Effect of Altitude and Location on Compositions and Antioxidant Activity of Laurel Cherry (Prunus Laurocerasus L.)

The compositional and antioxidant properties of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) fruit, which grow in two different locations (Trabzon and Rize) and altitudes, were investigated. The results were subjected to principal component analysis to better describe the relations between investigated properties and growing conditions. The results indicated that antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, citric acid, sugars and phenolic compounds were affected by location and altitude. While fruits of Trabzon province have higher composition content than those of Rize province, fruits collected at low altitudes in both regions were found to have superior properties. Total phenolic content in fruits from Trabzon and Rize provinces increased from 21.90 to 23.32 and from 16.84 to 18.91 mg gallic acid equivalent / 100 g dry weight (DW), β-carotene increased from 5.19 to 6.75 and from 4.16 to 5.61 mg / kg DW, and total sugar increased from 81.68 to 131.99 and from 86.44 to 99.58 mg / g DW when altitude decrease from 351 to 49 m and 316 to 14 m, respectively. Chlorogenic acid (1404.46-7358.63 mg / kg DW) and rutin hydrate (1491.05-2712.91 mg / kg DW) were major phenolic compounds in all samples.