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Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the major human pathogens in both community acquired and nosocomial infections. Heavy increase of antibiotic resistance between S. aureus strains became an important public health problem in progress of time. In this study, the antimicrobial effects of piceatannol on S. aureus growth was investigated. Patients and Methods: The antimicrobial effect of piceatannol on a standard S. aureus (DSMZ 6148) strain and two clinical S. aureus strains (C1 and C2) was tested in vitro at concentrations between 0 and 750 µg/ mL. Tigecycline and gentamicin were used as positive controls. For each strain, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of piceatannol and the control antibiotics were determined separately using the broth microdilution method according to CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) standards at 24 and 48 h. Results: After 24 and 48 h of treatment with piceatannol, the average MIC for all tested strains was 283 µg/mL and 383 µg/mL, respectively. Bactericidal activity increased as piceatannol concentration increased for one of the three strains. After 24 and 48 h of treatment with piceatannol, the average MBC for all strains was 717 µg/ mL and 583 µg/ mL, respectively. The S. aureus strains were found to be susceptible to tigecycline and gentamicin. Conclusion: Piceatannol has antimicrobial effect against S. aureus; however, more data regarding the effects of this compound on other microorganisms and its bioavailability are needed.

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is a species that generally grows in the Mediterranean region and coasts and has been consumed as food since ancient times. Its fruits are mostly used in alcoholic beverages and various jams and desserts. Its fruits and leaves contain different phenolic compounds, because of this it is used in traditional folk medicine. They have different biological properties like, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, urinary antiseptic, antihypertension, astringent, anti-diarrheal due to their high quantity of tannins. In this study, we aimed that to determine the total antioxidant capacity of fruits and leaves and trace element contents of Arbutus unedo L. which were collected in Yalova (TURKEY). The antioxidant activities of samples were examined by ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) method, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay with ABTS radical cation. In the samples of the amount of total phenolic and tannins contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) method. In adddition to, we determined the concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn in the samples by using ICP-MS. As a result, Arbutus unedo L. is a good source of antioxidants and minerals, it was stated that single antioxidant activity test would present limited information about the power of the antioxidant capacity and it was emphasized that use of combination of various methods should be used in assessing the antioxidant activities in vitro. It has been determined that the trace elements are within the determined limits.

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Throughout the membership process of the EU, Turkey has undergone various transformations in public administration structure. For this reason, the financial and public transformation experienced by Turkey in the Europeanization process must be evaluated. Financial localization and financial sustainability (FS) in local governments are one of the reflections of this transformation. Despite being a non-profit structure, financial sustainability seems to be extremely important in terms of local government units. Financial and economic crises, especially those at global level, have highlighted the need to address FS in non-profit bodies. In the light of the above-mentioned explanations, this chapter analyses the potential correlation between organizational structure and FS in Turkish Local Government—focusing on 14 municipalities in Muğla City—by conducting in-debt interviews. Therefore, the main aim of this chapter is to show the interest of local governments to use voluntary reporting, in terms of ethical-social-environmental, as a tool for financial sustainability.