No abstract

Date pulp and seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) of a mixture of some mature common varieties called 'Khalti', from the South-Eastern region of Tunisia, were evaluated for their main chemical composition. Studies were also conducted on the profiles of the extracted oil fatty acid. The following average values (on a dry-weight basis) were obtained from the pulp and pits, respectively: total sugars 63.38% and 8.12%, reducing sugars 51.56% and 6.63%, sucrose 11.82% and 1.49%, protein 3.86% and 5.31%, oil 0.26% and 8.33%. Gasliquid chromatography revealed that the major unsaturated fatty acid was linoleic acid (32.77%) for the pulp and oleic acid (47.66%) for the pits, while the main saturated fatty acid was palmitic acid (20.55%) for the pulp and lauric acid (17.39%) for the pits. Myristic, stearic and linolenic acids were also found in both the pulp and seeds. The uses of common dates, which are currently used only for animal feed, are assessed with suggestions for potential uses as sources of nutraceutical fructose and edible, pharmaceutical oils.

Fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are consumed throughout the world and are a vital component of the diet in most Arabian countries. This study has been carried out to evaluate the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of four date palm fruit varieties grown in Tunisia. All measurements were made at the 'tamar' stage-the final stage of fruit ripeness. The date varieties were found to be rich in total phenolic ranging from 209.42 mg of equivalent gallic acid ⁄ 100 g fresh weight in Kentichi to 447.73 mg equivalent gallic acid ⁄ 100 g fresh weight in Allig. The date varieties studied were characterised by a high antioxidant activity ranging from 866.82 for the Deglet Nour to 1148.11 lmol Equivalent Trolox ⁄ 100 g fresh weight for Khouet Kenta by the ABTS method. In fact, the DPPH method revealed that Allig having the lowest antioxidant activity (0.72) followed by Deglet Nour (1.53), Kentichi (1.68) and Khouet Kenta variety (1.96). This study suggest that Tunisian date palm fruit may serve as a good source of natural antioxidants and could potentially be considered as a functional food ingredient.

Physico-chemical and aroma volatile compositions of three date palm cultivars were studied throughout fruit maturation (besser, rutab and tamr stages) during 2008 harvest season. The studied parameters varied significantly through the different stages, with some variations also depending on the cultivar. Length and width of the three types of dates showed a progressive decrease during ripening. The pH level, total sugars and ash contents significantly increased up to tamr stage. Conversely, moisture, lipid and protein contents decreased. The profile of the volatile aroma compounds was evaluated using solid-phase micro-extraction. Sixty-nine compounds were detected during maturation, accounting from 98.5% to 99.6% at besser, 93.1% to 99.2% at rutab and 94.3% to 98.4% at tamr stages of the total identified volatiles. The present study sheds more light on chemical characteristics of the studied cultivars that can be used in many industrial processe

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is a prominent by-product of the chlorination of drinking water. It induces cell damage by producing free radicals and reactive oxygen species. The present study was carried out to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective role of the aqueous date extract (ADE) against TCA-induced liver injury. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of eight: group I served as the control; group II was given ADE by gavage; groups III and IV received TCA as drinking water at 0.5 and 2 g/L, respectively; and groups V and VI were treated with ADE by gavage and then received TCA at 0.5 and 2 g/L, respectively, as drinking water. The experiment was performed for 2 months. The hepatotoxicity of TCA administration was revealed by an increase in the levels of hepatic marker enzymes (transaminases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase) and conjugated bilirubin and a decrease in albumin level. The TCA administration induced also significant elevation of the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) paralleled with a significant decline in catalase (CAT) activity. These biochemical alterations were accompanied by histological changes marked by the appearance of vacuolization, necrosis, congestion, inflammation, and enlargement of sinusoids in the liver section. Treatment with date palm fruit extract restored the liver damage induced by TCA, as demonstrated by inhibition of hepatic lipid peroxidation; amelioration of SOD, GPx, and CAT activities; and improvement of histopathology changes. These results suggest that ADE has a protective effect over TCA-induced oxidative damage in rat liver.