Apricot skin color and its bioactive compounds
What it found
In apricots, darker skin colors such as red and orange are linked to higher levels of antioxidant compounds, according to the studies reviewed.
The work looked at fruit, lab tests, and previous research, not at people eating apricots.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Color and compounds
Red and orange apricots had more phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant activity than light-colored ones in one study of 10 clones. The effect of ripening was small compared to the effect of genotype.
Pigment types
Anthocyanins give red and purple colors, while carotenoids like beta-carotene and lutein give yellow to orange colors. Both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in lab tests.
Studies in people and animals
Health effects
The review reports that apricot pigments can neutralize harmful molecules and reduce inflammation in lab studies. It also mentions links to lower risk of some chronic diseases, but notes that human evidence is limited.
Other findings
Factors affecting pigments
Genes, light, temperature, soil nutrients, farming methods, and storage after harvest all affect how much of these compounds end up in the skin. For example, higher light and cooler nights can increase anthocyanins, while potassium fertilizer can raise carotenoids.
Measuring color
Instruments that measure light reflectance or use digital imaging can estimate pigment content, but the relationship is not perfect across all varieties and growing conditions.
Uses
Apricot pigments are being studied as natural food colorants and functional ingredients. They may be added to drinks, snacks, and dairy products, but more testing is needed.
What the authors conclude
“The skin color of apricots is not only a display for appearance, ripeness, and quality but also a reflection of their nutritional and functional value.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that apricot skin color can serve as a practical indicator of the fruit's beneficial compound content and nutritional potential.
- They suggest that future research should focus on optimizing farming and storage to keep these compounds stable and available.
- They recommend eating whole apricots rather than taking isolated pigment supplements, because the mix of compounds works together.
How it was done
The authors wanted to bring together scattered studies on apricot skin color and its link to beneficial plant compounds, because no review had yet combined the biochemical, agricultural, and health aspects for this fruit.
They reviewed existing research on apricot pigments, including studies that measured color, identified compounds, and tested antioxidant activity in different apricot varieties and growing conditions.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the studies looked at fruit or cells in the lab, not at people eating apricots, so it is not clear how much of these compounds are absorbed or what effects they have in the body.
- The link between apricot consumption and lower disease risk comes from observational studies, which cannot prove that apricots cause the reduction.
- The review notes that results vary a lot between apricot varieties and growing conditions, so findings from one study may not apply to all apricots.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Ibn Zohr University, Morocco; National Institute of Agricultural Research, Morocco; Avignon University, France
The paper
- Title
- Fruit Skin Color: A Reliable Tool Revealing the Potential of Bioactive Compounds in Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.)
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Ayour J, Harrak H, Renard CMGC, Benichou M (2026). Fruit Skin Color: A Reliable Tool Revealing the Potential of Bioactive Compounds in Apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.). Molecular nutrition & food research. doi:10.1002/mnfr.70429Free full textPubMed 41787859DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error