INVESTIGATION ON PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT, AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES, DRYING PROFILE AND EXTRACTION OPTIMIZATION OF DEER APPLE (MALUS TRILOBATA V ERIOLOBUS TRILOBATUS)

In this study, drying kinetics, extraction optimization, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities, and antimicrobial effects of deer apple (Malus trilobata v Eriolobus trilobatus) fruit species were determined. Representing 50% ethanol and 15.86 solvent-sample ratio; total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity by DPPH and CUPRAC methods, and inhibition percent were found as 1000.9 mg gallic acid equivalent/kg fresh weight (FW), 469.5 mg catechin equivalent/kg FW, 967.7 mg Trolox equivalent/kg FW, 3.58 mg Trolox equivalent/g FW, 39.85%, respectively. It is shown that the deer apple fruit has antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Aspergillus flavus that known as pathogenic or spoilage microorganisms. This study shows that deer apple fruit is a good source of phenolic and flavonoid and has antimicrobial activity. Also, it contributes information about some physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of deer apple fruit and aims to increase the awareness of this fruit species.