are used not only for the benefits of bioactive compounds but also for smart textile materials and as colorants. In this study, quantification of phenolic compounds and carotenoids in Rhododendron luteum Sweet and Ferula communis L. subsp. communis flowers were determined. The flowers of these plants were analysed for the first time in Türkiye. While catechin (297.36±3.42 µg/g), 4-OH benzoic acid (179.28±2.87 µg/g) and salicylic acid (178.98±2.42 µg/g) are found to be relatively higher in R. luteum Sweet flowers compared to other phenolic compounds, relatively higher amounts of rutin (335.95±4.32 µg/g) and ferulic acid (367.10±4.11 µg/g) were found in F. communis L. subsp. communis flowers. On the other hand, lutein and β-carotene were detected in both species, whereas astaxanthin (4.46±0.21 µg/g) was found only in R. luteum. This phytochemical information may be important for the proper utilization of these plants as sources of phenolic compounds and carotenoids for a variety of possible commercial applications.

Investigation of phenolic content from different pine bark species grown in Turkey was performed using a reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (RP-HPLC-UV) method. All phenolic constituents were separated in <26 min on reversed-phase C18 column with gradient mobile phase that consists of orthophosphoric acid, methanol and acetonitrile. Detections were made on an UV detector at 280 nm and at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Samples were prepared according to Masqueller’s conventional sample preparation method with slight modifications. To avoid the reduction in extraction efficiency the sample preparation step was carried out under argon atmosphere. The linearity of the method was between 0.9994 and 0.9999. The detection limits for the five phenolic constituents ranged from 0122 to 0.324 mg/L. Catechin and taxifolin were found in all pine barks at a concentration of 0.065 ± 0.002–1.454 ± 0.004 and 0.015 ± 0.001–23.164 ± 0.322 mg/g, respectively. Epicatechin was determined in four pine barks between 0.027 ± 0.001 and 0.076 ± 0.002 mg/g, ferulic acid in two pine barks between 0.010 ± 0.001 and 0.022 ± 0.001 mg/g and epicatechin gallate in only one of the pine barks at 0.025 ± 0.001 mg/g. Finally, the total amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of the pine barks were found to be very high.