Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), belonging to the Rosaceae (Rose family), native to Southeast Europe, is an evergreen, thorny, and shrubby plant. In Türkiye, it is also known by common names such as "dog apple", "rabbit apple", and "bird catcher". This species, preferred as an ornamental plant due to its visual appeal, its structure that can remain green all year round, and its bright fruits, also possesses notable characteristics from biological, chemical, and pharmacological perspectives.
Firethorn representation (Generated with artificial intelligence.)
Morphological Characteristics and Ecological Requirements
Firethorn is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3 meters tall. Its leaves are elongated and oval-shaped. In spring, it produces yellowish-white flowers in clusters, and in autumn, it yields fruits resembling grape clusters in red, orange, and yellow hues. The plant particularly prefers places with abundant light, while its water requirement is low. Its resistance to drought and cold temperatures down to -15°C makes it suitable for harsh environmental conditions. This species, with low soil selectivity, shows better development in humus-rich, moist, and nutrient-sufficient soils. Due to its susceptibility to pruning, it can be easily shaped in landscape applications.
Nutritional Value and Chemical Content
The red fruits of firethorn are noteworthy for their antioxidant compounds. In a study conducted by Çöteli and Karataş (2017), the presence of biologically active compounds such as vitamin A (0.15 µg/g), vitamin E (0.22 µg/g), vitamin C (12.10 µg/g), β-carotene (37.31 µg/g), lycopene (10.67 µg/g), reduced glutathione (200.81 µg/g), and oxidized glutathione (47.53 µg/g) was revealed in the fresh fruits of the Pyracantha coccinea Roemer var. lalandi species. The determination of the GSH/GSSG ratio as 4.23 indicates the plant's high antioxidant capacity.
Pharmacological Potential and Bioactivity
In a study conducted by Balaban et al. (2025), the effect of firethorn fruit and leaf methanol extracts on glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and tyrosinase (TYR) enzyme activities was evaluated. The research specifically determined that the leaf extract provided micromolar-level inhibition on the GST enzyme. This finding indicates that firethorn could be a natural alternative to enzyme inhibitors used in cancer treatment. Although no significant effect was observed on the TYR enzyme, it was determined in DNA protection analysis that neither extract caused DNA damage, and both showed a DNA protective effect at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. It was stated that the extracts showed antimicrobial activity against some bacterial and fungal pathogens, but this effect was not widespread against all microorganisms.
Physical and Biotechnical Properties
Analyses on the physical and mechanical properties of firethorn fruits indicate that this species also holds a remarkable potential in post-harvest processing. In a study conducted by Gül and Altuntaş (2021), the average length of fresh fruits was measured as 8.66 mm, width as 8.33 mm, and thickness as 6.43 mm. Furthermore, the fruits' geometric mean diameter was determined as 7.72 mm, sphericity as 89.24%, and surface area as 187.62 mm². In color analyses, the peel color of fresh fruits was found to be high in terms of redness and yellowness values, which confirms the fruit's striking aesthetic appearance.
Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) is a remarkable plant not only for its aesthetic value but also for its biologically active compounds and durable morphological structure. Its resistance to drought and cold, low maintenance requirements, and use for ornamental purposes make it a valuable landscape element, while its fruits, being rich in vitamins, carotenoids, and antioxidants, allow for its use in traditional medicine and future pharmacological research. However, advanced preclinical and clinical studies are needed to fully understand the plant's medicinal use potential.
