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Journals / Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 26

Phytochemical profiling of Artemisia absinthium essential oils from different regions of Türkiye and preliminary evaluation of their antibacterial and honeybee locomotor effects

Pınar Portakal(ÇANKIRI KARATEKİN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5994-5872
Ali Rıza Tüfekçi(CANKIRI KARATEKIN UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2951-3657
Okan Can Arslan(MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-9784-2663
Hüseyin Akşit(ERZİNCAN BİNALİ YILDIRIM ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-1509-851X
Ali Göçeri(ŞIRNAK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İDİL MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU, VETERİNERLİK BÖLÜMÜ, LABORANT VE VETERİNER SAĞLIK PR.)0000-0002-1218-6696
Murat Kürşat(BİTLİS EREN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-0861-4213
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-07-03
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, the oils' antibacterial activity was moderate and selective compared with the positive control, imipenem.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of essential oils obtained from Artemisia absinthium collected in Sivas (AAS), Erzincan (AAE) and Hakkari (AAH) and to evaluate their effects on honeybee locomotor activity.
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Key Findings & Data:Chamazulene was identified as the predominant compound in all samples, with the highest concentration in AAH (64.6%), while AAE was characterized by a high β-thujone content (18.3%).
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, the oils' antibacterial activity was moderate and selective compared with the positive control, imipenem.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antibacterial activity · Apis mellifera · Artemisia absinthium

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of essential oils obtained from Artemisia absinthium collected in Sivas (AAS), Erzincan (AAE) and Hakkari (AAH) and to evaluate their effects on honeybee locomotor activity. The chemical composition of the essential oils was analyzed by GC–MS, revealing notable regional differences. Chamazulene was identified as the predominant compound in all samples, with the highest concentration in AAH (64.6%), while AAE was characterized by a high β-thujone content (18.3%). Locomotor activity assays showed no significant differences between control and treated groups over a 24-hour period (H (3) = 4.270, p=0.234; F (3,121)=0.867, p=0.460), indicating no detectable acute locomotor alterations under the tested conditions. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was evaluated using the disc diffusion method against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antibacterial effects varied depending on the oils' geographical origin and chemical composition. AAE and AAS essential oils showed comparatively larger inhibition zones, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, whereas AAH showed selective activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes was observed with any of the tested oils. Overall, the oils' antibacterial activity was moderate and selective compared with the positive control, imipenem. These findings suggest that regional variation significantly influences the chemical composition and biological activity of A. absinthium essential oils. Furthermore, the tested oils did not produce detectable acute locomotor alterations in honeybees under the conditions tested. These findings provide preliminary insight into the relationship between regional phytochemical variability and the biological properties of A. absinthium essential oils.

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Cite This Article

Portakal, P., Tüfekçi, A. R., Arslan, O. C., Akşit, H., Göçeri, A., Kürşat, M. (2026). Phytochemical profiling of Artemisia absinthium essential oils from different regions of Türkiye and preliminary evaluation of their antibacterial and honeybee locomotor effects. Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi, Volume: 26. https://doi.org/10.31467/uluaricilik.1929863

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