DETERMINATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FATTY ACIDS OF BLACKTHORN FRUITS (PRUNUS SPINOSA) GROWN NEAR CLUJ-NAPOCA, NW ROMANIA

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the fatty acids in blackthorn fruits (Prunus spinosa) in order to valorize them as sources of nutrients. Different analyses, such as dry matter, protein, fatty acids, ash and mineral contents (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) were performed. The blackthorn fruits were sampledfrom wild-grownbushes, near Cluj-Napoca, NW Romania. After sampling, the fruits were washed and freeze dried. The following analyses were investigated: (i) dry matter and ash contents by gravimetric methods, (ii) mineral content by inductively coupled plasma optical mission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave-assisted acid digestion, (iii) protein content using Flash EA 2000 CHNS/O analyzer and (iv) fatty acids by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). It was reported that blackthorn fruits are rich in minerals and fatty acids. In blackthorn fruits, polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated over monounsaturated fatty acids due to the abundance of oleic acid (C18:1). These fruits also contain high levels of linoleic acid and lower amounts of α-linolenic acid. The obtained results revealed good nutritional properties of blackthorn fruit. Therefore, blackthorn fruits can constitute a source for products of great pro-healthy properties(tincture, wines, and teas).