Bioactive compounds in apricots and human health benefits

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F25271121%3A_____%2F18%3AN0000108" target="_blank" >RIV/25271121:_____/18:N0000108 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

—

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Bioactive compounds in apricots and human health benefits

Original language description

In the recent time is an increasing demand by the consumers for foods that not only fulfil the basic need of nutrition but additionally perform a disease preventive and curing role. The common term “functional food” goes far beyond the normal nutrition sense and is simply defined as any food or food ingredient that has a positive impact on the individual’s health and alleviates or prevents a disease in addition to its normal nutritional functions. The food components meeting this purpose are mostly phytochemicals that are being explored and studied for their potential roles in the body. Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) are attractive fruit species because of rich source of nutrients and biologically active compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins. From nutritional point of view apricots are good source of carbohydrates, fibres, minerals and vitamins. Apricots contain varied amounts of essential minerals as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and selenium. Vitamins found in apricot are pro-vitamin A, vitamins C, K, E, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9) and pantothenic acid. Consumption of apricots daily has an inhibitory effect on mucosal inflammation in the stomach and chronic gastritis progressions. In addition, apricot kernels are considered to be an excellent source of quality oil, being used for cooking purpose, production of cosmetic products, benzaldehydes and active carbon. Human studies on the effect of aqueous amygdaline extracts from apricot seeds have shown apoptotic cell death of prostate cancer. The scientific evidence reviewed regarding apricot’s nutritional and functional attributes reveals that it is a rich source of nutrients and biologically active compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins. These substances have crucial roles in disease prevention and health maintenance. The effectiveness of apricot against stomach inflammations, hepatic disorder, tumour formation and chronic heart disease prove it as a functional food.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

40106 - Agronomy, plant breeding and plant protection; (Agricultural biotechnology to be 4.4)

Project

<a href="/en/project/QJ1510351" target="_blank" >QJ1510351: Growing the high market quality species of stone and small fruits in covering systems minimizing biotic and abiotic factors</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů