Investigation of nutritional characteristics and free radical scavenging activity of wild apple, pear, rosehip, and barberry from the walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan

This study is based on 2-year experimental results aimed at evaluating the nutritional value and pomological characteristics of wild fruits and berries from the walnut-fruit forests of southern Kyrgyzstan including apple (Malus sieversii var. kirgizorum), pear (Pyrus korshinskyi Litv.), rosehip (Rosa canina), or barberry (Berberis oblonga). Wild pear, characterised by its high level of alimentary fibres (8.76 g/100 g), offers a promising potential for industrial pectin production. Barberry features higher radical scavenging activity (antioxidant activity) as compared to Iranian and Turkish ecotypes. Among the investigated fruits and berries, barberry and rosehip represent a good source of bioactive phytochemicals due to their high phenolic, anthocyanin, vitamin C and mineral contents. Regular consumption of such wild fruits can contribute between 26 and 100% to the recommended dietary allowance of selected mineral elements (Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn) helping to combat micro-nutrient deficiency in humans.