Morphometric and Physico-chemical Properties of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Grown in Çorum, Turkey
Nihal Güzel
Abstract
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) has regained an increasing interest because of its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical potential. This study was designed to investigate the phenolic compounds (total phenolic, flavonoid, hydrolysable tannin, proanthocyanidin and anthocyanidin) and antioxidant capacity of Cornelian cherries. Some morphological (length, width, weight, flesh:seed ratio and colour) and physicochemical properties (dry matter, pH, soluble solid content, total acidity, sugar profile and ascorbic acid) of Cornelian cherries were also examined. Cornelian cherry samples were selected from twelve locations in the Çorum province of Turkey, where they are grown natively. Bioactive compounds were extracted by an ultrasound assisted method (37 kHz frequency and 100% amplitude) for 20 min at 20±2C. Aqueous methanol (70%) was used as extraction solvent with the solid:solvent ratio of 1:20. Glucose (3.02±0.9%) and fructose (1.57±0.4%) were found as the main sugars in cherry fruits. The CIE* colour values ranged from 25.18 to 33.00 for L*, 9.74 to 30.26 for a*, 2.46 to 14.41 for b* values. Total phenolic content, flavonoids, total anthocyanin, proanthocyanins, hydrolysable tannins, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity varied between 230.4─559.8 mg GAE/100 g, 28.3─94.7 mg CE/100 g, 69.2─200.5 mg/100 g, 124.1─316.3 mg CE/100 g, 151.6─568.9 mg TAE/100 g, 29.0─103.3 mg /100 g, 24.4─92.5 μM TE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activity was positively correlated with bioactive content of Cornelian cherry fruits (p