Abstract
The apricot is attractive for several reasons, with the most important being the harvest period and the significant amount of contained substances that positively affect human health. This report discusses the identification and quantification of phenolic substances in 15 selected apricots. The following 14 phenolic compounds were identified: 4aminobenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, flavonols quercetin and quercitrin, isoquercetin (quercetin-3-β-D-glucoside), rutin, resveratrol, vanillin, phloridzin, phloretin, epicatechin, catechin, and transpiceid. Significant amounts of phytochemicals found in apricot fruits are chlorogenic acid [0.69–21.94 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW)], catechin (0.55–10.75 mg/100 g FW), epicatechin (0.04–13.52 mg/100 g FW), and rutin (1.49–20.44 mg/100 g FW). Rutin and chlorogenic acid were the dominant compounds found in the studied set of cultivars. Furthermore, other important analytical properties of fruits (total acids, vitamin C, total content of phenolic substances, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoids) were also determined.
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is, after apple and pear, one of the most widespread fruit species in the temperate zone. It is undoubtedly one of the most attractive stone fruit species grown in the Czech Republic. This is largely because of the taste and aroma of the fruits, as well as the attractiveness of its appearance and harvest season.
From a nutritional point of view, the apricot is an interesting supplement to the human diet because it contains several beneficial substances. The fruit pulp contains up to 90% water and is also a good source of fiber. The predominant sugar in apricot is sucrose. Glucose, fructose, maltose, and raffinose are also present, but in lower concentrations (Gatti et al., 2009). The most important organic acids in apricot are malic acid (500–900 mg/100 g), citric acid (30–50 mg/100 g), and tartaric acid (Chen et al., 2009; Fatima et al., 2018). Vitamins A, C, and E and provitamin A are present in these fruits (Ali et al., 2011, 2015). Minerals and trace elements are represented mainly by potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and, to a lesser extent, iron, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, cobalt, selenium, and others (Leccese et al., 2008).
An important component is a large number of bioactive substances that together provide high antioxidant capacity (Fratianni et al., 2018). Phenolic compounds in apricot are represented primarily by gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, pcoumaric acid, ferulic acid, catechin, epicatechin, quercetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-3rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-rutinoside (Dragovic-Uzelac et al., 2005). Chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and rutin are the most common phytochemicals found in apricot fruits (Carbone et al., 2018; Dragovic-Uzelac et al., 2005, 2007).
Research has been focused on apricot kernels, which contain proteins, fiber, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals. However, they also contain the toxic cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin, the content of which varies depending on the taste of the kernel. Bitter kernels contain up to 10-times more amygdalin than sweet apricot kernels (Rampáčková et al., 2021). According to Turan et al. (2007), the total oil content of apricot kernel ranges from 40.23% to 53.19%, and it is predominantly formed by oleic acid (70.83%). Göttingerová et al. (2020) studied the constituents of apricot blossoms, which are an interesting supplement to the human diet. The study provided information about a nutrient content comparable to that found in common fruits such as plums, blueberries, and blackcurrants. Total phenols in the flowers in their study ranged from 404.08 to 768.45 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g FW.
Natural phenolic compounds have attracted the interest of many researchers because of the possible relationship between their dietary content and the lower incidence rates of cancer and cardiovascular diseases (La Vecchia et al., 2001; Long et al., 2001). Their antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects have also been confirmed, but large clinical studies to support these effects in humans are still lacking. Antioxidant activity is closely related to the content of phenolic compounds. Some phenolic compounds have been shown to have a higher antioxidant activity compared with others (Ou et al., 2002). This fact is important when the fruit ripens because the content of individual phenolic compounds significantly varies during the ripening. Immature fruit show the highest level of polyphenols, and these levels decrease with gradual ripening (Dragovic-Uzelac et al., 2007). The percentage of individual substances may also differ according to cultivars, vegetation conditions, and applied agricultural techniques, as well as according to the age or development of the fruit, and even based on the individual part of the fruit (skin, flesh, etc.).
Because of the contents of the aforementioned substances, this fruit is widely used in popular medicine. Apricots have a significant overall positive effect on the human body. They enhance the growth of nails, hair, and skin by acting against free radicals, have an overall rejuvenating effect, slow the aging process, help with asthma and fatigue, break-down fats, have an antistress effect, help treat anemia, nervous system diseases, and insomnia, improve eyesight, reduce body fat, and act against constipation (Dulf et al., 2017; Enomoto et al., 2010).
This study aimed to determine phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoids in the fruits of selected apricot cultivars to highlight that the apricot fruit is a highly nutritious food, rich in functional components.
Materials and Methods
Site of planting and plant material.
The fruits were harvested from trees grown in the orchard of the Department of Fruit Growing at the Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice located in the South Moravian Region at an altitude of 176 m above sea level with an average annual temperature of 9.7 °C. The whole orchard was supported by drip irrigation. The training system was a free-growing dwarf tree without a terminal on the apricot seedlings rootstock. Five trees were always planted from each cultivar.
Samples were collected at harvest maturity. From each tree of a cultivar, two fruits were taken from the same part of a crown. One sample consisted of 2 fruits taken from each of the 5 trees, in total 10 fruits. For analysis, 15 apricot cultivars (Adriana, Bora, Jin-Na-Li, Leskora, Lydia, Ninja, Orange Rubis, Pozdní chrámová, Rubista, Sefora, Skarb, Spring Blush, Tsunami, Velkopavlovická, and Veselka) from the Czech and world assortment were selected. Chemical analyses of fresh matter were performed no more than 3 d after the harvest.
Determination of titratable acidity.
The determination of titratable acidity was performed by potentiometric titration with a solution of 0.1 mol⋅L−1 NaOH of a known factor up to pH 8.1 using a combined SenTix™ 81 pH electrode (WTW, Prague, Czech Republic) attached to an inoLab 7110 pH meter (WTW) and was expressed as a percentage of malic acid equivalent (Goliáš and Němcová, 2009). The sample used for titration was composed of mixed fruits.
Preparation of the plant samples for analyzing the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity, and phenolic substances.
The contents of secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity) were determined from a methanol extract of fresh fruit material. Five grams of the sample were homogenized with a hand blender in 25 mL of 75% methanol. The extract was left to stand for 24 h; then, it was filtered through filter paper into a 50-mL measuring flask and filled to the line with 75% methanol. Samples were placed in a 20-mL plastic bottle and kept at −20 °C until the analysis (Zbíral, 2005).
Determination of individual phenolic substances.
The concentration of individual phenolic substances was determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The methanol extract was centrifuged to remove any residual solids before the analysis, and the clear supernatant was further diluted five times with 100 mM perchloric acid. The diluted extract was analyzed in a LC-10A HPLC system (Shimadzu, Tokyo, Japan). The samples were run in an analytical column (Alltima HP C18, 3 μm, 3·150 mm; Avantor, Randor, PA), where 15 mM perchloric acid solution was used as the mobile phase. Detection was performed at wavelengths from 190 to 650 nm. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives that had a spectrum analogous to chlorogenic acid were calibrated to chlorogenic acid, and glycoside quercetin was calibrated to rutin.
Determination of the individual components was based on the calibration curves of the following standards:
192 nm: 4-aminobenzoic acid
200 nm: catechin, epicatechin
275 nm: vanillin, cinnamid acid
285 nm: phloridzin, phloretin
310 nm: transpiceid, transresveratrol
325 nm: chlorogenic acid
350 nm: rutin, quercetin-3-β-D-Glukosid, quercitrin
370 nm: quercetin
Determination of L-ascorbic acid.
The concentration of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was determined with HPLC according to the method of Sawant et al. (2010). For analysis, 20 g of fruit material was homogenized with a hand blender in 25 mL of a 0.1-mol⋅L−1 solution of oxalic acid. Then, the sample was filtered through gauze into a 100-mL measuring flask, and oxalic acid was added to the line. Twenty milliliters of this solution was centrifuged in EBA 12 (Hettich, Vlotho, Germany) for 10 min at 3500 rpm. The supernatant was filtered through a 0.45-μm microfilter before injection into the ECB 2000 chromatograph (Ecom, České Meziříčí, Czech Republic). Samples were run in an analytical column (Pack ODS-AQ S-5 mm, 12 nm, 150·4.6 mm; YMC, Shimogyoku, Japan); as a mobile phase, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide with oxalic acid and water at a ratio of 10:20:70 was used. The detection was performed at 254 nm, and the qualitative assessment was performed based on the retention data. The quantitative assessment was determined according to the sample and the standard peak area. Vitamin C content was expressed in milligrams per 100 g FW.
Determination of total phenolic content, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity.
Analyses of all parameters were performed according to the methods of Zloch et al. (2004) by using a Specord 50 Plus spectrophotometer (Analytik, Jena, Germany). Total phenolic content was determined after the reaction of sample methanol extracts with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent at a wavelength of 765 nm. Total phenolic content was expressed in milligrams GAE per 100 g FW. Total flavonoid content was determined by using aluminum chloride and sodium nitrite. The results were expressed in milligrams catechin equivalent (CAE) per 100 g FW. The 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method was used to determine the total antioxidant capacity. This method is based on the decolorizing property of the hydrogen radical of DPPH with hydrogen donors, including phenolic compounds. Trolox (6hydroxy-2.5.7.8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid) was used as a standard, and the total antioxidant capacity was measured at 515 nm and then expressed in milligrams Trolox equivalent (TE) per 100 g FW.
Determination of total carotenoids.
Before the determination of the carotenoid content, the fruits were sliced into thin sections and dried in a heat chamber (FED 400; Binder, Tuttlingen, Germany) at 50 °C for 24 h and pulverized in a mill (Pulverisette 11; Fritsch, Weimar, Germany). Next, the pigments were extracted from the samples with acetone. Spectrophotometric determination of photosynthetically active pigments (carotenoids) was performed using a Specord 50 Plus spectrophotometer at 440 nm according to Holm (1954). The concentration of carotenoids is expressed in milligrams per 100 g FW.
Statistical analysis.
The established data were processed using Microsoft Excel (Redmond, WA) and Statistica 12 software (TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA). A single-factor analysis of variance (level of significance, P ≤ 0.05) was used for statistical processing, and Tukey’s test was subsequently used to assess the statistical significance of differences between individual apricot cultivars. A correlation matrix between the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity was established as well.
Results
One of the main phenolic components in the fruit of the Prunus genus is chlorogenic acid. The content of this acid in the studied group ranged from 0.69 to 21.94 mg/100 g FW. Significantly high values were measured in the cultivars Ninja (21.94 mg/100 g FW), Adriana (15.31 mg/100 g FW), Spring Blush (12.06 mg/100 g FW), and Velkopavlovická (11.69 mg/100 g FW). However, low values were recorded in the cultivars Orange Rubis, Jin-Na-Li, Sefora, and Skarb (0.69, 0.793, 0.85, and 0.90 mg/100 g FW, respectively).
Catechin and epicatechin are the most common substances from the group of flavanols (flavan-3-ol) that can be found in many plant species. Of these compounds, catechin was the most abundant, with values ranging from 0.55 to 10.75 mg/100 g FW. The highest amount of catechin was in ‘Spring Blush” (10.75 mg/100 g FW), whereas the lowest amounts were measured in ‘Skarb’ (0.55 mg/100 g FW) and ‘Jin-Na-Li’ (0.85 mg/100 g FW). The content of epicatechin ranged from 0.04 to 13.52 mg/100 g FW. Czech cultivars and one Slovak cultivar had the highest contents of epicatechin among analyzed cultivars. The highest values were measured in the Velkopavlovická (13.52 mg/100 g FW) and Lydia cultivars (11.73 mg/100 g FW), followed by Adriana, Veselka, and Pozdní chrámová (8.79, 5.59, and 4.35 mg/100 g FW, respectively). However, the lowest value was measured in ‘Jin-Na-Li’ (0.04 mg/100 g FW).
The most abundant compound with the flavonoid scaffold was quercitrin (0.02–3.61 mg/100 g FW). The highest values were measured in ‘Jin-Na-Li’ (3.61 mg/100 g FW), ‘Spring Blush’ (3.08 mg/100 g FW), and ‘Tsunami’ (2.31 mg/100 g FW). On the contrary, in ‘Lydia’ (0.02 mg/100 g FW) and ‘Skarb’ (0.07 mg/100 g FW), the content of this compound was minimal. The average content of quercetin was 0.045 mg/100 g FW. Significant values were measured in ‘Bora’ and ‘Jin-Na-Li’, which contained 0.232 and 0.111 mg/100 g FW, respectively. The content of quercetin was not detected in the cultivar Adriana, and a very low content was detected in Sefora (0.0061 mg/100 g FW). The content of another bioflavonoid, rutin, ranged from 1.50 to 20.44 mg/100 g FW. A significantly high content of rutin was measured in ‘Spring Blush’ (20.44 mg/100 g FW), ‘Velkopavlovická’ (18.42 mg/100 g FW), and ‘Ninja’ (15.97 mg/100 g FW). The lowest contents were measured in ‘Skarb’ and ‘Lydia’ (1.50 and 1.58 mg/100 g FW, respectively).
The remaining phenolic compounds with corresponding measured values are listed in Tables 2 and 3. Differences between the cultivars in all individual determinations were evaluated as highly significant (Tables 1–3).
Phenolic compounds chlorogenic acid, rutin, catechin, epicatechin, quercitrin, and quercetin in fruits of apricot cultivars.
Phenolic compounds 4-aminobenzoic acid, transpiceid, quercetin-3-β-d-glukosid, and phloridzin in fruits of apricot cultivars.
Phenolic compounds transresveratrol, phloretin, vanillin and cinnamid acid in fruits of apricot cultivars.
In the examined group of cultivars, the total content of phenolic substances ranged from 57.33 to 571.93 mg GAE/100 g FW. The highest proportions of total phenolic substances were in ‘Velkopavlovická’ (571.93 mg GAE/100 g FW), followed by ‘Lydia’ (292.64 mg GAE/100 g FW), ‘Spring Blush’ (286.27 mg GAE/100 g FW), and ‘Adriana’ (274.32 mg GAE/100 g FW). However, the lowest values of phenolic substances were measured in ‘Skarb’ (57.33 mg GAE/100 g FW), ‘Sefora’ (66.58 mg GAE/100 g FW), and ‘Orange Rubis’ (74.69 mg GAE/100 g FW). The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
Titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoids in fruits of apricot cultivars.
The highest proportions of flavonoids were measured in the cultivars Velkopavlovická (99.78 mg CAE/100 g FW) and Spring Blush (48.82 mg CAE/100 g FW). The lowest values were recorded in the cultivars Pozdní chrámová, Jin-Na-Li, Skarb, and Sefora (2.49, 6.06, 6.48, and 8.78 mg CAE/100 g FW, respectively). The average value of flavonoids in the tested group reached 25.95 mg CAE/100 g FW. The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
Using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method, the average value of antioxidant activity in apricot fruits was 203.42 mg TE/100 g FW. The highest values were measured in ‘Velkopavlovická’ (249.08 mg TE/100 g FW), ‘Leskora’ (243.44 mg TE/100 g FW), and ‘Lydia’ (241.93 mg TE/100 g FW). ‘Veselka’ (240.24 mg TE/100 g FW) also showed a high value of antioxidant capacity. The lowest total antioxidant capacity was measured in ‘Adriana’ (161.47 mg TE/100 g FW) and ‘Jin-Na-Li’ (163.98 mg TE/100 g FW). The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
The average content of carotenoids in the studied cultivars was 0.79 mg/100 g FW. The cultivars with the highest content of carotenoids were Bora (1.40 mg/100 g FW), Lydia (1.30 mg/100 g FW), and Jin-Na-Li (1.11 mg/100 g FW). The lowest values were found in Pozdní chrámová, Skarb, and Spring Blush cultivars (0.44, 0.45, and 0.46 mg/100 g FW, respectively). The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
The average content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the studied cultivars was 6.49 mg/100 g FW. The cultivars with the highest vitamin C content were Bora (13.15 mg/100 g FW), Jin-Na-Li (10.78 mg/100 g FW), and Skarb (10.28 mg/100 g FW). The lowest values from the evaluated set of cultivars were measured in Tsunami (1.86 mg/100 g FW) and Spring Blush (2.83 mg/100 g FW). The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
The highest acid contents were found in the cultivars Bora (3.01% malic acid), Lydia (2.66% malic acid), and Ninja (2.47% malic acid). The cultivars with the lowest acid content were Rubista (0.72% malic acid), Jin-Na-Li (0.77% malic acid), and Skarb (0.79% malic acid). The average acid content in the analyzed cultivars was 1.63% malic acid. The differences between the cultivars were highly significant (Table 4).
Discussion
Fruits present complex mixtures of polyphenols. The phenolic substances in fruits are mainly phenolic acids and flavonoids. Apricot is considered a good source of these compounds and has been studied worldwide. Kalyoncu et al. (2009) demonstrated high concentrations of phenolic substances in immature fruits. Their concentration usually decreases with fruit ripeness; however, the content of some phenolic compounds is stable or increases with ripeness. Among the most stable polyphenols are flavan-3-ols, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin-3-rutinoside, which are dominant during all ripening stages of all apricot cultivars (Dragovic-Uzelac et al., 2007). On the contrary, the contents of carotenoids (especially β-carotene, zeaxantin, lutein, neoxantine) and anthocyanide dyes (pigments) increase with ripeness by up to 70% to 85% (Dragovic-Uzelac et al., 2007; Römer et al., 2000). This is largely because of the coloring of the fruit (finish of the blush). According to Sass-Kiss et al. (2005), chlorogenic, caffeic, β-coumaric, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids are the most common phenolic acids found in apricots. Chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and rutin are the most common phytochemicals found in apricot cultivars (Carbone et al., 2018). Dragovic-Uzelac et al. (2005, 2007) considered chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, also called CGA) as the dominant phenolic compound in Croatian cultivars. Akbulut and Artik (2002) reported catechins as the most common phenolic compound in Turkish apricot cultivars. Our results show that catechin was the most abundant phenolic compound in all analyzed apricot cultivars (Fig. 1, Table 1). An article by Fan et al. (2018) agrees with this statement.
Polyphenol compounds concentrations of chlorogenic acid, catechin, and rutin in fruits of apricot cultivars.
Citation: HortScience 56, 11; 10.21273/HORTSCI16139-21
In the examined group of cultivars, the total content of phenolic substances ranged from 57.33 to 571.93 mg GAE/100 g FW. Previously, Rapisarda et al. (1999) monitored the content of total phenols in selected apricot cultivars in which the measured values ranged from 58.4 to 309.5 mg GAE/100 g FW. Drogoudi et al. (2008) reported values of 30.3 to 742.2 mg GAE/100 g FW, depending on the cultivar. Akbulut and Artik (2002) and Scalzo et al. (2005) reported 769 to 1283 mg GAE/kg of fresh matter and 214 to 266 GAE mg/L in different apricot cultivars. Compared with the previous values that refer to total phenolic substances, it is evident that all apricots cultivars included in this study have significant amounts of phenolic compounds.
The content of total flavonoids in the tested set of cultivars ranged from 2.49 to 99.78 mg CAE/100 g FW (Fig. 2, Table 4). Kafkaletou et al. (2019) reported that the total content of flavonoids was between 16.87 and 41.42 mg CAE/100 g FW. Other studies of the total content of flavonoids in strawberries found it was as much as 70.5 mg CAE/100 g FW (Meyers et al., 2003). Our results prove that apricots are a good source of flavonoids. Although the high contents of phenolics and flavonoids are an important parameter for fresh fruit, they can still have a negative effect on fruit processing. These compounds are a substrate for chemical and enzymatic reactions that lead to fruit browning during processing (Cheynier, 2012). Therefore, low-content cultivars can be a very good source for a wide range of apricot products.
Selected main substances that contribute to antioxidant capacity: total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity.
Citation: HortScience 56, 11; 10.21273/HORTSCI16139-21
Analyses of antioxidant components in products have quickly become a recognized profile primarily emphasizing antioxidant capacity as a quality index for many fruits and vegetables. Antioxidant capacity determined by the DPPH method ranged from 161.47 mg TE/100 g FW to 249.08 mg TE/100 g FW. A correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenols has been previously described (Durmaz and Alpaslan, 2007; Vinson et al., 2001). In this study, a correlation (R2 = 0.8034) between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content was found (Fig. 3), which supports the previous statement. Drogoudi et al. (2008) found a good correlation (R2 = 0.9542) in a set of 29 apricot cultivars, whereas other authors found a similar correlation (R2 = 0.9916) between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (Ali et al., 2011).
Correlation between the total flavonoid content and total antioxidant capacity of apricot fruits.
Citation: HortScience 56, 11; 10.21273/HORTSCI16139-21
Only small amounts of carotenoids in the tested genotypes were measured. Many studies have indicated that apricots are a rich source of carotenoids, especially β-carotene, which accounts for 50% of the total carotenoids in this fruit (Radi et al., 2004). The total content in the tested cultivars ranged from 0.44 to 1.40 mg/100 g FW. Ruiz et al. (2005) reported that the measured carotenoid content ranged from 1.36 to 38.52 mg of β-carotene equivalent/100 g FW in Spanish cultivars. Akin et al. (2008) reported a total carotenoid content ranging from 14.83 to 91.89 mg of β-carotene equivalent/100 g FW. In other studies, the total carotenoid content in peaches was 12.0 μg/g FW (Campbell and Padilla-Zakour, 2013); however, in dates it ranged from 1.39 to 3.03 mg/100 g FW (Al-Farsi et al., 2005).
Results of the content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the tested cultivars ranged from 1.86 to 13.15 mg/100 g FW. These results are consistent with those of Thompson and Trenerry (1995). They measured an average value of 10 mg/100 g FW, which was similar to 6.38 mg/100 g FW measured by Chauhan et al. (2001). Hegedűs et al. (2010) also studied vitamin C, which ranged from 3.04 to 16.17 mg/100 g FW. Ali et al. (2011) reported a vitamin C content ranging between 67.39 and 90.94 mg/100 g of dry weight (DW), whereas Leong and Oey (2012) measured only 4 mg/100 g DW in apricot fruits. In other studies that analyzed the vitamin C content in black mulberry and white mulberry genotypes, a content ranging between 10.123 and 18.220 mg/100 g FW was measured (Eyduran et al., 2015). Our results indicate that apricots are a good source of vitamin C and emphasize the fact that the content of this vitamin is an important part of the overall assessment of fruit quality.
The acid content in the fruit is a key quality parameter and an important factor when determining the taste of the fruit. The titratable acid (TA) content indicates the concentration of organic acids present in the fruit. The total content of TAs found in our set of cultivars ranged from 0.77% to 3.01% malic acid in FW. These values are similar to those found in other publications. Hacıseferoğulları et al. (2007) measured TA contents ranging from 0.17% to 0.79% in FW of Turkish apricots. Similar values were also measured by Hagedűs et al. (2010), who reported that the contents ranged from 0.91% to 4.39%. Gecer et al. (2020) reported TA contents between 1.09% and 1.89% in wild apricots. The TA values in this study are in accordance with those reported by other works (Milošević et al., 2010; Mratinić et al., 2011).
The findings of this study confirm the existence of phenolic compounds, organic acids, vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoids in apricot cultivars, which are important for healthy life and nutrition. Some cultivars are very interesting from a biochemical point of view and offer potential in breeding and further research. Velkopavlovická is a cultivar that has a very high content of several substances that were analyzed during our study. Therefore, it may be a suitable candidate in breeding programs to increase the contents of a number of substances (such as catechin or epicatechin) in fruit.
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