Content of Organic Acid and Essential Oil in Natural Sweet Chestnuts (Castanea Sativa Mill) Growing in Giresun/TURKEY

Abstract

This study investigated organic acid and essential oil components in sweet chestnut (Castanea Sativa Mill) fruits collected from naturally growing chestnut trees within the borders of Giresun province. For this purpose, chestnut samples were collected from trees in 10 different areas in Giresun. The organic acid composition of chestnuts was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Essential oil components were identified with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five different organic acids, including oxalic, quinic, maleic, citric and succinic acid, were investigated in chestnut samples, and the highest concentrations in chestnut samples were oxalic and citric acid. In the GC-MS analysis of chestnut samples, 18 essential oils were detected and terpinolene (TPO) was the most abundant. Another vital component found in chestnut samples is limonene.

Keywords

• chestnut
• organic acid
• essential oil
• hplc
• gs-ms
• monoterpenes