Antioxidant activity, sugar quantification, and phytochemical and physical profiling of apricot varieties of chitral and gilgit - pakistan

Apricot is highly appreciated fruit worldwide. Pakistan is a 6th major producer of apricot in the world. In Pakistan, the apricot is found in Gilgit, Sakardu, Swat, Chitral and Balochistan Province. In our study, twenty six different varietiess of apricot were taken to explore their nutritional diversification. Physical properties were determined following the descriptor of apricot. Major sugars (Fructose and Glucose) were quantified through HPLC. Total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, anthocyanin and carotenoids were analyzed using a micro plate reader (Bio Tek, USA). Bradford and Deming method was used to estimate total proteins and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT), respectively. The data related to physical traits showed variation in weight, size, shape and color. High -performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis depicted that the range of fructose and glucose was 1.71 to 40.79 and 1.59 to 44.53 mg/100g, respectively. In phytochemical panel, antioxidant activity (45.69-90.45%), total phenolic contents (2094.4-6411.5 mg GAE/100g), ascorbic acid (69.22-91.20 mg/100g), anthocyanins (0.06-2.01 mg/100g) and total flavonoids (13.65-46.33 mg CAE/g) showed varying concentrations among examined apricot varieties. Further investigations of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) and soluble protein contents revealed plenty of variations in their final values. Our results regarding different biochemical analysis revealed that the variation in these biochemical characteristics is totally dependent of variety type and geographical region. It was concluded that the varieties under analysis from Northern Pakistan are highly nutritive and beneficial for human health.