Second Place for Üsküdar University at the Scientific Article Awards

At the Scientific Article Awards organized this year by the Pınar Institute to encourage scientific research in the fields of sustainable agriculture, food, and animal husbandry, Esma Ulusoy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, achieved a significant success. Awarded second place, Ulusoy’s study titled “The Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Secondary Metabolite Composition and Toxicity in Anise Callus Culture” attracted attention for its interdisciplinary approach combining plant biotechnology and nanotechnology. The research offers an innovative method for increasing the secondary metabolite content of anise, a plant with high economic and pharmacological value.

“Receiving second place is extremely meaningful for me”

Commenting on the award, Asst. Prof. Esma Ulusoy emphasized that being recognized by a respected institution such as the Pınar Institute, which supports scientific productivity and high-quality research, was highly meaningful to her. “Being awarded second place by the Pınar Institute, which contributes to societal development in the fields of sustainable agriculture, food, and animal husbandry, is extremely valuable and motivating for me. This award represents important feedback, as it shows that the scientific quality and originality of my research have been recognized through an independent evaluation process,” she said.

“Making effort visible is a powerful source of motivation”

Ulusoy also noted the impact of this achievement on her academic motivation, stating that the visibility of the effort invested in the research process serves as a strong incentive for future studies. “The recognition of the effort put into the research process has significantly increased my motivation to enhance scientific productivity in both my current work and future projects. I can say that this award has further strengthened my desire to focus on interdisciplinary research with strong societal impact,” she added.

Türkiye holds a significant share in global anise production

Providing insight into the motivation behind the study, Ulusoy highlighted that anise is an important medicinal and aromatic plant for Türkiye from both agricultural and economic perspectives. She noted that Türkiye holds a significant share in global anise production and that increasing the secondary metabolite content of this plant presents substantial potential for medical and pharmaceutical applications. “Anise is one of the medicinal and aromatic plants with the largest cultivation area in Türkiye, following cumin. It is a strategic product exported especially to European Union countries. Producing secondary metabolites, which can serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients, at high levels remains a major challenge. In this study, we aimed to offer an innovative solution by investigating the elicitor effects of silver nanoparticles in anise callus cultures,” she explained.

Ulusoy also emphasized that this was the first study to simultaneously examine both the toxic and stimulatory effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in in vitro anise callus cultures, and that the findings make an original contribution to the scientific literature.

Stress-resilient plants are key to sustainable agriculture

Addressing the sustainability dimension of the research, Ulusoy noted that plants such as anise, which require relatively low water and inputs and are resilient to environmental stress, are highly important for sustainable agriculture models. “Anise has been used in traditional medicine for many years and possesses functional food properties. Integrating such plants into agricultural systems can contribute to the development of sustainable production models that are adaptable to climate change. The results of our study demonstrate that nutritionally and medically valuable secondary metabolites can be produced at high levels,” she stated. She added that the findings provide valuable data on the use of nanotechnological applications as elicitors in plant tissue cultures, offering advantages for controlled and environment-independent production processes.

The scientific power of an interdisciplinary approach

Highlighting the scientific significance of combining nanotechnology and plant biotechnology, Ulusoy emphasized that this approach opens new and sustainable pathways for the production of high value-added biomolecules. “The integration of nanotechnology and plant biotechnology is scientifically important, as it demonstrates that nanoparticles can be used as controlled stress factors and elicitors in in vitro plant cultures to direct secondary metabolite production. This approach enables the efficient and environment-independent production of high value-added biomolecules within a short time frame,” she said.

“Support is crucial for increasing high-quality research”

Reflecting on the challenges encountered during the research process, Ulusoy noted that issues such as callus contamination, high-yield production processes, and laboratory infrastructure limitations posed difficulties but also provided valuable experience.

Concluding her remarks, Ulusoy expressed her gratitude: “I would like to thank all institutions supporting scientific research, especially TÜBİTAK. In addition, the support provided by my university for establishing and strengthening laboratory infrastructure in the fields of plant biotechnology and nanobiotechnology is of great importance for increasing the number of high-quality studies.”