Physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of cornelian cherry fruits (Cornus mas L.) grown in Turkey

Cornus mas L. is a naturally growing dogwood species in Anatolia. In present study, physical, chemical and antioxidant properties of cornelian cherry fruits were studied. The fruit weight was in the range of 0.39–1.03 g, fruit length 14.24–22.20 mm, fruit width 9.59–13.21 mm, flesh/seed ratio 1.34 to 6.72. Hunter L values of the samples ranged between 10.82 and 19.69, and a value was between +6.25 and +15.59, and b value was between +3.46 and +6.64. In addition to the levels of dry matter, soluble solids, pH, total acidity, total sugar content, reduced sugar content, unreduced sugar content, ascorbic acid, total anthocyanin and total phenolics were within the range of 15.88–28.19%, 12.50–21.00%, 3.11–3.53, 1.10–2.53%, 76.80–154.00 g kg−1, 52.80–120.00 g kg−1, 0.00–32.30 g kg−1, 0.16–0.88 mg g−1, 1.12–2.92 mg g−1 and 2.81–5.79 mg g−1, respectively. On the other hand, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and EC50 values were between 16.21 mmol g−1 and 94.43 mmol g−1, 0.29–0.69 mg mL−1. Anthocyanin extracts of the fruits were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV–vis detection. Pelargonidin 3-glucoside was the main pigment found in cornelian cherry fruits.