Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities, Some Phytochemical (Fatty Acid Composition), and Pollen characteristics of Arbutus andrachne L. Extracts obtained from Kadirli (Osmaniye-Türkiye)

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This study presents an interdisciplinary evaluation revealing the multifaceted biological and chemical profile of Arbutus andrachne L., an evergreen shrub species belonging to the family Ericaceae and distributed in the Mediterranean region. Plant samples were collected in 2022 from the Kadirli district (Osmaniye, Türkiye). The antibacterial activities of methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts were evaluated against nine bacterial strains using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Antioxidant capacity was determined through DPPH˙ radical scavenging and Fe²⁺ chelating assays. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of fatty acids was determined using the GC-FID method. The palynological (pollen morphology) characterization of Arbutus andrachne L. was also performed. Methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli JM109, while the ethyl acetate extract was effective only against Staphylococcus aureus 6538. The methanol extract showed the highest total phenolic (44.51 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (21.2 mg rutin/g) contents. The strongest DPPH˙ radical scavenging activity was observed in the ethyl acetate extract (61.74%; 0.400 mg TE/g), whereas the highest metal-chelating capacity was recorded for the methanol extract (47.56%; 0.349 mg TE/g). The fixed oil content, determined by the Randall extraction method, was 1.99%, and GC–FID analysis identified 10 fatty acids. Behenic acid (19.34%) was the most abundant saturated fatty acid, while γ-linolenic acid (34.52%) was predominant among the unsaturated fatty acids. Pollen grains were of the tetrad type, with a psilate surface ornamentation and medium size, supporting species-level identification. Arbutus andrachne L. demonstrates notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is characterized by a rich phenolic composition, diverse fatty acid profile, and distinctive pollen morphology. A. andrachne L. represents a valuable natural resource with significant potential for applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries, owing to its pronounced antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study provides fundamental data for the use of this species in the pharmaceutical and food industries.