A CONDIMENT (SUMAC (RHUS CORIARIA L.) FRUITS): SOME PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Abstract. Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is a perennial edible plant, which is growing wild. In the present research, the proximate physical and chemical properties of sumac fruits along with their mineral constituents were studied. The analyses of sumac fruits showed the following composition: moisture (9.6%), oil (7.4 %), protein (2.6 %), fibre (14.6 %), ash (1.8%) and water-soluble extract (63.8 %). Mineral content of the grown in Turkey sumac fruits was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were found to be predominant elements in sumac fruits. Some physical properties such as length, weight, volume, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density, projected area, porosity, terminal velocity and static coefficient of friction were measured at 4.79 % moisture content levels. The values of length, weight, geometric mean diameter, volume, thickness and sphericity of sumac fruit were determined as 4.72 mm, 0.018 g, 3.64 mm, 19.49 mm 3, 2.64 mm and 0.773, respectively. At the same moisture level, projected area, bulk density, porosity, terminal velocity and static friction of sumac fruits were determined as 0.164 cm 3, 304.25 kg/m 3, 68.52%, 3.52 m/s and 0.482-0.675, respectively. The knowledge of the nutritional properties and the mineral content of sumac fruit may be useful as a dietary information. Furthermore, it is very important to know the technical properties of the equipment used for harvesting, transportation and processing of sumac fruits.