DETERMINATION OF SOME MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SARSAPARILLA (Smilax aspera L. and Smilax excelsa L.)

Abstract

Two sarsaparilla species Smilax aspera L. and Smilax excelsa L. shows natural distribution in Hatay flora. In the study, besides s ome phenological and morphological characteristics, antioxidant capacity and fixed oil contents and components of Smilax species collected from different locations were de termined. In the study, the highest 100 fruit weights with 37. 69 g were obtained from the sample of S. aspera L. species collected from Yayladagi 2 location and the highest 100 seed weight with 24.47 g from Yayladagi 1 location . In terms of antioxidant capacity of the leaves and fruits, nonsignificant d ifferences were observed among the species and locations. The antioxidant capaciti es of leaves were changed 62.28 to 64.57 mmol.Fe /kg while fruit antioxidant capacities were ranged 6 3.91 to 66.31 mmol. Fe /kg. The highest value of seed fixed oil with 12.03% were obtained from the S. aspera L. sample collected in Iskenderun location. Major fatty acid component were found as vaccenic acid in genera l for ll samples. The highest content of vaccenic acid found as 37.50% from S. aspera seed samples of Yayladagi 2 location.