Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), belonging to the Cornaceae family, is widely known as “kızılcık”, “erğen”, or “kiren”, and is a fruit species that grows naturally in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. It is particularly widespread in Inner Anatolia and the Marmara regions, both as wild and cultivated varieties.

Botanical Characteristics and Morphology

Cornelian cherry is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 3 to 6 meters tall. Its leaves are oppositely arranged, short-stemmed, and oval-shaped. The leaf surface is hairless, while the underside is hairy. Its flowers are in panicles and yellow in color, blooming before the leaves, and are an important nectar source for bees. This early flowering provides a great advantage in terms of pollination.

^{Cornelian Cherry Fruit (Generated with Artificial Intelligence)}

Its fruit is oval-shaped, bright red, single-seeded, and approximately 1–2 cm long. The fruit is attractive due to its fleshy texture and thin skin. When ripe, it has a sour-sweet flavor. Due to its high tannin content, it has a bitter taste, especially when consumed before ripening.

Phytochemical Content and Nutritional Composition

Cornelian cherry fruit contains many beneficial compounds in high concentrations. 100 grams of fresh cornelian cherry fruit contains approximately 21.7 g carbohydrate, 0.4 g protein, 0.1–0.3 g fat, and 1.8 g fiber. It is also rich in vitamin C; approximately 35–70 mg of vitamin C can be found in 100 g of cornelian cherry.

It has a high antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content can reach 200–650 mg GAE/100g; antioxidants such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins play a role in scavenging free radicals. Moreover, organic acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and ellagic acid are also abundant in the fruit.

Health Effects

Cornelian cherry fruit is particularly noteworthy for its protective effect against urinary tract infections. This is due to the effect of the proanthocyanidins (PACs) it contains in preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract. This protective effect, especially against E. coli bacteria, has been confirmed in scientific studies.

Furthermore, due to its high antioxidant content, it has been observed to be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases, reducing age-related cell damage, and strengthening the immune system.

Its tannin content protects the gastric mucosa and has a balancing effect on stomach acid. Together with its fibrous structure, it supports the digestive system and plays a preventative role against constipation. Due to its low glycemic index, it is recommended as a fruit that can be easily consumed by diabetic patients.

Traditional and Industrial Uses

In Anatolia, cornelian cherry is traditionally consumed fresh as a fruit and also used to make jam, marmalade, molasses, tarhana, juice, compote, vinegar, and syrup. It has a unique food form known as “kızılcık tarhanası” (cornelian cherry tarhana) especially in Tokat and the Black Sea region.

In the food industry, cornelian cherry extract can be used as a coloring agent. Its dried form is popular as a healthy snack. It also has the potential to be used as a natural additive in meat products. Studies have shown that cornelian cherry powder exhibits properties that extend the shelf life of meat products, suppress microbial growth, and improve texture.