Abstract
Large amounts of Prunus avium L. by-products result from sweet cherry production and processing. This work aimed to evaluate the mineral content and volatile profiling of the cherry stems, leaves, and flowers of the Saco cultivar collected from the Fundão region (Portugal). A total of 18 minerals were determined by ICP-MS, namely 8 essential and 10 non-essential elements. Phosphorus (P) was the most abundant mineral, while lithium (Li) was detected in trace amounts. Three different preparations were used in this work to determine volatiles: hydroethanolic extracts, crude extracts, and aqueous infusions. A total of 117 volatile compounds were identified using HS-SPME/GC-MS, distributed among different chemical classes: 31 aldehydes, 14 alcohols, 16 ketones, 30 esters, 4 acids, 4 monoterpenes, 3 norisoprenoids, 4 hydrocarbons, 7 heterocyclics, 1 lactone, 1 phenol, and 2 phenylpropenes. Benzaldehyde, 4-methyl-benzaldehyde, hexanal, lilac aldehyde, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were the major volatile compounds. Differences in the types of volatiles and their respective amounts in the different extracts were found. This is the first study that describes the mineral and volatile composition of Portuguese sweet cherry by-products, demonstrating that they could have great potential as nutraceutical ingredients and natural flavoring agents to be used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.
Highlights
In recent years, bioactive compounds of natural origin have been arousing great interest due to their potential for the prevention and treatment of several diseases, as well as for health promotion [1]
This study aimed to provide more detailed information on the mineral and volatile composition of sweet cherry stems, leaves, and flowers
A total of 117 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in the different sweet cherry by-product extracts
Summary
Bioactive compounds of natural origin have been arousing great interest due to their potential for the prevention and treatment of several diseases, as well as for health promotion [1]. The richness of plants in phenolic compounds makes them an excellent and low-cost source of phytochemicals with wide applicability in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic fields [2,3]. Other bioactive compounds can be obtained from plants, fruits, and their by-products, such as minerals, vitamins, and volatile substances [4–6]. Minerals are one of the most important constituents of the diet. They have a key role in the structural components of the human body, such as bones and teeth, and are involved in many metabolic processes [7]. According to García-Aguilar et al [9], black cherry seeds are a promising source of mineral elements with bioactive properties
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