Determination of Some Chemical Properties of Wild Pear (Pyrus spinosa Forsk.)

Abstract

Wild pear plant species Pyrus spinosa Forsk., naturally grown in woodlands in Turkey, are one of the most important wild fruits consumed by local people as food, as well as used for medical purposes. In this study, some chemical properties were determined such as fruit seed and fruit pulp antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, fruit seed fatty acid components of Pyrus spinosa determined, which grow naturally in Odemis, Izmir, in the south of Turkey. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of fatty acid components of fruit seed of P. spinosa were determined by GC/MS analysis. A total of 16 fatty acids in the fruit seed were found in the analysis results and 44.8% linoleic acid (C18:2n6c), 40.5% oleic acid (C18:1n9c), and 7.6% palmitic acid (C16:0) components were found in higher proportions. Free radical removal effects of fruit seed and fruit pulp extracts were determined using the DPPH method. The antimicrobial activity of fruit pulp extract of P. spinosa was determined by the disk diffusion method against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. This study revealed that the fruit pulp and fruit seed of P. spinosa, which had a significant level of antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and fruit seed had high levels fatty acids components.