Evaluation of Nutrients and Biological Activities of Kenger (Gundellia tournefortii L.) Seeds Cultivated in Sivas Province

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to conduct a general content evaluation of water extract obtained from the seeds of Gundellia tournefortii by GC-MS (Gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry) analysis, to determine its macro and micro element concentrations, antimicrobial activity and total antioxidant level (TAS), total oxidant level (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) values, and to reveal its anti-carcinogenic properties on various cell lines. Rel Assay Diagnostics kits were used to determine TAS, TOS and OSI values. By determining the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) value by Microdilution Broth method, antimicrobial activity analyses were performed on microorganisms which are Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus cereus (ATCC11778), Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 13883), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Candida tropicalis (DSM11953), respectively. By MTT method, cytotoxic activity was determined on normal mouse fibroblast cell line, HUVEC and 3 different human cancer cell lines. As a result, it was determined that Gundelia tournefortii plant extract has a rather weak antimicrobial activity except for on S. aureus strain, a good antioxidant activity, and a cytotoxic activity in some cells. As for the oxidative stress index of the plant, it was found to be low. In addition, in terms of macro and micro nutrient content of the plant Gundellia tournefortii has concentrations of 3.64% N, 0.11% P, 3.78% K, 0.22% Ca, 0.57% Mg, 268.4 mg/kg Fe, 16.7 mg/kg Zn, 19.4 mg/kg Mn and 8.3 mg/kg Cu.