The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Plant food are main sources of elements in human nutrition diet and required for proper growth and body development. Present study involved analyzing the elemental profile attributes of apricot seeds in order to obtain a global pattern of apricot seeds. Trace element in seed of 8 apricot cultivars grown in Syria have been determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Total of 28 elements namely Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Chlorine (Cl), Sodium (Na), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Aluminum (Al), Manganese (Mn), Rubidium (Rb), Iodine (I), Bromine (Br), Cobalt (Co), Antimony (Sb), Molybdenum (Mo), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg), Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (La), Selenium (Se), Samarium (Sm), Strontium (Sr), Titanium (Ti), Uranium (U) and Vanadium (V) were determined. The elements present in the apricot seed samples were in the range of levels reported in the literature. The results show that the seed of apricot cultivars grown in Syria is rich in the essential macro and micro-nutrients that are of important in dietary point of view.
Plants food for human nutrition are the richest source compared to animal ones of many compounds like flavonoids, polyphenoles, polysaccharides, terpenoids, alkaloids, quinones, carotenoids, sterols, glucosinolates and other sulphur-containing compounds essential elements etc.
Plant foods are main sources of elements in human diet and are required for proper growth and body development
Trace elements are usually quantified by spectrometric techniques
There is limited information on the element content of numerous plant foods consumed in some less developed countries, like Syria
Seeds of 8 apricot cultivars comprising of Kullabi, Tadmori, Ajjami, Lawzi, Wizri, Hamwi laqisi, Hamwi Shahmi, and Baladi were investigated. However, Kullabi, Tadmori, Ajjami, Lawzi, Wizri, Hamwi laqisi, Hamwi Shahmi, and Baladi are the common name of local Syrian cultivars belong
First the short-lived nuclides were determined. Using a pneumatic rabbit system, approximately 200 mg from each sample was irradiated separately (but the standard reference material together with two comparators in order to calculate the neutron flux) for 60 seconds at a thermal neutron flux of 5×1011 n.cm-2s-1 in inner irradiation site at Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) Slowpoke Nuclear Research Reactor (is a low-energy) (tank-in-pool type, China). After 300-600 second decay time samples and standard reference material were measured on 75 mm from end cap of detector, comparators (Al-0.1% Au) were measured separately after 20 minutes decay time on 200 mm from end-cap of detector.
Second the other elements with longer half life times were determined. A maximum of 8 capsules filled with sample material (~200 mg), together with a two capsule filled with a certified reference material and four comparators were ordered in irradiation container. The samples were irradiated for 20 hours at a thermal neutron flux of about 5x1011 n.cm-2s-1. To determine the elements with medium lived radio-nuclides, all samples were measured for 30-60 minutes after 5 to 10 days decay time after irradiation on 25 mm from the en-dcap detector. To determine the long lived radio-nuclides, the samples are measured again for 8 hours after about 3 weeks decay time after irradiation directly on the top of detector. Comparators (Al-0.1% Au) were measured separately after 5days decay time on 200 mm from end-cap of detector. After this third measurement, all 3 spectra of each sample are interpreted together by using k0-IAEA software.
Samples were measured by using gamma spectroscopy: HPGe detectors 25% relative efficiency, FWHM1.79 at 1.333 MeV, with Selina gammapls software version(1.02), the peak search, the energy gamma system were calibrated by using point source radioactive (such as : 152Eu, 137Cs, 60Co, …etc). The results were controlled using Nist 1547 peach leaves and Nist 1515 Apple leaves as standard reference methods.
The NAA analytical technique allowed us to obtain the concentration of 28 elements in seed of eight apricot cultivars grown in Syria. The major elements (K, Mg, Ca, Cl) and the trace elements (Zn, Fe, Na, Cu, Al, Mn, Rb, I, Br, Co, Sb) were detected in all the apricot seed samples. While the trace elements of Mo, Cr, Hg were detected in some samples. The real trace elements of Ba, Cd, Ce, La, Se, Sm, Sr, Ti, U and V were found to be below detection limit.
Overall Essential Major (Macro) Elements Concentrations in Apricot Seed Samples
The element contents in the seed of eight apricot cultivars showed that Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Chlorine (Cl), and Sodium (Na) were established as major elements.
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66.26 |
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66.26 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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66.26 |
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475 |
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48 |
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LOD: Limit of Detection , Unc: Uncertainty
The present study shows that the content of Sodium (Na) in apricot seed ranged from 15.51 mg/kg (Baladi cultivar) to 39.51 mg/kg (Hamwi leqissi), with an overall average Na concentration of 25.93 mg/kg. The concentrations of Chlorine (Cl) in all apricot seeds ranged between 84.11 mg/kg (Hamwi leqissi) and 458.80 mg/kg (Wizri), with overall average Cl concentration of 163 mg/kg. The role of Na in human physiology is related to the maintenance of the balance of physiological fluids
The overall concentrations of the trace elements in all seed samples of eight apricot cultivars grown in Syria are shown in
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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0.5 |
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12 |
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1.8 |
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0.66 |
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LOD: Limit of Detection , Unc: Uncertainty
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LOD: Limit of Detection , Unc: Uncertainty
Trace elements are also called micro elements which are required in amounts less than 100 mg/day
The trace element contents in these eight apricot varieties showed that Zn was the most abundant micro (trace) element, ranging from 84.52 mg/kg (Ajjami cultivar) to 112.80 mg/kg (Wizri cultivar). While concentration of Zn was below detection limit in Hamwi shahmi apricot seeds. Also, lower concentrations of Zn and Mn were recorded in apricot
Zn is known to be involved in most metabolic pathways in humans, and Zn deficiency can lead to loss of appetite, growth retardation, skin changes, and immunological abnormalities. Zn reported as a coenzyme for over 200 enzymes involved in body immunity system
The range of Fe in all studied apricot seed samples varies from 59.06 mg/kg (Baladi cultivar) to 78.98 mg/kg (Lawzi cultivar). The permissible limit Fe set by FAO/WHO in edible plants was 20 µg/g
The lowest concentration of Cu that is 18.59 mg/kg (Hamwi laqisi cultivar) and maximum concentration estimated 27.86 mg/kg (Tadmori cultivar). The permissible limit of Cu set by FAO/WHO
Al is the most widespread metal on the Earth (8% of Earth crust), and nearly all foods contain small amount Al. The daily average intake of Al estimated vary from 2 to 10 mg/day
The range of Mn in all studied apricot seed samples varies from 10.28 mg/kg (Kullabi cultivar) to 17.46 mg/kg (Wizri cultivar). Mn is a cofactor of hydrolase, decarboxylase, and transferase enzymes
The content of Rb in case of apricot seed was within 2.94 and 17.45 mg/kg for Kullabi and Hamwi leqissi, respectively. These values are lower than those reported in other research papers. According to Jibiri and Agomuo
The lowest concentration of I is 1.06 mg/kg (Hamwi shahmi cultivar) and maximum concentration estimated 30.67 mg/kg (Wizri cultivar). Iodine is a basic component of the thyroid hormones, thyroxine and mono-, di-, and tri-iodothyronine and it is stored in thyroid as thyroglobulin
The highest amount of Br was found in Ajjami cultivar seed (3.28 mg/kg) while the lowest amount of Br was found in seeds of Kullabi cultivar 0.55 mg/kg. Analysis of samples for Br show that concentration of Br in the Hamwi laqisi, Hamwi shahmi and Baladi cultivars were below detection limit.
The Co content of the studied apricot seeds varied from 0.18 mg/kg (Tadmori cultivar) to 0.67 mg/kg (Ajjami cultivar). The RDA for Co has been defined at around 300 micrograms
The concentration of Sb in apricot seeds was very low and ranged from 0.012 mg/kg (Hamwi shahmi) to 0.049 mg/kg (Kullabi).
Various investigators have addressed the levels of essential and non essential trace elements from various vegetables, fruits, spices, herpes and food items
The non-essential (toxic) elements (Molybdenum (Mo), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg)) concentration in seeds of 8 varieties of Syrian apricot are shown in
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LOD: Limit of Detection , Unc: Uncertainty
Molybdenum (Mo) is a component of several metalloenzyme including xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, nitrate reductase, and hydrogenase
The NAA analytical technique was used in the elemental analysis in seed of eight apricot cultivars grown in Syria. Concentration of 25 elements were detected. The major and trace elements K, Mg, Ca, Cl, Zn, Fe, Na, Cu, Al, Mn, Rb, I, Br, Co, Sb were detected in all the apricot seed samples (
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Nist 1547 peach leaves | Nist 1515 Apple leaves | ||
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This work results | Reference value | This work results | Reference value |
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AL |
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Br |
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Ca |
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Cl |
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Co |
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Fe |
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K |
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Mg |
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Mn |
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Rb |
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Sb |
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Zn |
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Unc: Uncertainty, these values non-certified
The authors wish to express deep appreciation to the Director General of the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) and the staff of the division of food irradiation.