The effect of microwave roasting on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and fatty acid composition of apricot kernel and oils

In this study, the effect of microwave (360 W, 540 W and 720 W) oven roasting on oil yields, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and fatty acid composition of some apricot kernel and oils was investigated. While total phenol contents of control group of apricot kernels change between 54.41 mgGAE/100 g (Soğancıoğlu) and 59.61 mgGAE/100 g (Hasanbey), total phenol contents of kernel samples roasted in 720 W were determined between 27.41 mgGAE/100 g (Çataloğlu) and 34.52 mgGAE/100 g (Soğancıoğlu). Roasting process in microwave at 720 W caused the reduction of some phenolic compounds of apricot kernels. The gallic acid contents of control apricot kernels ranged between 7.23 mg/100 g (Kabaaşı) and 11.23 mg/100 g (Çataloğlu) whereas the gallic acid contents of kernels roasted in 540 W changed between 15.35 mg/100 g (Soğancıoğlu) and 21.17 mg/100 g (Çataloğlu). In addition, oleic acid contents of control group oils vary between 65.98% (Soğancıoğlu) and 71.86% (Hasanbey), the same fatty acid ranged from 63.48% (Soğancıoğlu) to 70.36% (Hasanbey).