Physicochemical characteristics and biological potential of the fruits of four medicinal plants from Dospat region, Bulgaria

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical characteristics and biological potential of the fruits (dried and frozen) of four wild growing medicinal plants from Dospat region, Rhodope Mountain, Bulgaria – rosehip (Rosa canina), black elder (Sambucus nigra), cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and juniper (Juniperus communis). The physicochemical properties (moisture, ash, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamin C contents) were determined. Afterwards, the biological activities (total phenolic content - TPC, total flavonoid content - TFC, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory) of methanolic extracts were investigated. The TPC values varied between 5.37 mg GAE/g dw (dried juniper berry) and 19.64 mg GAE/g dw (frozen cranberry), while TFC values were from 1.26 mg QE/g dw (dried rosehip) to 9.74 mg QE/g dw (frozen elderberry). The values of antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH method were between 24.23 mM TE/g dw (dried juniper berry) and 154.63 mM TE/g dw (frozen cranberry), while those obtained by the FRAP method varied from 23.06 mM TE/g dw (dried juniper berry) to 138.54 mM TE/g dw (frozen cranberry). The cranberry and juniper fruits showed moderate to high antimicrobial activity. The juniper berry and elderberry demonstrated high anti-inflammatory potential. The results revealed the great potential of the studied berries for application in pharmaceutical and functional food products.