Comparative Analysis of the Nutrient Composition and Polyphenol Content of Organic and Sulphured Dried Apricots From Central Asia.

Dried apricots are recognised as a nutritious snack and a significant agricultural commodity, supporting the livelihoods of small- and medium-scale farmers in Central Asia. Despite economic and dietary importance, the nutritional composition of Central Asian dried apricots remains unexplored. This study evaluated the carbohydrate, protein, fat, amino acid, ascorbic acid, macro- and microelement contents, total polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of dried apricots sourced from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye. The analysed samples were rich in carbohydrates (31.6-57.9 g/100 g), with sorbitol, glucose, fructose and sucrose as the predominant sugars and sugar alcohols. Protein content was low, with aspartic acid and proline identified as the principal amino acids. The total polyphenol content ranged from 111.65 to 251.99 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g. Sulphur dioxide-pretreated samples have higher ascorbic acid and polyphenol contents, resulting in greater antioxidant capacity than unsulphured samples. Furthermore, the drying process reduced fruit moisture content, thereby increasing the concentration of minerals, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and copper. Among the cultivars studied, Mursan Jalil, sourced from Kyrgyzstan, exhibited the highest sucrose content (48.25 g/100 g), the lowest sorbitol content and the highest phenolic content (212 mg GAE/100 g). These results advance the understanding of the composition of Central Asian dried apricots and underscore their potential health benefits, dietary value and relevance for food security and sustainable agricultural development.