Investigation of the Potential Use, Phytochemical and Element Contents of Acacia Plant Seeds Grown in Wild Form, Considered as Environmental Waste

In this study, the effect of altitude on oil amounts, antioxidant activity, polyphenol content and mineral contents of Acacia seeds collected from two different locations (up to 1100 m above sea level) was investigated. Total carotenoid and flavonoid contents of Acacia seeds were detected as 0.76 (Konya) and 1.06 µg/g (Taşucu-Mersin) to 1343.60 (Konya) and 184.53 mg/100 g (Taşucu-Mersin), respectively. Total phenol contents and antioxidant activity values of Acacia seeds were identified as 255.11 (Konya) and 190.00 mgGAE/Taşucu-Mersin) to 64.18% (Konya) and 75.21% (Taşucu-Mersin), respectively. The oils extracted from Acacia seeds in Konya and Mersin province contained 62.70% and 70.39% linoleic, 23.41% and 16.03% oleic, 6.45%and 6.04% palmitic and 2.93% and 4.94% stearic acids, respectively. While 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid amounts of seeds are determined as 3.89 (Konya) and 4.83 mg/100 g (Taşucu-Mersin), (+)-catechin contents of Acacia seeds were identified as 3.42 (Konya) and 9.51 mg/100 g (Taşucu-Mersin). Also, rutintrihydrate and ferulic contents of Acacia seeds were found as 23.37 (Konya) and 11.87 mg/100 g (Taşucu-Mersin) to 14.74 mg/100 g (Konya) and 1.12 mg/100 g (Taşucu-Mersin), respectively. Acacia seeds collected from Konya and Mersin contained 4003.75 and 3540.89 mg/kg P, 9819.12 and 16175.69 mg/kg K, 4347.47 and 5078.81 mg/kg P, 2195.77 and 2317.90 mg/kg Mg, 1015.75 and 2665.60 mg/kg S and 187.53 and 905.52 mg/kg Na, respectively.