FIXED OIL POTENTIAL OF WESTERN BLACK SEA LAUREL (LAURUS NOBILIS L.) SEEDS: MORPHOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACHES

Contemporary forestry prioritizes functional planning approaches for non-wood forest products to meet the changing demands of society and enhance welfare.In this context, bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), which grows naturally in the Western Black Sea Region, holds strategic importance for its seeds used in fixed oil production.İntended aims to evaluate the fixed oil yield and chemical composition of bay laurel seeds by examining their morphological, physical, and organoleptic properties.The bay laurel plant has multifaceted importance for the Western Black Sea Region.This importance can be assessed in terms of economic, ecological, socio-cultural, and export potential Seed samples were collected from different elevations (0, 150, and 400 m), and their morphological (seed-to-shell ratio, seed weight), physical, and organoleptic properties were determined.Seed fixed oil was extracted with hexane., and acid and saponification numbers and fatty acid composition were analyzed.Analysis revealed that the seed-to-shell ratio ranged from 67.6% to 70.2%, with the seed predominating by weight.The fixed oil ratio decreased with increasing elevation.The acid number exhibited regional variation; The acid number showed regional differences and the highest value was found in Sinop.(14.30), and the lowest in Zonguldak (11.57).The high saponification number demonstrates the importance of the importance of oil to the soap and detergent industry.Saturated fatty acids (29.40-32.06%)and unsaturated fatty acids (67.94-70.60%)were detected in the oils obtained with hexane, with oleic and lauric acids being the primary components.Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds grown in the Western Black Sea Region represent a strategic biological resource for the production of high-value fixed oils thanks to their morphological, biochemical, and physiological properties.The findings indicate that the fixed oil from the Western Black Sea laurel seed is particularly rich in unsaturated fatty acids and has significant functional potential for the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors.Overall, the study demonstrates that laurel seed fixed oil can be utilized industrially and commercially as a high-value-added natural product.