Phytochemistry, nutritional composition, health benefits and future prospects of Mespilus germanica L. (Medlar): A review

Mespilus germanica L., commonly known as medlar, is one of two species of the Rosaceae family. The medlar plant has a long history of use in gastronomy and healthcare. Medlar waste is used to extract hazardous heavy metals from contaminated water. The nutritional value of M. germanica fruits comes from their composition of carbohydrates, carotenoids, amino acids, organic acids, proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, and vital components. M. germanica fruit contains a high concentration of important phenolic components, which contribute to its anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. Additionally, several studies have identified diverse biological properties of the M. germanica plant, including the cytotoxic, neurodegenerative, and antibacterial properties of its fruits and leaves. Scientists are investigating underutilized plant species to address sustainability issues in food production. This review study will provide a comprehensive examination of its chemical composition, medical applications, plant waste utilization, and potential biological activities.

The M. germanica is a deciduous shrub with thorns (sometimes without thorns) and has simple, elliptical or oblong-lanceolate leaves (Fig. 1) (Kumachova et al., 2023).The young leaves are glabrous with trichomes on both sides, deep green on the top and light green on the bottom, with greater pubescence around the central vein (Haciseferoǧullari et al., 2005;Kumachova et al., 2023).The edges of the fully formed leaf are pointed at the tip, notched, and have reddish-brown glandular appendages (Kumachova et al., 2023;Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).The fruits of M. germanica are harvested during autumn, after the first frost (Cosmulescu et al., 2020;Cosmulescu & Scrieciu, 2020).Its fruit contains fatty acids and has high antioxidant capacity (Canbay et al., 2011;Cosmulescu & Scrieciu, 2020;Nabavi et al., 2011).M. germanica fruits are healthy but lose their taste after a few weeks.Freshly harvested or overripe fruits can turn brown and gooey.However, overripe fruits have a delicious and mildly acidic texture that can be consumed at this stage (Voaides et al., 2021).M. germanica fruits are sensitive to climate, and white fruits cannot be eaten due to high tannin levels (Assefa et al., 2020;Koçyiǧit et al., 2016;Shafiee et al., 2018;Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).To soften the fruit, some of the October harvest is stored in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated environment.Pickled M. germanica fruits are a popular winter snack (Glew, Ayaz, Sanz, et al., 2003a;Glew, Ayaz, Sanz, et al., 2003b;Glew, Ayaz, Vanderjagt, et al., 2003); Voaides et al., 2021).(See Tables 1 and 2.) M. germanica also known as Medlar, is a versatile plant that has a range of ornamental, medicinal, and dietary uses (Cosmulescu & Scrieciu, 2020;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).Its fruits can be eaten raw or cooked and can be used to make a variety of products such as cheese, jam, juice, honey and leather goods (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Salehi, 2020).Premature fruits can be used to make pickles or vinegar.The fruit is a good source of nutrients such as carotenoids, vitamins, organic acids, sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and vital components.Medlar fruits, leaves, wood, and bark have been used in traditional medicine, and the fruit flesh is known to have stimulant properties.(Bibalani & Mosazadeh-Sayadmahaleh, 2012;Davoodi et al., 2018;Shafiee et al., 2018).
Medlar is a fruiting plant that grows naturally in various regions, including the Transcaucasus and Caucasus mountains, Asia Minor, northern Iran, southern Crimea, Greece and the Balkan peninsula (Bibalani & Mosazadeh-Sayadmahaleh, 2012;Davoudzadeh et al., 2018).Azerbaijan has the most diverse varieties, with some wild variants found in Turkmenistan (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Voaides et al., 2021).M. germanica has been cultivated for thousands of years in temperate areas of Anatolia (Atay, 2013).This plant was likely cultivated some 3000 years ago in Northern Iran's Caspian Sea region and modern-day Turkey's Black Sea beaches (Haciseferoǧullari et al., 2005).It was brought to Greece around 700 BCE and to Rome around 200 BCE.It appears to have been a popular fruit plant throughout the medieval and Roman periods (Voaides et al., 2021).However, it fell out of favor during the 17th and 18th centuries, but it is now being cultivated again (Voaides et al., 2021).There was no information on manufacturing this plant anywhere in the world, not even in the countries where it is produced (Voaides et al., 2021).Nowadays, Medlar is hardly grown and can only be found in home lawns and botanical gardens (Sebek et al., 2019;Solomonova et al., 2019;Voaides et al., 2021).However, it is widely cultivated in Turkey, Germany, and the Netherlands (Bostan, 2002;Haciseferoǧullari et al., 2005;Sebek et al., 2019;Voaides et al., 2021;Yilmaz et al., 2016).
In recent years, scientists have been focusing on neglected and underutilized plant species that are used in decorative and gardening environments.These plants could help solve the problems of sustainability in food and agricultural production.With the world population increasing, global warming, and natural resources being depleted, these plant varieties could play a crucial role in boosting natural resources, helping the agricultural industry withstand environmental difficulties, and providing a basis for healthy meals.In addition, these plants can be used to enhance decoration and landscaping efforts.One such promising fruit plant is M. germanica, which offers many nutritional and physiological benefits.The purpose of this review study is to provide a comprehensive examination of the chemical composition, traditional uses, medical uses, commercial uses, plant waste use, and potential biological activities of M. germanica.The study only considers works that have made significant contributions to this field of research in the last twenty years.

Traditional uses
M. germanica (medlar), has a wide range of traditional applications.It can be consumed in various forms, such as fresh, vinegar, pickled, boiled, crushed, or dried-out pulp (Bostan, 2002).It is also used as a remedy for various ailments, mainly constipation and renal and urinary tract issues (Suna, 2019;Yue et al., 2021).However, its most common application is raw consumption (Ozturk et al., 2019;Salehi, 2020).The mature fruits of M. germanica can be eaten as is or processed into a diverse range of products, including juice, beverages, sauces, jelly, cheese, jams, leather, and syrup.(Fig. 2A) (Bibalani & Mosazadeh-Sayadmahaleh, 2012;Ozturk et al., 2019;Rop et al., 2011;Salehi, 2020;Suna, 2019;Yue et al., 2021).Unripe fruits can also be used to make pickles and beverages such as cider (Bibalani & Mosazadeh-Sayadmahaleh, 2012;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).Additionally, the fruits are used to make a specific jelly that can be used as a pie filling.Medlar cheese, which is a type of lemon curd, is also made using fruit paste, margarine, and eggs (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).

Commercial uses
Medlar fruit, a climacteric fruit, has gained importance as a popular food item among humans, which has increased its economic value.As a result, it is now available in large stores in metropolitan centres and regional outdoor markets (Fig. 2A).Researchers are interested in revealing its biological and nutritive features due to its commercial significance (Glew, Ayaz, Sanz, et al., 2003a;Glew, Ayaz, Sanz, et al., 2003b;Glew, Ayaz, Vanderjagt, et al., 2003).Medlar fruit powder can be used to enhance certain biophysical and physiological aspects of sponge biscuits fortified with this powder (Uçar & Hayta, 2018).The inclusion of powder increases the stiffness and lifespan of the cookies and also raises the crumb's redness value.Moreover, medlar fruit powder boosts the overall phenolic profile of the cake while improving its antioxidant qualities (Uçar & Hayta, 2018).Medlar is also an excellent source of pectin, which is a natural polysaccharide used as a functional ingredient in the food industry for thickening, increasing viscosity, forming gels, and modifying flavors (Al-Amoudi et al., 2019;Tabatabaei-Yazdi et al., 2015).The pectin extracted from medlar fruit has a high level of methoxyl pectin and primarily includes ᴅ-glucose, L-rhamnose, ᴅ-galacturonic acid, ᴅ-galactose, and L-arabinose (Al-Amoudi et al., 2019;Aydin & Kadioglu, 2001;Cevahir & Bostan, 2021).
Medlar fruit has a reasonably significant tannin concentration of around 3% and produces flocculation of proteins, making it useful for lowering wine visibility (Davoodi et al., 2018).M. germanica kernel oil was used to create bio-diesel using an Al 2 O 3 /CaO nano-catalyst.The extracted oil's primary ingredients were 41% oleic acid and 43% linoleic acid (Foroohimanjili et al., 2020), making it a potential substitute for diesel fuels without requiring any modifications to traditional machinery (Qasemi et al., 2022).Additionally, silver nanoparticles produced from M. germanica extract showed anti-biofilm and antibacterial properties against Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates with resistance to multiple drugs (Foroohimanjili et al., 2020).

Uses of wastes produced by medlar
Fruit waste is generated during the cleaning and sorting processes in fruit production activities (Bhardwaj et al., 2022).There are two types of waste produced during fruit growth: solid waste (seeds, peels, stones, etc.) and liquid waste (juices and their wash fluids) (Sha et al., 2023).Fruit waste is a rich source of secondary metabolites, which can be used to make food additives, preservatives, nutritional supplements, activated carbon sources for heavy metal ions removal, and biological adsorbents for wetland restoration (Benaïssa, 2006;Bhardwaj et al., 2022;Khedri et al., 2022;Langeroodi & Safaei, 2016;Solgi et al., 2017).Waste products from fruits and vegetables are rich in bioactive chemicals and are considered the most basic form of functional nutrients (Sha et al., 2023).Fruit waste that is high in flavonoids and polyphenols has antioxidant properties and can reduce the risk of developing several malignancies (Day et al., 2009).The literature has identified several important applications of Medlar plant waste (Fig. 2A).Medlar seeds can be used to produce activated carbon, which can remove heavy metals from contaminated water (Benaïssa, 2006).The peels, fruit cores, and leaves of medlar plants can be used as biosorbents to remove harmful metal ions from wastewater and aquatic streams (Khedri et al., 2022;Langeroodi & Safaei, 2016;Solgi et al., 2017).
Activated carbon is a highly versatile material used in various processes, such as air filtration, power generation, and wastewater treatment.It is especially useful in removing hazardous heavy metals from water (Abioye & Ani, 2015).Activated carbon is produced through carbonization, which can be chemically or physically activated.This process involves using different carbonaceous substances, such as farm and natural wastes, vegetable and fruit waste products, and other types of waste (Abioye & Ani, 2015;Kumar et al., 2018;Shehzad et al., 2015;Skodras et al., 2007).Solid fruit wastes like medlar seeds, palm shells, orange peels, grape seeds, bananas, and pomegranate peels are frequently used in producing activated carbon for water pollution removal (Elias et al., 2021;Issabayeva et al., 2006;Ukanwa et al., 2020).Another organic waste that can generate activated carbon is M. germanica seed waste, which has a significant potential for producing activated carbon.Solgi et al. (2017) studied a novel activated carbon produced from M. germanica seeds, for the removal of chromium Cr (VI).This was chemically stimulated with KOH and carbonized at temperatures ranging from 450 to 750 • C. The highest adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) on activated carbon derived from M. germanica seeds was 200 mg/g (Solgi et al., 2017).
Additionally, the choice of extraction solvent had a significant impact on the antioxidant properties of M. germanica fruit.Methanol is a superior solvent for extracting antioxidants when compared to water, according to certain studies.The study analyzed the water and methanol components of frozen M. germanica fruit and determined that the methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (Nabavi et al., 2011;Qasemi et al., 2022;Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).When evaluating the antioxidant characteristics of M. germanica fruit, it is essential to take into account the stage of ripeness.The antioxidant capacity of M. germanica fruit is evaluated using the ABTS + and DPPH assays, which demonstrate a noticeable decline during the maturity process (Gruz et al., 2011;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Rop et al., 2011;Sebek et al., 2019).According to published research, the antioxidants in overripe M. germanica fruit were more than twice as abundant as those with ripe fruit harvested just 10 days later (Gruz et al., 2011).
Medlar fruit is rich in health-promoting antioxidants, which is why it is best to consume it as soon as it ripens.In experiments measuring antioxidant capacity, 1 g of medlar fruit extract was found to be as effective as 238.2 mg of ascorbic acid.Although it had lower antioxidant activity compared to blackthorn, medlar fruit extract had higher activity than hawthorn and blackthorn fruit extracts in vitro (Stankovic et al., 2022).In addition, medlar fruit has been found to have a higher antioxidant capacity than figs, plums, cherries, grapes, apples, apricots, pineapples, melons, pears, bananas, watermelons, and peaches (Campanella et al., 2003).Research has also been carried out to determine the impact of various storage conditions on the antioxidant capacity of medlar fruit.Fruits stored in an enhanced atmospheric packaging system had higher antioxidant activity than fruits stored in a controlled environment, as determined by the DPPH scavenging technique (Selcuk & Erkan, 2015a).
However, after 60 days of storage, the antioxidant activity decreased.Another study found that exposure to 1-methylcyclopropene helped medlar fruits maintain an elevated amount of antioxidant capacity, which subsequently decreased during storage (Selcuk & Erkan, 2015b).Altering the packaging environment, either individually or in conjunction with Aloe vera gel or methyl jasmonate, greatly slowed the depletion of antioxidant activity during the preservation of medlar fruits (Ozturk et al., 2019).Finally, the impact of different drying methods, including microwave, hot air, and vacuum drying, on the antioxidant properties of medlar fruit was investigated using DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays (Selcuk & Erkan, 2015a).
Various drying methods were used to dry M. germanica fruits and their impact on the fruit's antioxidant capacity was studied using in vitro digestion (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).Although all drying methods reduced the fruit's antioxidant capacity, microwave heating resulted in the highest antioxidant preservation.The study found that the antioxidant properties of dried M. germanica fruits improved after digestion as seen in the results of the FRAP and DPPH experiments.However, the findings of the CUPRAC test did not support these conclusions (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).It is widely recognized in the scientific literature that a single experiment cannot adequately quantify the antioxidant capacity.Therefore, it is recommended to use a variety of assays employing different methodologiesto obtain a more comprehensive understanding (Capanoglu et al., 2017;Isbilir et al., 2019;Jalali et al., 2022;Voaides et al., 2021).Many studies have investigated the antioxidant potential of M. germanica buds, leaves, bark, and fruit.The leaves of M. germanica have remarkable antioxidant qualities due to their capacity to effectively neutralize DPPH radicals (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Safari & Ahmady-Asbchin, 2019;Voaides et al., 2021).
The potency of antioxidants of M. germanica fruit, bark, and leaf extracts was found to be the most potent of all evaluated materials (Nabavi et al., 2011), and the researchers observed that the radicalscavenging ability of each components increased with dosage.In addition, the antioxidant level of several sections of the M. germanica, including the fruit, leaves, and floral buds, was evaluated through DPPH and β-carotene bleaching tests (Isbilir et al., 2019), and the leaf extract  et al., 2022) was found to have the highest antioxidant activity in both trials compared to buds and fruits (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).

Antimicrobial activities
Limited studies have been conducted on the antimicrobial properties of the M. germanica plant, as shown in Table 4 (Bouabdelli et al., 2012;Denizkara et al., 2021;Foroohimanjili et al., 2020;Niu et al., 2013;Safari & Ahmady-Asbchin, 2019;Tabatabaei-Yazdi et al., 2015).In an investigation to determine its antibacterial activity, the M. germanica fruit extracts were tested against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus (Niu et al., 2013).The scientists discovered that the fruit extracts of M. germanica were somewhat susceptible to S. aureus but had a strong inhibitory impact on Klebsiella pneumoniae.Moreover, the ethanol-prepared fruit extract of M. germanica outperformed the water extract in terms of antibacterial activity (Niu et al., 2013).Similarly, another study compared the development of Listeria innocua, Streptococcus pyogene, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes using the fruit extract of M. germanica (Tabatabaei-Yazdi et al., 2015).The results showed that the extract had a stronger inhibitory effect on the development of Listeria innocua and Streptococcus pyogene compared to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes.This indicates that the extract has a bigger antibacterial impact on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria.Additionally, when the fruit extract of M. germanica was combined with widely used pharmaceutical antibiotics, it prevented the growth of more strains of bacteria (Tabatabaei-Yazdi et al., 2015).
A recent study examined the antibacterial properties of M. germanica fruit extracts using various solvents such as acetone, methanol, water, and ethanol (Denizkara et al., 2021).The extracts were tested against several bacteria and fungi using the disc diffusion method.The results showed that the water extracts had the highest antibacterial efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes, S. aureus, Shigella dysenteria, S. enterica ser.Typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium crysogenum, Penicillium notatum, Rhizopus nigricans, and Mucor racemosus.The results indicated that water extracts had the highest level of antibacterial efficacy (Denizkara et al., 2021).In addition, four distinct water extractions from M. germanica leaves were analyzed for their antibacterial capabilities against Proteus mirabilis, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and S. aureus.The study found that M. germanica leaf infusion and decoction had high antibacterial action (Bouabdelli et al., 2012).
In various studies, researchers have examined the use of extracts from M. germanica leaves for their antibacterial properties.In one study, ethanolic and methanolic extracts were tested against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus, which are commonly found in healthcare environments (Ahmady-Asbchin et al., 2013).The results showed that methanolic extracts were more effective in suppressing the growth of these bacteria as compared to ethanolic extracts (Ahmady-Asbchin et al., 2013).In another study, water-acetone extracts from M. germanica leaves were tested against several bacteria, such as Shigella dysenteriae, E. coli, Vibrio cholerae, and K. pneumoniae.The results showed that the extract was particularly effective against K. pneumoniae (Davoodi et al., 2017).In yet another supplementary study, the antibacterial activity of different concentrations of methanol extract from medlar leaves was evaluated against various bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, E. coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella paratyphi, Enterococcus faecalis, Citrobacter freundii and Shigella dysenteriae.The highest level of inhibitory activity was observed against S. aureus (Safari & Ahmady-Asbchin, 2019).Overall, the studies have demonstrated that leaf extracts of M. germanica have greater antibacterial action against Gram (+ive) bacteria than Gram (− ive) bacteria.Additionally, the antibacterial efficacy of this leaf extract was found to be greater than that of some bacteria, such as E. coli, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus (Safari & Ahmady-Asbchin, 2019).

Antidiabetic activities
Several studies have been carried out to investigate the effectiveness of various components of the M. germanica plant in treating diabetes.An in vitro experiment showed that an ethanolic extract of M. germanica fruit had better inhibition of α-glucosidase, compared to the conventional antidiabetic medication acarbose (Stankovic et al., 2022).The inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes have been observed in many components of the M. germanica plant, particularly the flower buds, leaves, and fruits (Isbilir et al., 2019).All extracts of M. germanica were found to inhibit α-glucosidase, while the bud and fruit extracts had inhibitory effects on pancreatic α-amylase of swine.
Among the tested extracts, flower bud extracts showed the most inhibition for α-glucosidase and α-amylase.According to the scientists, the inhibition might be due to the phenolics found in M. germanica (Isbilir et al., 2019).Another study reported that the water and methanolic fraction of the M. germanica extract have anti-diabetic properties ( Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).
It has been found that only a small portion of the water-based extract of M. germanica has significant anti-diabetic benefits ( Żołnierczyk et al., 2023).The flavonoid content of its leaves has been reported to dramatically lower blood levels of insulin, TNF-a, and glucose in rats with ovarian cancer (Kouhestani et al., 2018;Yunusa & Ozturk Urek, 2023).Studies have also shown that M. germanica leaf extract is effective in reducing blood glucose levels, reducing oxidative stress, and stabilizing body weight in both healthy and diabetic rats (Shafiee et al., 2018).In fact, in diabetic rats, the plant leaf extract administered orally significantly reduced blood glucose levels, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress.Additionally, it helped maintain body weight, surpassing the effects of metformin.Another study also found that M. germanica can reduce blood glucose levels and decrease apoptotic markers in diabetic rats.In particular, the rats treated with M. germanica showed lower levels of caspase-8 and caspase-3 compared to the control group (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).

Cytotoxic activities
The study evaluated the cytotoxicity of M. germanica fruit extract on three human cancer cell lines: cervical adenocarcinoma, malignant cell line, and colon adenocarcinoma.(Yunusa & Ozturk Urek, 2023).The extract showed potent cytotoxic action against cervical cancer cells, with an IC50 rate of 624.83 μg/mL, which was the highest observed.The extract had minimal efficacy against malignant cells, with an IC50 value of 854.98 μg/mL.However, it did not demonstrate any cytotoxic effects against colon cancer cells (Stankovic et al., 2022).Furthermore, the study investigated the effects of M. germanica leaf extract on the growth and development of carp fingerling skin, as well as its impact on nonspecific immune markers in the skin mucus and antioxidant genes (Hoseinifar et al., 2017).The addition of medlar leaf extract to fingerlings enhanced their growth rate, regardless of the dosage.Additionally, this extract treatment improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes that are controlled by genes in the epidermis (Hoseinifar et al., 2017).

Neurodegenerative activities
The study examined the effects of an extract from M. germanica leaves on male Wistar rats induced with streptozotocin, specifically in terms of cognitive impression, instruction, and memory retention (Darbandi et al., 2018).The results showed that the administration of Streptozotocin injection significantly impaired cognitive function, memory retention, and the integrity of CA1 neurons in comparison to the control group.However, when supplemented with medlar flavonoid extract, cognitive functions were significantly enhanced, and memory was preserved.This was demonstrated by an increase in the number of viable cells in the hippocampus CA1 area, accompanied by a decrease in the number of dead cells (Darbandi et al., 2018).Additionally, the flavonoid extract derived from the leaves of M. germanica was found to mitigate memory impairment induced by amyloid β-42 in rats, due to its role in reducing cytochrome C levels (Davoudzadeh et al., 2018).

Chemical composition of M. germanica L
Humans rely on various natural compounds, particularly fruits, that are rich in antioxidants and can help prevent various diseases (Donno et al., 2017;Żołnierczyk et al., 2023).Fruit consumption has traditionally been shown to improve human health, and dietary fibre is an excellent addition to dietary guidelines as they are a great source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins (Slavin & Lloyd, 2012;Yasin et al., 2020).Given the apparent importance of antioxidants in health, research has been expedited to discover new antioxidant alternatives and analyze existing antioxidant resources (Kaviani Livani et al., 2018;Llauradó Maury et al., 2020;Xu et al., 2017).Additionally, phenols and lipids are essential for the fruit's fragrance, flavour, and nutritional significance (Sadeghinejad et al., 2022).As a result, there has been a surge in demand for wild fruits in recent decades, primarily due to the growing awareness of their vitamin and mineral content, potent medicinal effects, and unique flavors (Khoo et al., 2016).
M. germanica is a plant that is rich in natural phytochemicals, but it has been largely ignored and understudied by the scientific community due to its low production.However, individuals across southeastern Europe, Turkey, Iraq, Siberia, and Iran have long recognized its value (Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023).The fruit of M. germanica contains a high concentration of organic acids, pectins, amino acids, carotenoids, sugars, trace elements, minerals, and polyphenols, making it nutritionally significant (Al-Amoudi et al., 2019;Ayaz et al., 2008;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Sadeghinejad et al., 2022;Voaides et al., 2021;Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).The fruit also contains bioactive substances such as fatty acids and phenols fatty acids and phenols (Sadeghinejad et al., 2022;Stankovic et al., 2022;Yildiz et al., 2023), which make it a valuable source of organic antioxidants that can be used in culinary and medicinal products (Akbulut et al., 2016;Donno et al., 2017;Khadivi et al., 2019;Yildiz et al., 2023;Żołnierczyk et al., 2021).

Volatile compounds
Fruit taste is contributed to by volatile scent molecules, even though they exist in very small amounts (Ercisli, 2007;Pourmortazavi et al., 2005;Veličković et al., 2013).Fragrance is predominantly associated

Table 5
Overall scenario of the chemical composition of the M. germanica reported in the literature.

Compound Class
The technique used for extraction
In human nutrition, major elements such as P, Ca, Mg, and K, and trace elements such as Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn are essential for normal biological system activity.Although these elements cannot be ingested in large amounts, they need to be included regularly in the diet (Glew, Ayaz, Vanderjagt, et al., 2003;Pető et al., 2016;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Stankovic et al., 2022).Major elements such as P and Ca are present in bones and teeth, while Mg acts as a relaxant, K controls the balance of fluids and electrolytes and supports the nervous system function (Ercisli et al., 2012;Pető et al., 2016).Trace elements, on the other hand, are required for several enzymes, and they play an essential role in various biological functions, including adequate development and growth during childbirth, growing up, and adulthood (Abbaspour et al., 2014;Cashman, 2002;Pető et al., 2016;Pohl et al., 2013;Popovic-Djordjevic et al., 2023;Rop et al., 2011).

Patents
A search by "Mespilus germanica" indicated 138 patents belonging to 69 simple and 57 extended families.Patents over time, patent application status and inventor's names are shown in Figs.4-6 respectively (htt ps://www.lens.org/lens/search/patent/list?q=Mespilus%20germani ca).A patent granted to Todor and Irena (2016) indicates use of its fruits along with peach, Mespilus germanica, rosehip, persimmon, orange, clementine, grapefruit, kiwi, and banana fruits for use as a facial mask,  having beneficial skin properties, especially for acneic skin or for other problems.The product has as deep soothing and cleansing effect, it absorbs excess oils and moisture from the skin, revitalizes and detoxes and has active anti-irritation and antibacterial properties.Similarly an invention is based on a gluten-free mill type chestnut-base product where each component including medlar has a protective and supportive effect on the health of people of all ages, with high nutritional value, produced in accordance with the technique of production of national and international supplementary foods (Elif et al., 2023).

Conclusion
This review discusses the increasing popularity of M. germanica L. due to its unique fruit characteristics and potential health benefits.While traditional medicine has employed various parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, there is a lack of extensive scientific investigation into its chemical components and physiological traits.The plant's flavonoids require further investigation, and there have been limited inquiries into the use of medlar waste.The study highlights the fruit's potential application in the food industry for the creation of valuable meals and novel goods.Acquiring knowledge about the nourishing, biological, and therapeutic properties of M. germanica fruits is crucial for rekindling interest in this exceptional fruit tree and reviving its cultivation and use.

Fig. 3 .
Fig. 3.The chemical and structural formulas of nutritionally important chemicals found in M. germanica fruit.All formulas are drawn with ChemDraw Ultra 12.0 (Cousins, 2011).a) Organic acids.b) Sugars.c) The fatty acids.d) Phenolic compounds.

Table 2
Overview of the heavy metals adsorbed by the Medlar waste products.

Table 3
Antioxidant activities reported for the M. germanica.

Table 4
Antimicrobial activities reported for M. germanica.