This study is focused on ethnobotanical usages of wild plants growing within the Afyonkarahisar province districts of Sinanpaşa, Hocalar and Dazkırı. Ninety local informants in 11 villages were interviewed. A total of 129 different usages of wild plants in the study area were recorded. Out of 650 plant species commonly present, 93 plant taxa (14.3%) belonging to 43 families were used for medicinal (52 citations), foodstuff (37 citations), fodder (14 citations), dye (six citations), firewood (five citations), construction materials (four citations) and miscellaneous purposes (11 citations). At least 15% of the information regarding ethnobotanical uses of wild plants was obtained by showing herbarium voucher samples to the informants. It was noted that Sideritis leptoclada and Verbascum stenostachyum are endemic to Turkey and their endangered status has markedly increased in recent years because of increased collecting for ethnobotanical purposes. Informants indicate that members of the younger generation have a much reduced interest in ethnobotanical knowledge and that this is a danger to the continued use of local plants.

This study investigates ethnobotanical uses of wild plants found on Honaz Mountain and its vicinity in Denizli Province in the middle Aegean region of Turkey. Eighty-one persons from 13 villages and six townships were interviewed. Nine hundred and sixty-four species, belonging to 60 plant families, were identified for which 381 different uses were recorded. Informants reported ethnobotanical uses for 19% of the identified species (184 out of 964): food (65), fodder (111), medicinal (119), firewood (28), handicrafts (16) and various other purposes (26). Medicinal tar production was particularly noted.

In this study, the antioxidant activity of 50% aqueous methanol extracts of Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers, Crataegus bornmuelleri Zaberi, Crataegus orientalis Pall. ex M.Bieb. var. orientalis, Crataegus szovitsii Pojark, Crataegus curvisepala Lindm., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. subsp. monogyna, Crataegus monogyna Jacq.subsp. azarella (Gris.) Franco, Crataegus micophylla C.Koch, Rosa foetida Herrm., Rosa hemisphaerica J.Herrm., Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb., Rosa canina L., Rubus discolor Weihe & Nees, Rubus canescens DC. var. canescens, Rubus sanctus Screber, Rubus caesius L., Sorbus umbellata (Desf.) Fritsch var. umbellata, Prunus avium L. (Moench.) and Prunus cerasus L. Mespilus germenica was evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and metal-chelating activities. The extracts of R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina L. showed more stronger free radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities, and the extracts of R. foetida Herrm. (62.54%) and P. cerasus L. showed stronger metal-chelating activity. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the R. hemisphaerica J.Herrm., P. cerasus L. and R. canina are potential sources of natural antioxidant. These antioxidant properties depend on the concentration of the sample.

In this study, the relationship among water quality, soil properties, and plant coverage in the region of the Akarçay stream was examined. Correlation analyses were carried out between soil samples taken from each of four plant communities in the Akarçay basin and water in the Akarçay stream. The four plant communities in the study area are as follows: Limonium lilacinum (Boiss. et Bal.) Wag., Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. Peganum harmala L., and Hordeum marinum Huds. subsp. marinum. B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO4 data from both soil and water samples were subjected to statistical analysis, and significant correlations were obtained (p < 0.05). These correlations indicated that the chemical features of the soil had a major effect on water quality. The important parameters were B, Cl, EC, K, Mg, Na, pH, and SO4 for Limonium lilacinum communities; Ca, K, and pV for Peganum harmala; and B, Cl, Mg, pH, and pV for Alhagi pseudalhagi. There were also statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) among the parameters examined. These findings strongly suggested that these plant communities can be used as indicators for soil chemistry and water quality.

The effects of rosemary powder, rosemary extract and α‐tocopherol, and their combinations, on color, chemical and microbiological quality of Turkish sucuk during ripening and storage periods were investigated. The combination of 500 ppm rosemary extract and 500 ppm tocopherol had the highest antioxidant activity while the control group had the lowest antioxidant activity. The 500 ppm rosemary extract and 500 ppm tocopherol addition preserved color better than any other treatment. The multiplicative product of strong ripening time, antioxidant treatment interaction – storage time and antioxidant treatment interaction (P < 0.0001) existed for 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances content. Microbiological properties were improved by antioxidant treatment with the best microbiological quality observed for sucuks having the 500 ppm rosemary extract and 500 ppm tocopherol. To preserve overall color, chemical and microbiological quality of sucuks during storage time, the rosemary extract and tocopherol combination can be used for the commercial processing of Turkish sucuks. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Turkish sucuk is a popular and relatively high‐fat‐content (up to 40%) processed meat product. Since fat in the Turkish sucuk's formula is prone to lipid oxidation, using natural antioxidants such as rosemary extract and tocopherol may have important implications for sucuk processors. Moreover, Turkish sucuk is a raw‐fermented processed meat product and natural antioxidants may also extend its microbiological life by minimizing food safety problems associated with uncooked processed meat products. To sum up, our study proving the efficacy of using natural antioxidant in Turkish sucuk processing may increase market share of Turkish sucuks.