Fruit Quality Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds of Morus alba L. var. nigra, Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.), White Mulberry (Morus alba L.), Seedless Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma), Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.), Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd., Prunus microcarpa Boiss., and Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.)

The use of the potential of native plants has not been fully considered and has been neglected in some parts of the world to supply agricultural products and the food industry. In the present study, fruit chemical attributes of nine fruit species, including Morus alba L. var. nigra, black mulberry (Morus nigra L.), white mulberry (Morus alba L.), seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd., Prunus microcarpa Boiss., and sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) were evaluated. The highest value (4948.23 mg GAE 100 g(-1) fresh weight [FW]) of total phenolic content belonged to Z. spina-christi, and the lowest value (9.15 mg GAE 100 g(-1) FW) was related to P. microcarpa. The highest value (334.45 mg catechin/100 g(-1) FW) of total flavonoid content belonged to M. alba var. nigra, and the lowest value (0.78 mg catechin/100 g(-1) FW) was related to cornelian cherry (C. mas). The highest value (780.32 mg cy-3-glue/100 g(-1) FW) of total anthocyanin content belonged to Z. jujuba, and the lowest value (1.35) was related to white mulberry (M. alba). The highest value (3465.34 mg AAE 100 g(-1) FW) of DPPH radical scavenging activity/antioxidant capacity belonged to P. microcarpa, and the lowest value (4.57 mg AAE 100 g(-1) FW) was related to barberry (B. vulgaris var. asperma). The studied fruit species were rich sources of phenolic compounds, and other chemical properties varied according to the species. The present study showed that the studied fruit species have high antioxidant properties and can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as well as in the human diet.