Comparative Analysis of Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Stems from Different Cultivars in Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 111 - 115

Müjgan Güney , Hakan Keles

Abstract

This study evaluated the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of stem extracts from six cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars grown in Türkiye. Stems were collected from major cherry-growing regions (Salihli and Isparta), extracted with 80% methanol, and analyzed using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results revealed significant cultivar-dependent variation in both phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Ziraat-0900 exhibited the highest TPC (272.56 mg GAE/g DW), while Regina had the lowest (131.82 mg GAE/g DW). All cultivars demonstrated strong DPPH scavenging activity, ranging from 92.00% to 94.26%, with corresponding ascorbic acid equivalent values spanning a narrow range (9.93–10.17 mg/g DW). Despite this narrow range, high TPC was generally associated with higher antioxidant potential. However, the high DPPH activity observed even in low-phenolic cultivars (e.g., Regina) suggests that qualitative differences in phenolic composition may also play a key role. These findings highlight cherry stems as a promising source of bioactive phenolic compounds and support their potential valorization in functional and nutraceutical applications.

Keywords

Cherry stem , Bioactive compounds , DPPH , By-product valorization

References

• Acero, N., Gradillas, A., Beltrán, M., García, A., Muñoz Mingarro, D. (2019). Comparison of phenolic compounds profile and antioxidant properties of different sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties. Food Chemistry, 279, 260–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.12.008
• Afonso, S., Oliveira, I. V., Meyer, A. S., Aires, A., Saavedra, M. J., Gonçalves, B. (2020). Phenolic profile and bioactive potential of stems and seed kernels of sweet cherry fruit. Antioxidants, 9(12), 1295. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121295
• Agulló-Chazarra, L., Borrás-Linares, I., Lozano-Sánchez, J., Segura-Carretero, A., Micol, V., Herranz-López, M., Barrajón-Catalán, E. (2020). Sweet cherry byproducts processed by green extraction techniques as a source of bioactive compounds with antiaging properties. Antioxidants, 9(5), 418. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9050418
• Aqil, Y., Hajjaji, S. E., Belmaghraoui, W., Mourabit, Y., Taha, D., Alshahrani, M. M., Bourais, I. (2023). Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antigout Potential of Stem Extracts of Four Sweet Cherry Cultivars. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2023(1), 8535139.
• Brand-Williams, W., Cuvelier, M. E., Berset, C. L. W. T. (1995). Use of a free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity. LWT-Food science and Technology, 28(1), 25-30.
• Bursal, E., Köksal, E., Gülçin, İ., Bilsel, G., Gören, A. C. (2013). Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of cherry stem (Cerasus avium L.) determined by LC–MS/MS. Food research international, 51(1), 66-74.
• Cicco, N., Castronuovo, D., Candido, V. (2024). Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and morphological traits in 1 to 4-year-old Muscari comosum bulbs cultivated in three growing environments. Agriculture, 14(2), 178.
• Demir, T., Akpınar, Ö., Kara, H., Gungor, H. (2020). Cherry stem phenolic compounds: Optimization of extraction conditions and in vitro evaluations of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory and cytotoxic activities. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 44(2), e14804. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.14804
• García Villegas, A., Fernández Ochoa, Á., Alañón, M. E., Rojas García, A., Arráez Román, D., Cádiz Gurrea, M. L., Segura Carretero, A. (2024). Bioactive compounds and potential health benefits through cosmetic applications of cherry stem extract. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(7), 3723. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073723
• Mertoğlu, K. (2021). Some phytochemical characteristics of cherry cultivars and relations between these characteristics. Turkish Journal of Agriculture – Food Science and Technology, 8(4), 928–933. https://doi.org/10.30910/turkjans.870796
• Nunes, A. R., Gonçalves, A. C., Falcão, A., Alves, G., & Silva, L. R. (2021). Prunus avium L.(sweet cherry) by-products: A source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties—A review. Applied Sciences, 11(18), 8516.
• Oçkun, M. A., Gerçek, Y. C., Demirsoy, H., Demirsoy, L., Macit, İ. (2022). Comparative evaluation of phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of new sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genotypes in Turkey. Phytochemical Analysis, 33(4), 564–576. https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.3110
• Singleton, V. L., & Rossi, J. A. (1965). Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdic-phosphotungstic acid reagents. American journal of Enology and Viticulture, 16(3), 144-158.