Determination of Some Physical and Chemical Properties of Common Hawthorn (Crataegus Monogyna Jacq. Var. Monogyna)

Abstract

Hawthorn as a wild plant is an important fruit for human health. In this study, it was aimed to determine some physical and chemical properties of common hawthorn which is native plant of middle Anatolia in Turkey. According to chemical analysis results, crude protein, crude oil, ash, pH, acidity, total phenol contents and antioxidant activity values were found to be 3.03%, 1.22%, 2.77%, 4.08, 1.56%, 9.35 mg g−1 and 67.62% respectively. Some mineral matter contents as K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na and B values were found to be 16,273.88 mg kg−1, 1316.92 mg kg−1, 1263.86 mg kg−1, 934.87 mg kg−1, 62.20 mg kg−1, 57.06 mg kg−1 and 42.28 mg kg−1 respectively. The values of mass, diameter, length, geometric mean diameter and sphericity of Common hawthorn fruit were determined as 0.93 g, 11.37 mm, 12.25 mm, 11.65 mm and 0.95 at 68.98% (db) humidity respectively. In addition, fruit hardness, chroma (C*), hue angle (h*) of hawthorn was found as 1.21 N, 28.94 ve 16.19 under same humidity respectively. According to study results, it can be concluded that the hawthorn fruits are admirable natural food for human nutrition, and it can be considered as reference for the future researches.