Some edible weeds grown in the Black Sea Region and their bioactive properties

Abstract

The Black Sea Region is home to many plants with the unique habitat. There is great interest in weeds in the region where many plants spread all over the world coexist. Many different weeds are included in the local dishes of the region and edible weeds have an important place in the eating habits of the local people. Many different edible weeds are included in the local dishes of the region and edible weeds are positioned in an important place in the eating habits of the local people. Edible weeds have an important role in human nutrition due to their phenolic compounds, essential oils, amino acids and peptides, organic acids, vitamins and minerals. Edible weeds have many bioactive properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticarcinogen and anti-inflammatory. In the food industry, edible weeds are an alternative raw material for clean label food production, thanks to the bioactive compounds in their matrices and their bioactive properties. In many different locations of the Black Sea Region, Ornithogalum umbellatum L., Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don, Petasites hybridus, Smilax excelsa L., Aegopodium podagraria L., Chaerophyllum byzantinum Boiss., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Stellaria media L., Falcaria vulgaris Bernh., Silene vulgaris and Coronopus squamatus are grown as weeds. These weeds growing in the region have been the subject of many studies and have been confirmed to have antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. It is predicted that it is possible to use natural food additives obtained from these plants to take part in the inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms in foods and to preserve the organoleptic properties of foods. It is thought that the natural food additives to be obtained from these plants will increase the food quality and extend the shelf life of the food, as well as enable the production of food enriched in nutrient content and provide continuity in the production of food enriched in the nutrient content, and will be an important source for sustainable production. The antioxidant effect of all plants except Polygonum lapathifolium L., which is one of the edible weeds examined within the scope of the study, makes it possible to use these plants as alternative raw materials in the production of natural preservatives. In addition, it was determined that Ornithogalum umbellatum L, Petasites hybridus, Aegopodium podagraria L, Chaerophyllum byzantinum Boiss, Stellaria media L and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh, which were examined, showed antimicrobial effects on selected foodborne pathogens representing Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. It has been determined that the extracts obtained from Trachystemon orientalis (L) G Don and Stellaria media L plants have an inhibitory effect on molds that cause foodborne mycotoxicosis. The effect of Ornithogalum umbellatum L, Smilax excelsa L, Chaerophyllum Byzantinum Boiss and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh on the inhibition of yeasts that cause spoilage in foods is of great importance for food quality. Confirmation of the antimicrobial effects of the examined plants is important in terms of gaining commercial value and natural food production. Within the scope of the literature review, no study was found to determine the antimicrobial effect of Polygonum lapathifolium L, Silene vulgaris and Coronopus squamatus. However, the results obtained in the current studies on the determination of the total amount of phenolic substances and the determination of the antioxidant effect of Silene vulgaris and Coronopus squamatus suggest that these plants have antimicrobial effects.

The edible weeds that nature has offered us are suitable for meeting our daily nutritional needs due to the bioactive compounds they have. The introduction of these plants is important in terms of providing alternative raw materials to the food industry and increasing food diversity. In addition, integrating edible weeds into daily diets expands the nutritional spectrum, allowing the consumption of many plant-derived bioactive compounds. Considering the consumption patterns of edible weeds that have no commercial value, it is understood that it is possible to use it in the production of ready-made food, as well as being used as a raw material in the production of natural food additives and pharmacology. It is thought that the industrial processing of these weeds will contribute to the national income on a large scale.

In folk medicine, weeds are used in the treatment of many different diseases. It has been confirmed as a result of researches that many different edible wild herbs grown in the Black Sea region are used in the treatment of infections, pain, digestive and respiratory system diseases throughout history. Pharmacological studies on edible weeds growing in the region show that the examined plants can also be important sources for the pharmaceutical industry and can be integrated into many treatment methods in modern medicine. Especially phenolic compounds, which are found in high amounts in the matrix of edible weeds, make it possible to use these plants or their extracts in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

It was described that Trachystemon orientalis (L.) G. Don and Stellaria media L., among the edible weeds examined within the scope of the study, showed antidiabetic and antiobesity properties. Smilax excelsa L., Aegopodium podagraria L. and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh plants are often preferred for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract infections due to their anti-inflammatory effects. It has been observed that compounds obtained from different parts of Petasites hybridus plant are integrated into existing treatment methods due to their promising results in allergic rhinitis and migraine prophylaxis. In addition, positive effects of Petasites hybridus and Smilax excelsa L. plants on cancer treatment were determined. The determination that Petasites hybridus has a high specific effect on breast tumor cells and a low effect on non-cancerous cells shows that root extracts obtained from the plant can be an alternative to current treatment methods.

It has been determined that the weeds examined within the scope of the study have many different bioactive properties. In the literature review, no study was found on the production of natural preservatives from the weeds examined. It is thought that this review study may create a new field of study for researchers interested in plant-derived natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Although it has an important place in the nutritional habits of the people of the region, studies on these edible weeds, which do not have commercial value in national platforms, in pharmacology and in the food industry, are continued and it is aimed to contribute to the national income.