Graphical Abstract : TOC-Table of content. Abstract Spirulina produced in Turkey has a high antioxidant capacity determined by the three common methods (ABTS, CUPRAC, and DPPH). The major phenolics found in Spirulina were acacetin (53.62%) and pinocembrin (41.28%). The bio-accessibility values of the phenolic compounds in Spirulina were approximately 60%. PUFA’s are the significant antioxidant compounds to prevent lipid peroxidation. Spirulina has been found to reduce blood sugar and oxidative stress due probably to the high amount of ω-6 PUFA. By the treatment of Spirulina, the levels of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) were increased 240 and 60% in the healthy rats, while 19 and 59% in the diabetics. In diabetic rats fed with Spirulina, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol levels in blood and malondialdehyde content in body tissues were decreased by 20, 31, 22 and up to 56%, respectively. In-vitro and in-vivo tests have shown that Spirulina has anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemia and antioxidative effects on diabetic rats.

Abstract The study aims to determine certain physicochemical properties (moisture, ash, titratable acidity, pH, and color), total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC, ABTS, DPPH) and bioaccessibility of 20 bee pollen samples (10 unpackaged and 10 trademarked products in their original packages) sold in Turkey. The total phenolic content of the bee pollen samples was detected as 147.10-462.02 mg GAE/g and bioaccessibility ranged from 36.91% to 77.87%. The highest total value for antioxidant capacity was assessed as 83.24-257.27 μmol TE/g by the CUPRAC method. When the bioaccessibility of the antioxidant capacity of bee pollen was compared among the methods, the highest value (95.76%) was obtained for the sample M by the CUPRAC method. Antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of the unpackaged bee pollen samples were lower than those of the trademarked products. Based on overall evaluations, it can be deduced that bee pollen known for its potential beneficial effects on health may well be used as a functional food additive in the production of various food products with its high antioxidant and bioaccessibility features.

Abstract In this study, the properties of nutritional, color and volatile organic compounds of currant varieties (Ribes spp.) in Turkey were investigated. A total of 125 different volatile organic compounds were identified with GC-QTOF/MS. The levels of protein, sugar fractions, dietary fibre, ascorbic acid and minerals of the currant fruits were found to be different between varieties. Ascorbic acid content ranged from 169.33 to 725.52 mg/100 g dry weight. The K, Ca and Mg minerals were found to be in high amount in all varieties. Total dietary fibre levels were found between 7.17 (Red Lake) and 9.90 g/100 g dw (Rosenthal). The common volatiles found in all cultivars were ocimene, carene, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-terpinene, benzaldehyde and piperonal. ‘Rosenthal’ and ‘Goliath’ displayed large differences in the volatile fraction which allow for their discrimination in the PCA (principal component analysis) plot.