Effect of Solvents on Extraction Yield, Total Flavonoids, Total Phenolic Contents, DPPH Scavenging Activity and Antibacterial Potential of Three Apricot Cultivars

Apricot is considered to be a good source of natural antioxidant and functional food source against various diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease. This study was intended to evaluate phytochemical constituents of three apricot varieties i.e. Habi, Alman and Halman. The apricot varieties were initially extracted with methanol (70, 80 and 90%) and suspended in water, then again extracted with butanol, n -hexane, dichloromethane and ethylacetate. The extraction yield (%), total flavonoid contents (µgQE/ml), total phenolic contents (µgCA/ml), DPPH scavenging activity and in vitro antimicrobial activities of extracts against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas flourescensss, and Helicobacter pylori were evaluated. In intial extraction, highest extraction yield was obtained with variety Alman (32.67%) at 70% methanol while flavonoid contents (37.85 µgQE/ml) and total phenolic contents (392.29 µg CA/ml) were higher in variety Habi with 80% methanol. DPPH scavenging activity during first extraction was higher in Helman variety with 90% methanol. During the second extraction, highest mean extraction yield was obtained with water (18.34%) and variety-wise Halman yielded higher average extraction yield (4.65%) with 90% methanolic extract. Average total flavonoid contents were found highest in butanol extracts (111.39 µg QE/ml) with variety Habi being the best yielding 61.40% average extraction yield. Mean total phenolic contents were higher in butanol extracts (228.73 µg CA/ml) with Habi yielding average higher phenolic contents (116.73 µg CA/ml) at 80% methanolic extracts. Mean DPPH scavenging activity was recorded highest in butanol extracts (95.45 %) while variety-wise Habi yielded highest activity i.e. 87.22%. Antimicrobial activities of extracts were evaluated aginst test bacteria and results showed that highest antimicrobial activity was recorded with butanol extracts and least was observed with water. Hence it is concluded that 80% methanol and butanol are efficient  solvents for extraction of phytochemical compounds from apricot.