Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and HepG2 cancer cells' antiproliferation potential in the kernels of apricot cultivars

Yongsheng Chen; Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi; Mohamed S Elshikh; Munir H Shah; Monerah A Al-Dosary; Arshad Mehmood Abbasi

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.06.013

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant and HepG2 cancer cells' antiproliferation potential in the kernels of apricot cultivars

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2020 Jan;27(1):163-172. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.06.013. Epub 2019 Jun 19.

Authors

Yongsheng Chen¹, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi², Mohamed S Elshikh², Munir H Shah³, Monerah A Al-Dosary², Arshad Mehmood Abbasi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
² Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus 22060, Pakistan.

Abstract

Phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells were studied in the kernels of apricot cultivars grown in the northern areas of Pakistan. Relatively, the kernel of Habbi cultivar/AP-12 depicted significant potential to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals as well as oxygen radical absorbance capacity along with highest contents of total flavonoids, phenolics, chlorogenic and syringic acids on dry weight basis. The average concentration of quercetin ranged 0.072-1.343 mg/100 g, and of EGCG from 0.713 to 6.521 mg/100 g with maximum concentration in Hulappa/AP-3 and Kho Chali-Khatta 3/AP-17, respectively. Amygdalin content was highest (1145 mg/100 g) in the kernel of Balaani/AP-14. Highest inhibition of HepG2 cells was found in the kernel of Waflu Chuli/AP-9 (EC50 = 15.70 ± 3.77 mg/mL). The PCA showed significant contributions of polyphenols and flavonoids towards biochemical assays, while CA revealed similarities and associations among various cultivars. Our study revealed that Habbi, Waflu Chuli, Thukdeena and Balaani kernels are rich sources of bioactive compounds and possess significant antioxidant and anticancer activity and can contribute considerably in the prevention and treatment of chronic health disorders.

Keywords: Amygdalin; Antioxidant; Antiproliferation; Apricot; Kernels; Polyphenolics.