Members of the genus Centaurea (Asteraceae) have been used in traditional plant-based medicine. The methanol extracts of twelve Centaurea species, of which five are endemic to Turkey flora, were screened for antibacterial activity against four bacteria (Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus). The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the microdilution method and the minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined. C. cariensis subsp. microlepis exhibited an antimicrobial effect on all tested microorganisms. The extracts from eight Centaurea species (C. balsamita, C. calolepis, C. cariensis subsp. maculiceps, C. cariensis subsp. microlepis, C. kotschyi var. kotschyi, C. solstitialis subsp. solstitialis, C. urvillei subsp. urvillei and C. virgata) possessed antibacterial activity against several of the tested microorganisms

In this study, fatty acid compositions of six Centaurea species growing in the Konya region were determined. The fatty acid composition of Centaurea balsamita, Centaurea calolepis, Centaurea carduiformis subsp. carduiformis, Centaurea cariensis subsp. maculiceps, C. cariensis subsp. microlepis and Centaurea iberica were analysed. Four species of these six Centaurea are endemic to Turkey. The endemic Centaurea species are C. calolepis, C. carduiformis subsp. carduiformis, C. cariensis subsp. maculiceps and C. cariensis subsp. microlepis. Generally, C 18:2 ω6 linoleic acid, C 16:0 palmitic acid, C 18:3 ω3 linolenic acid and C 18:1 oleic acid were found to be the major fatty acids in all species. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found in higher amounts than saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids in all species. PUFAs were determined at 55.10%, 50.25%, 51.41%, 41.02%, 46.18% and 58.80% in C. balsamita, C. calolepis, C. carduiformis subsp. carduiformis, C. cariensis subsp. maculiceps, C. cariensis subsp. microlepis and C. iberica, respectively.

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In this study, the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts of the black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds collected from Konya, Isparta, Çorum, Burdur, Afyon and Samsun was evaluated using three different methods, specifically the β‐carotene and linoleic acid system, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reducing power assays. Among the six black cumin samples of different origins, the black cumin sample origins from Konya city showed the most potent radical scavenging activity in each assay, showing 94.59% (at 1 mg/mL) in the β‐carotene bleaching method and 44.44% in the DPPH radical scavenging method (at 0.5 mg/mL). Positive correlations were found between the total phenolic content in the black cumin extracts and their antioxidant activities. The values of their antioxidant activity were either equivalent to or higher than those of positive BHA and BHT controls. These satisfying results lead to expect the use of black cumin seeds as health‐promoting ingredients such as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Nigella sativa L. seeds have been used for nutritional and pharmaceutical purposes, such as a condiments in bread and other dishes, and as anthelmintic and antibacterial agent. In addition, its seeds have been also used traditionally in the preparation of a sweet dish, which is made up of black cumin paste sweetened with honey or syrup, and especially in the flavoring of foods such as bakery products and cheese. Because N. sativa L. seeds include phospholipids, aroma compounds have many pharmaceutical properties; they could also be used for a many new multi‐purposes in industrial areas such as food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical.

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