Physicochemical characterization of fruits and seed oils of different Viburnum L. species

The aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical characterization of seed oils of different Viburnum L. species collected from different locations in Turkey. Moisture, ash, dietary fiber and protein contents of the fruits of Viburnum L. species were determined as 7,08-9,47 %; 2,07-5,73 %; 33,74-65,51 g/100g; 1,86-4,39 %, respectively. When the seeds of Viburnum L. species were examined, seed length was determined as 4,64-7,67 mm, seed width as 3,71-7,14 mm, thousand seed weight as 24,22-38,74 g, fruit flesh weight/seed weight as 1,60-6,89, moisture content as 6,25-7,71 %, ash content as 1,47-3,03 %, dietary fiber amount as 55,95-78,02 g/100g, protein content as 7,59-11,21 %, crude fat content as 7,76-18,83 %, HCN content as 0,95-3,63 mg/kg, and total phenolic content as 4,11-21,76 mgGAE/g. Among 35 minerals in Viburnum L. seeds, potassium (K) was the most abundant (5381,10-15697,00 ppm). Of the 53 phenolic compounds identified, epicatechin was dominant in V. opulus seeds (33,085-41,776 mg/g-extract), while quinic acid prevailed in other species (28,048-82,206 mg/g-extract). The specific gravity of the oils obtained from the seeds of Viburnum L. species was 0,92-0,93 g/cm3, refractive index was 1 475,5-1 478,2 nD, red color value was 2,80-11,80 in, yellow color value was 2,40-70,00 in, viscosity value was 63,87-76,47 mPa, boiling point was 182,14-188,15 oC, free fatty acidity was 0,46-2,24 %, peroxide number was 10,12-19,25 meq O2/kg, iodine number was 117,15-136,42, saponification number was 176,80-282,30 mgKOH/g, unsaponifiable matter amount was 0,76-2,33%, total phenolic content was 1,77-5,82 mgGAE/g, antioxidant activity was determined in the range of 0,14-0,43 mgTE/g, -tocopherol was determined in the range of 166,64-368,00 mg/kg. In all of the seed oils of Viburnum L. species, P (66,64-489,26 ppm) was determined as the main mineral substance among 35 minerals, oleic acid was determined as the main fatty acid in V. opulus (% 55,73-57,46) and V. orientale (% 57,92-57,98) species among 13 fatty acids, linoleic acid was determined as the main fatty acid in V. lantana (% 51,51-55,41) and V. tinus (% 55,17-56,79) species, and beta-sitosterol (% 47,05-86,67) was determined as the main sterol among 9 sterols. While no antibacterial activity was detected against two pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, E. coli ATCC 35218) in the seed oils of Viburnum L. species, as a result of the analysis on three pathogenic molds (A. niger, P. digitatum, A. flavus), antifungal activity was detected against A. niger and P. digitatum molds in the seed oil of V. opulus species. In line with these results, the fruits of Viburnum L. species are particularly rich in terms of dietary fiber content, and their seeds are rich in terms of protein, dietary fiber content, mineral matter and phenolic component diversity, indicating that they have functional properties. On the other hand, except for specific gravity and FTIR results, the physicochemical properties of the seed oils were found to vary depending on the harvest year and location. It was determined that the use of seed oils is suitable in terms of the identified parameters, the obtained specifications are applicable in vegetable oil technology, and they may exhibit functional properties especially in terms of fatty acid composition. The fruits, seeds and seed oils of the four Viburnum L. species examined are recommended for medicinal and aromatic use in the food, chemical, pharmacological and cosmetic industries.