Nutrient Content, Antioxidant Capacity, and Fatty Acids Profile of Cherry Laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis Roemer) Unshelled Kernel to Be Used in Poultry Nutrition

Abstract

This study aims to assess the total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents, antioxidant capacity, and fatty acid profile, as well as nutrient content estimation of the cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis Roemer) unshelled kernel (CLUK) that is considered to have the potential to improve product quality and general health in poultry nutrition. The CLUK blend obtained from fruit collected to represent cherry laurel produced in Türkiye was dried, unshelled, and ground to pass through a 1-mm sieve. This CLUK blend was analyzed according to the relevant method of each parameter to describe assessment results. The crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber contents of the CLUK blend were recorded to be 28.94, 34.55, 26.25, and 36.70%, respectively. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the radical-scavenging potencies such as DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid) were 139.84, 11.79, and 8.00 µg trolox equivalents mg-1, respectively. A total phenolic of 3.31 mg gallic acid equivalent g-1 and ascorbic acid of 1.57% contents was determined for the CLUK blend. The primary fatty acids for the CLUK blend were identified as oleic (66.61%), linoleic (15.61%), and palmitic (11.78%). These results reveal that the studied CLUK blend has the potential for quality, healthy, and eco-friendly poultry production.