Examination of Physicochemical Parameters of Products Based on Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) and Honey

The natural plant Cornus mas, sometimes called Cornelian cherry, has been known since ancient times and the fruit is used for various purposes. Cornus mas gives healthy fruits without the use of chemical protection, which are used as healthy, tasty and medicinal food. Cornus mas fruits can be used for eating fresh or in the form of numerous processed products: marmalade, jam, sweet, compote, syrup, juice, fruit yogurt, liqueur, wine and brandy. Due to its antioxidant, antiallergic, antimicrobial and antihistamine properties, it is increasingly used as a dietary supplement, as well as for medical purposes. Taking into account all the above, the aim of this paper is to examine samples of a mixture of honey and fresh wild Cornelian cherry, as well as a sample of honey and Cornelian cherry and determine the physical - chemical parameters: electrical conductivity, pH value, vitamin C content, HMF (hydroxy methyl furfural), as well as individual heavy metals such as iron, cadmium, lead, zinc, copper. Based on the obtained results, appropriate conclusions will be given and the possibility of registering these products as food supplements will be determined.  Based on the performed analyzes, it was shown that the sample of honey and Cornelian cherry mixture had the highest pH value and electrical conductivity, and that the honey sample had the lowest value. Also, the highest value of water activity had the sample of a mixture of honey and Cornelian cherry, while the highest content of hydroxymethylfurfural had the content of Cornelian cherry. The analysis showed the absence of manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in all samples, while it was shown that the highest content of Cu and Zn has the sample of Cornelian cherry 2.665 mg/kg Cu ​​and 14.41 mg/kg Zn, followed by a mixture of Cornelian cherry and honey Cu 2.778 mg/kg, Zn 14.670 mg/kg, while the honey sample has the highest Fe content of 16.72 mg/kg. This shows that the samples are rich in zinc, iron and copper, and that they are a good source for those minerals that could meet daily needs.