Diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus are widespread through the world in spite of developing technology. S. aureus is an important pathogen causing food intoxications besides hospital infections by its antibiotic resistant strains. Nowadays, there has been worldwide increasing concern on usage of natural products to control microorganisms. One of these natural products is essential oils. They are produced from plants especially from spices and composed of many components and volatiles. This review summarizes informative literature on essential oils and their mode of antimicrobial action. In addition, current knowledge on in vitro researches on antibacterial activity of essential oils and food applications to control S. aureus has been discussed.

In this study, the effects of food preservative p-hydroxybenzoic acid and propyl-paraben on the inhibitory activity of enterocin KP produced by Enterococcus faecalis KP were determined. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium, resistant to enterocin KP bacteriocin, were used as target organisms. The inhibitor activity of enterosin KP (1600 AU/ml) alone or in combination with p-hydroxybenzoic acid (%0.1-0.3) and propyl-paraben (%0.008-0.16) on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium were determined. The inhibitory activity of enterocin KP was increased when used in combination with p-hydroxybenzoic acid and propyl-paraben at concentrations of 0.1-0.3% and 0.008-0.016%, respectively. Furthermore, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium became sensitive to enterocin KP. In conclusion, the use of enterocin KP in combination with other food preservatives principles resulted in an increase in its inhibitory activity and spectrum.

In this study, the soils of which parent material is alluvial and formed Yeşilırmak river terraces were investigated. For this purposes four different profiles were excavated in the study area. Then twenty-seven soil samples were taken from horizons of four profiles and their physical and chemical analyses were done for soil taxonomy research. Profile of Kumocagi and Cakil were classified in subgroup as Typic Ustipsamments, Havaalanı and Mera profiles were classified Typic Haplustolls and Typic Argiustolls subgroups respectively. The pH values of soils varied between 7.38-8.41. These soils can be classified as low and highly basic. Most of the soil series had an irregular pH distribution in the profile. The range of carbonate content of the soils was 0.8-25.4%. Although carbonate content of soils showed a very wide range, majority of them can be classified as highly calcareous. In most of soils carbonate content was distributed irregulary in the profile. Organic matter content were between 0.14-6.11% in the soils. Although organic matter contents of the soils changed in a wide range most of them had low organic matter content. Organic matter content was over 4% in the surface horizon of only two profiles. Research result showed that, alluvial parent material, particle size, topograpy and time have different effect on investigation soils.