Biochemical Characterization of Traditional Varieties of Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) of the Campania Region, Southern Italy

Abstract

Campania is the most important region of Italy in the apricot cultivation, present mostly in the Vesuvio area. At least to the best of our knowledge, no studies are reporting the biochemical characterization of the considerable number of traditional apricot varieties present on this territory, including the qualitative and quantitative profile of the polyphenols present. Our work evaluated the content of β-carotene, total phenolics, phenolic profiles, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity of 23 traditional varieties of apricots of the Campania region. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted that, in the two main groups, the antioxidant activity was strongly affected by the content of ascorbic acid (−0.89), or slightly affected by the content of total polyphenols (−0.67), respect to the content of ascorbic acid (−0.55), never by β-carotene. Chlorogenic acid (up to 55.07 μg g−1) and catechin (up to 96.15 μg g−1) resulted the most abundant polyphenols recognized through the chromatographic analysis. PCA, extended to the polyphenol profile, confirmed the distribution of the varieties in two large groups, evidencing once again the hierarchical distance of four varieties (“Panzona”, “Paolona” “Baracca” and “Boccucia Eboli”) compared to the others.

Biochemical Characterization of Some Varieties of Apricot Present in the Vesuvius Area, Southern Italy

“…The varieties "Boccuccia liscia" and "Baracca" exhibited TP contents equal to 19.16-mg 100-g −1 FW and 30.22-mg 100-g −1 FW, respectively. These values were slightly lower than or similar to those observed by Fratianni et al (28). Once again, the varieties of apricot cultivated in the Campania region, particularly in the Vesuvius territory, showed a higher TP content relative to that shown by the Iranian variety "Nouri, " analyzed by Nourozi et al (56), and to that found by Kasapoglu et al in some Turkish apricot varieties (57); however, it was similar to that of other varieties cultivated in the Mediterranean area, such as "Nereis" (58).…”

“…On the other hand, other varieties exhibited a level of TPs similar or more than three times higher relative to "Vitillo, " with values ranging from 28.67-mg 100-g −1 FW ("Puscia") to 30.22-mg 100-g −1 FW ("Baracca") and 31.32-mg 100-g −1 FW ("Preveta bella") to 34.04-mg 100-g −1 FW ("Vollese"). This last variety exhibited a TP content very similar to that found in the variety "Boccucia Eboli" (28). In any case, except for the variety "Vitillo, " none of the varieties we analyzed showed a total polyphenol content lower than 12-mg 100-g −1 FW −1 .…”

“…This result was absolutely aligned with the values indicated by the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (49). "Boccuccia liscia, " as already observed by Fratianni et al (28), once again showed the lowest amount of β-carotene, and it was inferior, considering the study performed by Leccese et al (50), although this variety was Data are reported as average ± standard deviation (SD), giving rise from the three independent experiments. to preserve β-carotene until four months of storage.…”

“…Samples were kept in three volumes of 4% metaphosphoric acid in the dark for 1 h at 4 • C. After centrifugation at 11,600 x g at 4 • C for 10 min (Biofuge, Beckman Italia), the supernatant was collected and filtered (0.45-µm mesh, Millipore, Milano, Italy). The dosage of ascorbic acid was determined by HPLC-UV (Gold System, Beckman Italia, Cascina dè Pecchi, MI, Italy), following the method of Fratianni et al (28) with a Khromasil KR 100-5 C18 column (mobile phase = sulfuric acid,0.001 M in pure HPLC-grade water; detection wavelength = 245 nm; flow rate: 1. ml min−1). The results were obtained with respect to ascorbic acid used as a standard and are indicated as mg 100 g−1 of a fresh sample.…”

“…Thus, due to the wide number of existing varieties present in the Vesuvius area, their characterisation acquires particular importance for both breeders and consumers, who can select and consume specific apricots with a unique flavor and high nutritional quality. Different studies have reported the molecular and qualitative characterisation of apricot landraces of the Campania region and the Vesuvius area (25)(26)(27)(28). However, at least, to our knowledge, biochemical analyses of the apricot varieties typical of this territory have not been conducted, and no study has investigated the volatile organic compounds of such varieties.…”