Chemical composition, nutritional values, elemental analysis and biological properties of Prunus mahaleb L.: From waste to new potential sources for food, cosmetic and drug industry

Prunus mahaleb L. seeds are widely used in the baking industry as spice for flavouring. While achieving the mahaleb powder for commercial use in local companies, the seeds are sometimes mixed unintentionally with their kernels (stony shell) during sieving procedure. As the chemical and biological properties of the kernel of seeds are not well known, the kernel, seeds and the market sample obtained from a local supplier are decided to investigate individually. The antioxidant capacity and the trace element analyses of the seeds and kernels were performed by TEAC and CUPRAC assays and ICP-MS. The market sample was analysed for nutrient and oil composition. Fatty acid composition of the oil was determined with GC-FID and GC-MS methods. The chemical composition of the methanol extract of the seeds and kernels was studied by LC-MS/MS. Trace elements Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Se were determined in the methanol extracts, ethyl acetate and water fractions. Mushroom tyrosinase enzyme inhibitions of 33 different extracts and fractions of various waste parts of the plant (kernel, fruit, twigs, flos, leaves) were investigated. The nutritional values showed that the market sample had high nutritious properties. The fatty acid content of the oil was found to be valuable in remedying dysfunctions of the body. Kernel ethylacetate fraction showed the highest tyrosinase enzyme inhibition. The role of copper element on enzyme activity was determined. The kernels are accepted as a waste material may also be evaluated as a good promising choice for food, cosmetic and drug industry. © 2023