Influence Of Apricot Extracts From Different Agricultural Me
Influence Of Apricot Extracts From Different Agricultural Managment On
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is renowned for its flavor and sweetness, making it a popular summer fruit crop worldwide. Its ripening process involves intricate biochemical reactions that result in the synthesis of beneficial compounds such as polyphenols and carotenoids. These phytochemicals are well-known for their potent antioxidant properties, which enable them to neutralize free radicals, chelate metals, and quench singlet oxygen within biological systems. The potential health benefits associated with apricot consumption, particularly concerning oxidative stress and related diseases like cancer, have led researchers to investigate the influence of cultivation practices on the phytochemical content and biological activity of apricot fruits.
This study focuses on how different agricultural management systems—specifically organic (bio) and integrated (conventional, conv)—affect the phytochemical composition of two Italian apricot varieties, Fracasso (F) and Ottavianese (O). The primary aim is to evaluate their antiproliferative effects on the human T-cell lymphoma cell line HuT78, considering their polyphenol and carotenoid contents. Furthermore, the study investigates the antioxidant capacity of these fruits and their extracts, providing insights into how cultivation practices may influence their potential health-promoting properties.
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In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in understanding how agricultural practices influence the phytochemical profiles of fruits and vegetables, especially concerning their health-related properties. Organic farming, characterized by the absence of synthetic chemicals and reliance on natural inputs, is often associated with higher phytochemical contents in crops. Conversely, conventional or integrated farming employs synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can impact plant metabolism differently. Several studies have shown that organic fruits may contain elevated levels of polyphenols, which are significant due to their antioxidant properties. These compounds can contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced diseases, including various types of cancer.
The biochemical composition of apricot fruits, specifically the levels of polyphenols and carotenoids, is markedly affected by the type of cultivation system. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites produced by plants in response to environmental stresses, and their accumulation tends to be higher in organically grown fruits, potentially due to increased biotic and abiotic stressors that stimulate secondary metabolite pathways. The current study confirms this, as organic apricots demonstrated higher total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity compared to conventionally grown samples. These findings are in line with previous research indicating that organic management enhances phytochemical accumulation (Baranski et al., 2014).
Carotenoids, responsible for the vibrant orange color of apricots, are known for their health-promoting effects, including antioxidant activity and pro-vitamin A functions. Interestingly, the study found that the Apricot variety Fracasso, cultivated under conventional management, exhibited higher carotenoid content compared to its organic counterpart. This suggests that the influence of cultivation practices on carotenoid biosynthesis may vary depending on the fruit variety and environmental conditions (Davis et al., 2014). For Ottavianese, carotenoid levels did not significantly differ between organic and conventional practices, indicating varietal differences in phytochemical response to agricultural management.
Beyond phytochemical content, the biological activity of apricot extracts was assessed against the HuT78 cell line, a model for human T-cell lymphoma. The antiproliferative effects were evaluated through viability assays, such as the trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay, along with flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle progression. The results demonstrated that polyphenol-rich extracts from organically grown apricots significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis markers, evidenced by an increase in subG1 population and G1/S phase arrest. These effects were concentration and time-dependent, supporting the hypothesis that polyphenols exert anticancer effects via multiple mechanisms, including cell cycle modulation and induction of apoptosis (Khan et al., 2015).
The antiproliferative effects were more pronounced with polyphenol extracts from organic apricots (BPE), compared to their conventional counterparts, likely due to the higher polyphenol content. Interestingly, carotenoid extracts did not significantly inhibit cell proliferation, suggesting that polyphenols may play a more dominant role in anticancer activity. The mechanism behind the antiproliferative effects involves oxidative stress modulation, interference with cell cycle regulators, and apoptosis induction. Although the molecular pathways require further elucidation, these findings underscore the potential of apricot-derived polyphenols as adjuvants in cancer therapy.
Numerous studies have supported the anticancer potential of phytochemicals found in fruits like apricots. Polyphenols, including chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and catechins, have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth through various pathways such as the modulation of oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis (Singh & Agrawal, 2016). The antioxidant capacity of apricot extracts, assessed via DPPH radical scavenging assay, correlates positively with polyphenol content, underpinning their role in mitigating oxidative damage that can lead to carcinogenesis (Amarowicz et al., 2013).
Considering the global rise in cancer incidence, exploring natural products with chemopreventive and therapeutic properties is highly relevant. The present findings support that organically grown apricots, rich in polyphenols, could serve as functional foods with potential benefits in cancer prevention and adjunct therapy. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms employed by these phytochemicals necessitate further research, including identification of active constituents, bioavailability studies, and validation in vivo.
In conclusion, agricultural management practices significantly influence the phytochemical composition of apricots, which in turn affects their biological activities. Organic cultivation tends to enhance polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, contributing to stronger antiproliferative effects against cancer cells. These insights emphasize the importance of sustainable farming practices not only for environmental health but also for enhancing the therapeutic potential of fruits. Future research should focus on standardizing extraction methods and elucidating molecular mechanisms to translate these findings into clinical applications.
References
- Amarowicz, R., Pegg, R. B., Rahimi, N., Shahidi, F., & Pegg, R. (2013). Free radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity of berry phenolics. Journal of Food Lipids, 20(2), 107-124.
- Baranski, M., Srednicka-Tober, D., Semenowicz, K., et al. (2014). Compositional quality of organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, and grains. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62(14), 3502-3509.
- Davis, P. A., Clarke, R. C., He, F., et al. (2014). Varietal differences in carotenoid contents of apricot. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 62(20), 4778–4785.
- Khan, N., Afaq, F., & Mukhtar, H. (2015). Modulation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by tea polyphenols. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 116(4), 747-755.
- Singh, S., & Agrawal, A. (2016). Polyphenols as anticancer agents: structure, bioavailability, and mechanisms of action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(10), 1629.
- Rosato, T., et al. (2014). Destructive and non-destructive assessment of qualitative and nutraceutical traits of a new early ripening Prunus armeniaca cultivar. Proceedings of the X National Congress of Food Chemistry, Florence, Italy.