Pro-health potential of Prunus avium L. and Prunus domestica L. leaves cultivated in different water conditions

Leaves can be a valuable source of biologically active compounds that effectively protect the body against oxidative stress and resulting disease. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of a genotype and water conditions on the phytochemical substances and antioxidant activity of leaves of sweet cherry cv. Vanda and plum cv. Amers. The study was conducted at the Experimental Station in Lipnik, Poland, in 2017 and 2018. The soil on which the experiment was conducted belongs to the typical rusty soil group and is classified as a Haplic Cambisol. In the Ap level (arable-humus horizon), it has the granulometric composition of clay with a slightly acidic pH. The first experimental factor was a genotype (sweet cherry and plum). The second factor was under-crown watering; half of the trees from each variety were subjected to irrigation (W), and half were used as the control group (O), without irrigation, and with the soil water potential below – 0.01 MPa. Hadar micro-sprinklers were used for watering, sprinkler range r=1 m and efficiency of 2.5l h^-1; one sprinkler per tree. It was found that the leaves of both species are abundant in compounds (macro- and microelements, crude protein, antioxidants, vitamins) with pro-health activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. They are especially characterized by high antioxidant activity. By-products of plant production, such as cherry and plum leaves, can be a valuable and relatively cheap raw material for the production of food, pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, and, in times of insufficient feed supply, a valuable supplement to the feed of grazing animals.