Toxocara vitulorum is a pathogenic gastrointestinal nematode found in cattle and buffaloes all over the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions with humid climates. Buffalo farming is a sector whose value has increased in recent years in Turkey and is intensively performed to obtain various products such as milk, cream, meat, and horns. This study aims to determine the prevalence of T. vitulorum in Anatolian Water Buffaloes in Diyarbakır. Fresh stool samples from animals were placed in individual stool containers. The sex and age of the animal were recorded for each sample collected. The samples were evaluated under the light microscope after the application of the Fulleborn saturated salt solution method and under Scanning Electron Microscope. Positivity was detected in 5 (3.01%) of the 166 samples. Regarding prevalence by age groups, T. vitulorum was detected in 10% of the 0-6 month group, 4.17% of the 6-12 month group, and 0.89% of the older than 12 months group. The prevalence by sex was determined as 3.85% for females and as 1.61% for males. To determine the epidemiology of the disease in the region, it was concluded that larger herds should be studied and serological and molecular methods should be used to confirm and support the findings of microscopic methods.

Objective: Rosa canina L., Malus domestica L., Prunus persica L Siebold & Zucc., Cydonia oblonga Mill., Armenica vulgaris Lam., and Pyracantha coccinea M.Roem. are important fruits of the Rosaceae family, used in a wide variety of industries such as food, perfume, cosmetics, paint, beverage, and for economic and medical purposes. Although medicinal plants act with their natural components against diseases, they can cause toxic and unde-sirable side effects. It is important in terms of human health and food safety to examine plants for their heavy metal, mineral, protein and antioxidant capacities before they are used for treatment, food or cosmetic purposes. The heavy metals (Al, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn), minerals (Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, K), protein and antioxidant capacities of some medicinal plants grown in Van-Turkey were determined and their safety in terms of food and in medical uses were evaluated. Material and Method: After the lyophilized plants were solubilized with a wet burning (microwave) device, Al, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, K elements were analyzed in the ICPOES device. Protein analyzes were per-formed by the Gerthardt Dumatherm method. Cuprac method was used for antioxidant capacity analysis. Results: The measured values were ranged between (in mg kg−1) Al 10.753-20.407, Co 0.007-9.664, Cr 0.119-0.411, Cu 2.409-6.554, Zn 23.426-33.891, Ca 743.0-2501.7, Fe 31.7-117.6, K 3555.2-4202.9, Mg 498.7-1982.9, Na 839.8-1616.0 and Protein (%) 1.45-5.53. Detected heavy metal amounts are in general within acceptable limits determined by WHO (World Health Organization). While the Cuprac values of the plants ranged between 1.13 and 3.62, the Cuprac values for the standard synthetic antioxidants α-tocopherol and BHT were determined as 2.14 and 3.21 µmol TE g−1DW, respectively. In particular, it was determined that Rosa canina extracts showed high activity (3.62 µmol TE g−1DW) comparable to α-tocopherol and BHT. Conclusion: : For centuries, human beings have benefited from plants in the treatment of diseases. Due to the severe side effects of synthetic drugs, people in the modern world also turn to medicinal plants for the treatment of many diseases. However, conscious consumption of medicinal plants by examining them especially in terms of heavy metal amounts will prevent serious health problems in the long run. The study showed that the heavy metal amounts of some plants belonging to the Rosaceae family, which are cultured, used for therapeutic pur-poses and consumed as fruit by the people of Van, are safe for human consumption and medical uses, and their micronutrient, protein and antioxidant capacities are at the desired level for healthy nutrition and therapeutic uses.

Malvaceae familyasının üyelerinden biri olan Alcea cinsi tıbbi öneme sahip bazı türleri içermektedir. Alcea kurdica Alef. (Devegülü Hatmi) tonsilite, gastrik ülsere, zatürreye, boşaltım sistemi enfeksiyonlarına ve saç kırana karşı kullanılan tıbbi bir bitkidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, devegülü hatmi bitkisi için steril şartlar altında etkili bir çimlendirme yönteminin geliştirilmesi ve bu bitkinin doku kültürü çalışmalarında kullanılabilir hale getirilmesidir. Bu amaç için, steril bir ajan olan sodyum hipokloritin üç farklı konsantrasyonu (%5, %7.5 ve %10), 42°C sıcaklıkta inkübasyonu ve tohum kabuğunun bistüri ile çentiklenmesi uygulamaları test edilmiştir. %5 ve %7.5 sodyum hipoklorit konsantrasyonlarının sterilizasyon için yeterli olmadığı belirlenirken, %10 sodyum hipoklorit konsantrasyonun ise yeterli olduğu gözlenmiştir. Çimlenme indeksi sonuçlarına göre, kabuğu çentiklenen tohumlar hızlıca çimlenirken, 42°C de inkübasyonun çimlenmeyi etkilemediği gözlenmiştir. Yedinci günde, kotiledon, kotiledon sapı ve hipokotil dokuları doku kültürü için kullanılabilir duruma gelmiştir. Sekizinci günde, yapraklar oluşmaya başlamıştır. Yaprak, yaprak sapı ve sürgün ucu eksplantları ise otuzuncu günde doku kültüründe kullanılabilecek duruma gelmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma ile tıbbi öneme sahip devegülü hatmi için etkili bir çimlendirme yöntemi geliştirilmiştir.

In this study, the fruits of Pyracantha coccinea, known for their ornamental and medicinal properties, were analysed to evaluate their antioxidant capacity, mineral content, and heavy metal concentrations. The antioxidant potential of Pyracantha coccinea was determined using DPPH, CUPRAC, and ABTS tests. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), and Gerthard Dumatherm techniques were used to determine the mineral and nutrient composition of the plant. As a result of the evaluation, calcium (0.25±0.02%), protein (4.29±0.47%), potassium (0.39±0.01%), magnesium (0.197±0.01%), sodium (0.08±0.01%), iron (0.012µg/g DW), aluminium (138±9.6 µg/g DW), cobalt (0.541±0.11 µg/g DW), chromium (0.422±0.05 µg/g DW), manganese (20±1.7 µg/g DW), zinc (43.9±4.6 µg/g DW), % DPPH (76.92±0.48) % ABTS value (77.52±0.39) and CUPRAC values (0.771±0.045 for 100ppm) were determined. In particular, the high levels of chromium (Cr) and zinc (Zn) in the fruits exceed the thresholds considered safe for medicinal applications and suggest that the heavy metal content in plants for medicinal use should be critically evaluated within acceptable limits. This study aims to explore the nutritional value and safety of Pyracantha coccinea by examining its antioxidant properties, mineral content, and potential heavy metal contamination. The findings will help shed light on its potential benefits and risks, offering valuable insight for its use in health, nutrition, and environmental applications.