Apricot: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Introduction:

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), also known as stone fruit, belongs to the Prunus genus and is widely consumed throughout the world.[1] The apricot tree is grown in temperate regions and requires a cold winter and moderately high temperatures in early summer and spring. The apricot tree cannot be grown in places with a subtropical climate. Apricots are drupes (fruit that contains a single seed) like mangoes, plums, cherries, and peaches. Their outer fleshy portion covers a hard stone with a seed inside it. The colour of the fruit varies from orange to orange red, with some varieties being greenish-white to cream white. Apricot is rich in carbohydrates and is a great source of minerals, fibers, and vitamins. Apricot kernels are also being used in Chinese medicine for the management of cough, constipation, and asthma.[2]

Nutritional Value of Apricot:

Apricot has a high nutritional content in terms of proteins (8%), sugars (greater than 60%), crude fat (2%), vitamins- A, C, K, and B-complex, total minerals (4%), crude fiber (11.50%), and a fair percentage of organic acids (malic and citric acid).² In 100 grams, the following nutrients are found in apricot:[3]^,[4]

Nutrient	Value
Water	86.4 g
Energy	48 Kcal
Protein	1.4 g
Carbohydrate	11.1 g
Sugars	9.24 g
Calcium	13 mg
Fibre	2 g
Magnesium	10 mg
Potassium	259 mg
Zinc	0.2 mg
Phosphorus	23 mg
Copper	0.078 mg
Manganese	0.077 mg
Vitamin C	10 mg
Riboflavin	0.04 mg
Thiamin	0.03 mg
Vitamin B-6	0.054 mg
Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid)	0.24 mg
Vitamin B-3 (niacin)	0.6 mg
Vitamin E	0.89 mg
Vitamin A	96  µg
Vitamin K	3.3  µg
Sodium	1 mg

Table depicting the nutritional value of apricot^3,4

Therapeutic Uses of Apricot:

Apricot and its kernel are known to have many therapeutic properties like:

• Antiparasitic
• Antiaging
• Anticancer
• Hepatoprotective (liver protecting)
• Antioxidant
• Renoprotective (kidney protecting)
• Antiatherosclerating (cholesterol-lowering)
• Antianginal (relieving chest pain)
• Cardioprotective (heart-protecting)
• Sedative
• Antimicrobial
• Antitussive (cough suppressant)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antinociceptive (blocking painful stimuli)
• Antimutagenic (counteracting the impact of mutagens)⁵

Also Read: Papaya: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & Dosage

Benefits of Apricot:

1. Benefits of apricot for cancer:

Today, cancer is the most common degenerative condition and the second leading cause of mortality in the United States, following cardiovascular disorders. Apricots have been reported to have anti-cancer potential. A compound isolated from MK615, a Japanese variety of apricot, produced anti-tumour activity against colon cancer cells, liver cancer cells, and human pancreatic cells in laboratory trials.²

2. Benefits of apricot as an antioxidant:

Oxidative stress is a phenomenon that occurs due to an imbalance between the production and gathering of reactive oxygen species in cells and tissues and the inability of the body to detoxify these reactive compounds.⁶ Oxidative stresses produce reactive oxygen species and free radicals that can lead to damage of macromolecules (lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins) and cause tissue injuries. These processes lead to chronic diseases like cancer, ulcers, diabetes, heart-related diseases, and inflammations. Due to its rich phytochemical composition, apricot contains antioxidant properties.²

3. Benefits of apricot for the heart:

Heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Risk factors for heart diseases include atherosclerosis (accumulation of fats, cholesterol and other substances in the artery walls), high cholesterol levels, and other conditions. Phenolic compounds present in apricots like lycopene, chlorogenic acid, and β-carotene prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and help improve the antioxidative status of the human body. Apricot is also a rich source of fibre. Soluble dietary fibre is known to be efficient in decreasing LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).²

4. Benefits of apricot for liver:

Fatty liver disease, also called hepatic steatosis, is fat accumulation in the liver. Hepatic steatosis might further lead to steatohepatitis (inflammation of the liver with fat accumulation), cirrhosis (healthy liver tissue replaced with scar tissue leading to permanent liver damage) and advanced fibrosis. Apricot has been effective in the management of hepatic steatosis in animal models.²

5. Benefits of apricot for infections:

The Japanese variety of apricot helps prevent the colonisation of H. pylori in the digestive system, hence preventing gastritis. The ethanolic extract of apricot exhibits great antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. It also exhibits antibacterial activity against organisms like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.⁵

How to Use Apricot?

Apricots can be consumed as:

• Fresh fruits
• Dried fruits
• Jams
• Juices
• Processed/canned apricots¹

Apricot kernels can be used in the production of medicines or bakery products or can be directly consumed as appetisers.¹

The kernel oil obtained from apricots is used very often in the preparation of many medicines and cosmetics. Apricot oil has beneficial effects on the hair, skin, and health.¹

Also Read: Onion: Uses, Benefits, Dosage & Side Effects

Side Effects of Apricot:

Normal intake of apricot fruit is not harmful to consumers. Although, eating an excess of raw apricot kernels might pose risks. A compound called amygdalin is present in apricot kernels. This compound converts into cyanide after consumption. Cyanide poisoning can lead to nausea, headaches, thirst, lethargy, nervousness, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, and reduced blood pressure. It can be fatal in severe cases.⁷

Precautions to Take With Apricot:

It is essential to take precautions while consuming apricot kernels, as taking excess apricot kernels poses a risk of cyanide poisoning.⁸

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is an apricot?

Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L) are small stone fruits that range in colour from yellow to orange and are mostly tinged red on their sides due to sun exposure. The surface of apricots can be either smooth or velvety with minute hair. The flesh of apricots is mostly firm, and their taste can be either sweet or sour.⁸

What is the meaning of apricot?

Apricot was named by Romans. It is a combination of two words: ‘praecocia’ from Latin, which means early matured and ‘albarquq’ from Arabic, which means short ripening period.²

What are the phytochemicals present in apricot?

Apricot contains various phytochemicals like aspolyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids) and carotenoids that add to their colour, taste, and nutritional value.²

What are the uses of apricots in Chinese medicine?

According to Chinese medicine, the apricot is thought to be helpful in detoxification, relieving thirst, and regenerating body fluids. Its kernels, as per Chinese medicine, are used for suppressing cough and strengthening the respiratory system.²

What are the contents of an apricot kernel?

Apricot kernel is rich in oil and mainly contains fatty acids, particularly unsaturated fatty acids. This oil also contains high amounts of carotenoids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, vitamin E active compounds, and polyphenols. Apricot kernels are also a good source of essential oil, proteins, and peptides.⁸

Also Read: Karela: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

References:

1. Estefania Gonzalez-Garcia, Maria Luisa Marina, Maria Concepcion Garcia; Chapter 3-Apricot. Valorization of fruit processing by-products. 2020:43-65. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128171066000034
2. Omar Bashir, Gousia Gani, Tashooq Ahmad Bhat. Nutritional and health benefits of apricots. International Journal of Unani and integrative medicine. 2018;2(2):05-09. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328274247_Nutritional_and_health_benefits_of_apricots/link/5bc2de1a92851c88fd69ac38/download
3. U.S Department of agriculture. Apricots, raw. [Internet]. Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171697/nutrients
4. Khaled Moustafa and Joanna Cross. Production, pomological and nutraceutical properties of apricot; Journal of food science and technology. 2019 Jan;56(1):12-23. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6342773/
5. S. Gupta, M. Chhajed, S. Arora, Gujreet Thakur, and Renu Gupta; Medicinal value of Apricot: A review. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 2018;80(5):790-794. Available from: https://www.ijpsonline.com/articles/medicinal-value-of-apricot-a-review-3531.html
6. Gabriele Pizzino, Natasha Irrera, Mariapaola Cucinotta, Giovanni Pallio, Federica Mannino, Vincenzo Arcoraci, Francesco Squadrito, Dormenica Altavilla and Alessandra Bitto; Oxidative stress: Harms and benefits for human health. Oxidative Medicine and cellular longetivity. 2017 Jul 27. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551541/#:~:text=Oxidative%20stress%20is%20a%20phenomenon,to%20detoxify%20these%20reactive%20products.
7. European food safety authority. Apricot kernels pose risk of cyanide poisoning. [Internet] Available from: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/160427
8. Apricots. A complete course in canning and related processes (fourteenth edition) 2016. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/prunus-armeniaca#:~:text=242%2D2003).-,Apricots%20(Prunus%20armeniaca%20L.),ranges%20from%20sweet%20to%20tart.

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[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128171066000034

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328274247_Nutritional_and_health_benefits_of_apricots

[3] https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171697/nutrients

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6342773/

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation