Copper speciation in the various apricot cultivars

Copper fractionation draws a lot of attention because of copper?s bioavailability, for being a trace element which is necessary for normal growth of body and for acting as cofactor in many enzymes activities. Therefore this study aims to fractionize copper (Cu) in two differently treated apricot kinds which have high economical value for our country and beneficial for human health.The methods used for fractionation of copper from apricot samples, which based on determination of chemical forms of copper in methanol/water and only water extracts, can be described as follows.For total elemental analysis; microwave digestion and FAAS working conditions were determined by using a certificated reference materials and total Cu content of apricot samples were analyzed by using FAAS technique.For analysis of phenolic species and polyphenols in apricot matrix, extraction was carried out in accelerated extraction apparatus. In order to determine the most appropriate reaction conditions; the affect of various parameters such as; solvent combinations, temperature, time and pressure on phenolic content were determined by using Folin-Ciocaltue method. The optimum test conditions were determined as follows: Solvent: methanol/water, temperature: 60 C, time: 60 min and pressure:1500 psi. Polyphenol content of each extract was determined quantitatively by using HPLCThe amount of Cu which is combined to polyphenols and in cationic form, is determined FAAS method. Polyphenol combined Cu contents of kabaşı apricot with pesticides are %53.06 for V Harvest, %50.83 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 31.76 for V Harvest sulfured of total copper content after digestion in an acid. This values are %55.82 for V Harvest, %54.55 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 41.78 for V Harvest sulfured for kabaaşı apricots without any pesticides. Cationic Cu contents of kabaşı apricot with pesticides are %15.50 for V Harvest, %515.63 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 13.65 for V Harvest sulfured. Polyphenol combined Cu contents of kabaşı apricot with pesticides in water extract are %37.77 for V Harvest, %37.50 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 16.71 for V Harvest sulfured of total copper content after digestion in an acid. This values are %50.34 for V Harvest, %50.51 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 43.11 for V Harvest sulfured for for kabaaşı apricots without any pesticides. In order to understand the mechanism of copper intake to the body, we carried out extractions at synthetic stomach (pepsin) and standard intestine (n-oktanol) solutions. The Cu contents of kabaşı apricot with pesticides are %69.00 for V Harvest, %50.83 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 61.65 for V. Harvest sulfured in stomach solution. This values are %65.75 for V Harvest, %65.99 for V Harvest dried apricot and % 56.89 for V Harvest sulfured for kabaaşı apricots without any pesticides.