Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Plant Biosystems, cilt.160, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study aimed to investigate the biochemical composition and biological activities of the fruits and leaves of six apple cultivars (Malus domestica) grown in the microclimatic regions of Ardahan, and Erzurum in Türkiye. Accordingly, pigment composition, total anthocyanin (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acid content (TIAC), total phenolic content (TPC), total ascorbic acid (TAC), antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic activities were analyzed. Leaf TPC values, except for the Tatlı and Dacik cultivars, were higher than those of the fruit peel. Similarly, TAC and pigment content were markedly higher in the leaves. Among the fruit extracts, the Paşa and Tatlı cultivars showed higher DPPH values, whereas the Kış cultivar exhibited the highest ABTS value. Leaf extracts displayed a markedly greater FRAP-based reducing capacity than fruit extracts. Moreover, the fruit extract of the Kış cultivar exhibited greater antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 than that of the other cultivars. The antimutagenic potential of apple fruit and leaf extracts against Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 strains was dose-dependent and varied among cultivars. These findings highlight that not only fruit extracts but also apple leaves, represent a valuable natural source of bioactive compounds for functional, nutraceutical, and health applications.