No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Nutritional composition of fruit of four date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)cultivars grown in Haryana, India
Abstract
The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the nutrient composition of four varieties of date fruit. The results of the study indicated that the variety Shamran had highest protein (2.77%) content and the variety Medjool the lowest (1.88%). Fat and crude fibre contents of date fruit varieties ranged from 0.17 to 0.50% and 1.71 to 2.22%, respectively. The variety Medjool had lowest amount of total soluble sugars (67.49g/100g) and reducing sugar (61.31g/100g). All the varieties of date fruit differed non-significantly among themselves for their non- reducing sugar content. The variety Khadrawi had the highest amount of starch content. Total dietary fiber (11.70g/100g) and soluble dietary fiber (3.34g/100g) were highest in variety Hillawi. All the four varieties of date fruit differed significantly from each other for their total dietary fiber content and soluble dietary fiber content. The varieties Khadrawi (8.46%), Hillawi (8.35%) and Shamran (7.94%) had significantly (p£ 0.05) higher insoluble dietary fiber as compared to variety Medjool (4.25%). The variety Shamran had highest amount of calcium (195.33mg/100g) and zinc (1.81mg/100g). The variety Medjool contained lowest amount of calcium (70.33mg/100g), iron (1.91mg/100g) and potassium (713mg/100g) while the highest amount of phosphorus (52.66mg/100g). A non-significant (p£0.05) difference was observed in magnesium content of all the varieties. Polyphenol content of date fruits from different varieties ranged from 228.79 to 253.21 mg/100g.
... Beside date fruits importance in public diets, dates are significant trade products and processed in different ways (Myhara et al., 1999). The long shelf life of the dried dates is a result of the raw fruits dehydration process which makes them naturally preserved, easy to be stored, and transported for several months (Vinita & Punia, 2016). ...
... Dates' fruit is considered as highly nutritious and healthy food (Ramadan et al., 2018) because it contains carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals (Al Harthi et al., 2015) with a small content of proteins and lipids (Siddeeg et al., 2019). Moreover, dates are good source of minerals, mostly potassium, and antioxidants, mainly phenolics and carotenoids (Vinita & Punia, 2016 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). had proved that dates contain significant amount of flavonoid glycosides involving apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, sinapic acid, pcoumaric, and ferulic acid (Ahmed et al., 2013). ...
... Furthermore, dates are rich source of dietary fiber (DF) (6.4-11.5%) including pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin (Chandrasekaran & Bahkali, 2013;Vinita & Punia, 2016). Out of the total DF; soluble DF ranges 6-16% and the insoluble DF proportion ranges 84-94% (Ghnimi et al., 2017). ...
Dates are considered as highly nutritious and healthy food. It is a rich source of DF including pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The present study aims to fraction and characterize dates’ insoluble fibers to reach a better understanding of dates’ constituents. Two fractions (light and dark) were isolated from dates’ flesh together with skin fibers and their chemical and functional properties were determined. Light fiber was the major fraction in the extracted insoluble fiber; 76.22% and 59.83% in Khalas and Fard, respectively. The skin yield from 100 g dates was about 4.08 ± 0.1 g and 2.34 ± 0.04 g for Fard and Khalas varieties, respectively. The dark fiber was significantly (10 times) denser than light fiber. Water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity were significantly higher in light fiber compared to the other extracted dates’ fiber fractions as well as many reported results for other plants. TPC (bound) for the individual fiber fractions was in the range 5.12-19.87 mg GAE/100 g fiber while TFC (bound) was in the range 34.16-158.52 mg QE/100 g fiber. Using HPLC-PDA, 16 phenolic compounds were identified in dates’ fiber fractions. Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) was significantly the highest phenolic acid in all the fiber fraction, catechin was the highest flavonoid in light and dark fiber; whereas, rutin was the highest flavonoid in skin fiber. FTIR results demonstrated that dark fiber had more lignin than light and skin fiber, while sugar profile by GC-MS revealed more heterogeneity in light fibers compared to skin and dark fibers.
... They did not report the fiber content. Likewise, the results of the present study contrast with those reported by Vinita & Punia (2016) in India, where they reported moisture content of 85.42%, protein content of 1.88%, lipid content of 0.17%, fiber content of 1.96%, and ash content of 3.02% (dw), for the same cultivar. For the case of the seed, the values obtained in the present study were: moisture content 2.06%, protein content 4.84%, lipid content 9.94%, fiber content 66.79%, and ash content 1.24% (dw). ...
... Values are mean ± SD of five samples with three independent determinations. a Expressed in Kcal/100 g. are in general agreement with the study developed in India (Vinita & Punia, 2016), which reported total sugars 67.49%, reducing sugars 61.31%, and non-reducing sugars (sucrose) 6.18% (dw) for the 'Medjool' cultivar. In Morocco, Bouhlali et al. (2017a) reported an average of 33.96% and 37.79% (dw), for glucose and fructose, respectively, and 313.05 Kcal/100 g of energetic value. ...
... Several studies of the date cultivars grown commercially in various countries have been carried out to determine their chemical and nutritional properties (Mohamed et al., 2014;Assirey, 2015;Vinita & Punia, 2016;Bouhlali et al., 2017a). In these studies, the most studied parameters were the chemical composition, sugar content, mineral content, and antioxidant activity. ...
The aim of this study was the characterization of fatty acids, antioxidant activity, some
physical properties, nutrient content, sugars, and minerals in the pulp and seeds of
the date cultivar `Medjool' (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown in Mexico. The samples were
obtained at maturity (Tamar) in the 2017 harvest season in the valleys of San Luis Rio
Colorado and Mexicali, Mexico. The following average values were obtained on a%dry
weight basis for pulp and seeds, respectively: protein, 3.14% and 4.84%; lipids, 0.75%
and 9.94%; fiber, 6.34% and 66.79%; total sugars, 75.32% and 5.88%; reducing sugars,
70.26% and 4.40%; and sucrose, 5.06% and 1.46%. Analysis of the minerals revealed
that the most abundant elements for the pulp were: potassium, 851.98 mg/100 g;
magnesium, 142.97 mg/100 g; and phosphorus, 139.40 mg/100 g, whereas for the seeds,
they were potassium, 413.36 mg/100 g; sulfur, 151.36 mg/100 g; and phosphorus, 92.42
mg/100 g. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major
unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid, at 52.34% and 45.92%, respectively, for pulp
and seeds. The main saturated fatty acids were palmitic acid (6.75%) and lauric acid
(17.24%) in pulp and seeds, respectively. The total phenolic content was 1.16 and
13.73 mg GAE/100 g for pulp and seeds, respectively. Finally, the antioxidant activities
were: b-carotene, 65.50% and 47.75%; DPPH, 0.079 IC50 g/L and 0.0046 IC50 g/L; and
ABTS, 13.72 IC50 g/L and 0.238 IC50 g/L, respectively. The results obtained in this study confirm that the 'Medjool' cultivar grown in Mexico has the same quality of nutrients
and antioxidants as those grown in the other main date-producing countries.
... Due to the high nutritional value of the dates, several studies have focused on determining the chemical properties during all stages of growth until maturation, under each country's conditions (Ahmed et al., 1995;Al-Hooti et al., 1997). Other studies deal with the identification of the most representative cultivars in each country (Mohamed et al., 2014;Assirey, 2015;Vinita and Punia, 2016;Bouhlali et al., 2017). The chemical composition, sugars, antioxidant activity and mineral content have been reported as their most significant results. ...
... Our results are low compared to results obtained by two previous studies conducted in India (Vinita and Punia, 2016) and Morocco (Bouhlali et al., 2017); their moisture contents were 85.53% and 30.82% for the Medjool cultivar, respectively, compared with our moisture percentage (23.49%) among four treatments (Table 1). ...
... The average protein content among the four cultivars was 3.14% (Table 1). The reported results of protein content in (Vinita and Punia, 2016) and (Bouhlali et al., 2017) were 1.88% and 3.45% in the Medjool cultivar, respectively. Hence, the date fruit yields a low amount of protein (g/100 g). ...
The objective of the present work was to investigate the influence of pollen sources over chemical characteristics of the Medjool date cultivar. The study was conducted under conditions of the Northwest part of Mexico, during the year 2016 cultivation season. The content of nutrients (protein, lipids, fiber and ash), sugars (total, reducing, non-reducing, sucrose, glucose and fructose), and most abundant minerals were evaluated. Three bunches of each of the four selected female palms Medjool cultivar were pollinated with Deglet Noor, Khadrawy, Medjool and Zahidi cultivars, and their fruit were used for the analyses. Results show low concentrations of lipids and ash (0.68-0.80% and 2.49-2.82%, g/100 g dry weight basis), while protein and crude fiber were in the range of 2.92-3.35% and 6.86-7.29%, respectively. In addition, a high content of total sugars (77.78-70.04%) were found. The predominant mineral was potassium with a range of 794.30 (Khadrawy)-869.93 mg/100 g dry weight basis (Deglet Noor), followed by magnesium with 136.72 (Medjool)-150.10 mg/100 g dry weight basis (Khadrawy). An analysis of total phenols revealed that the Khadrawy cultivar had the highest content, with 5.30 (mg GAE/100 g) and the lowest was for Zahidi with 3.82 (mg GAE/100 g). The Khadrawy cultivar had the highest effects on the chemical parameters of the four evaluated treatments. Therefore, pollen source has a significant effect on the chemical properties of the fruit from the Medjool cultivar.
... Khudravi contains (133 mg/100 g) calcium, (894 mg/100 g) potassium, (16 mg/100 g) sodium, (60 mg/100 g) magnesium, (4.5 mg/100 g) iron, (1.29 mg/100 g) zinc. Vinita and Punia [35] depicted that the results are in line with the current findings. Maximum values of potassium (853.33 mg/100 g), calcium (159.66 mg/100 g), magnesium (53.33 mg/100 g), iron (5.34 mg/100 g) and zinc (1.41 mg/100 g) for Hallawi were observed. ...
... Hallawi (87.91%) total sugars and (82.72%) reducing sugars followed by Khudravi contains (87.74%) total sugars and (81.91%) reducing sugars. Present outcomes of this study are in correspond- ence with Vinita and Punia[35]who observed Hallawi and Khudravi for their total, reducing and non-reducing sugars. In Hallawi total sugars (82.50%), reducing sugars (76.60%) and non-reducing sugars (5.82%) trailed by Khudravi, total sugars (81.39%), reducing sugars (75.24%) and non-reducing sugars (6.15%).Sugar level of date fruits increases as dates move from Rutab to Tamar stage because of dryness. ...
Background:
The present research project was designed to evaluate the cholesterol lowering potential of different date varieties including one exotic (Ajwa) and three Pakistani varieties (Aseel, Khudravi, Hallawi).
Methods:
The albino rats were divided into six groups on the basis of different diets which includes, control having basal diet, high cholesterol high sucrose diet, high cholesterol high sucrose diet plus Khudravi dates, high cholesterol high sucrose diet plus Hallawi dates, high cholesterol high sucrose diet plus Aseel dates, high cholesterol high sucrose diet plus Ajwa dates to evaluate maximum cholesterol lowering potential of each date variety.
Results:
The results showed that Hallawi and Ajwa have lower crude fiber content as 2.02 ± 0.03% and 2.43 ± 0.04% however, lowest crude fat content (0.26 ± 0.01%) was also observed in ajwa. Mineral profile depicted that sodium (9.50-18.00 mg/100 g) was found to be in lesser amount among all varieties whereas, higher amount of potassium (465.00 to 887.20 mg/100 g) depicted that it is suitable for people having hypertension. Higher amount of reducing sugar was also observed in ajwa (79.45 ± 1.22%) followed by Hallawi (77.68 ± 1.42%). Total phenolic contents were found higher in Aseel (291.36 mg/100 g) whereas, minimum was observed in Khudravi (232.64 mg/100 g). Furthermore, date varieties were also examined rat modeling to evaluate their maximum cholesterol lowering efficiency. Ajwa and Hallawi were observed to suppress the cholesterol efficiently as 110 mg/dL and 103 mg/dL respectively. On the basis of chemical profiling and other parameters, two date varieties Ajwa and Hallawi showed almost similar results and found to have maximum serum cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride reduction potential with good kidney and liver functions. Functional date bar was also developed by using Hallawi variety andsubjected to sensory evaluation.
Conclusion:
In nutshell, Hallawi date variety was considered as better cholesterol lowering potential among other indigenous varieties and very close to Ajwa variety. So that Hallawi can be used to suppress the deadly effects of obesity and allied discrepancies particularly hypercholesterolemia.
... Las grasas están presentes en la mayoría de los alimentos, pero su porcentaje en el fruto de dátil es de tan solo un 0.15% (Tabla 1). El valor nutricional de los dátiles con relación a su contenido de fibra dietética los hace ideales para la preparación de alimentos ricos en fibra y suplementos dietéticos, pues 100g de ellos proporciona un 32% de la ingesta diaria de fibra dietética (Vinita & Punia, 2016). La tabla 1 reporta un porcentaje de 6.70% de contenido de fibra cruda sobre 100g. ...
... Los carbohidratos son el componente más abundante en los dátiles y están presentes como azúcares reductores en forma de glucosa, fructuosa, manosa y maltosa, y como azúcares no reductores; principalmente en sacarosa y en pequeñas cantidades de polisacáridos tales como celulosa y almidón (Al-shahib & Marshall, 2003) Tabla 2.Contenido de azúcares y de valor energético del dátil variedad Medjool. Los porcentajes de almidón, azucares totales, reductores y no reductores fueron calculados en base a peso seco, adaptado de (Vinita & Punia, 2016). Los porcentajes de fructuosa, glucosa y sacarosa, fueron expresados en base a peso húmedo, adaptado de (Al-Farsi & Lee, 2008). ...
Functional foods are foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Consuming fruits and vegetables, for example: produces a reduction in the rate of acquiring heart, cancer and degenerative diseases, due to its high content of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, among other beneficial components. Date is one of the fruits with the highest nutritional and functional components. It contains a great amount of dietary fiber, is a rich source of antioxidants, has high contents of potassium, low in sodium, and provides high energetic values, due to its abundant content of sugars. Mexico is one of the main producers of Medjool date in the world, however, is not much what we Mexicans know about the great benefits date can bring to our health. The main goal of this article is to divulgate the nutritional benefits provided by date consumption.
Los alimentos funcionales son aquellos que proporcionan beneficios a la salud más allá de una nutrición básica. El consumir frutas y verduras, por ejemplo, produce una reducción en la tasa de adquisición de enfermedades del corazón, algunos tipos de cáncer y enfermedades degenerativas, debido a su alto contenido en fibras, antioxidantes, vitaminas y minerales, entre otros componentes benéficos para la salud. Uno de los frutos con mayor cantidad de componentes funcionales y nutricionales es el dátil. Este contiene una gran cantidad de fibra dietética, es una fuente rica en antioxidantes, tiene altos contenidos de potasio, es bajo en sodio y provee grandes valores energéticos debido a su abundante contenido de azucares. México es uno de los principales productores de dátil Medjool en el mundo, sin embargo, los mexicanos poco sabemos sobre la gran aportación que este puede traer a nuestra salud. El propósito de este artículo es divulgar los beneficios nutricionales que provee el consumo de dátil.
... Therefore, dates are a rich source of energy and dietary fiber, as they contain 70% carbohydrates, the majority of which are sugars. One hundred grams of dates provides 32% of the recommended daily amount of dietary fiber (Vinita and Punia., 2016). ...
The climacteric nature of ‘Barhi’ dates makes their shelf life very short after harvest. This research aimed to explore the impact of using different packaging materials along with reducing the negative effects of ethylene gas on the quality of ‘Barhi’ date fruit by determining the changes in physical and chemical characteristics of stored fruit. For this purpose, ‘Barhi’ date fruits were picked during the Khalal stage and stored using three different packaging materials [carton boxes (control), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging (EMAP)] with or without ethylene absorbent sachet (EAS) at 0 °C for 40 days. The results indicated that the EMAP bags with EAS under 0 °C gave the highest quality properties of all studied parameters compared to the control treatment. The control treatment recorded the lowest date fruit quality, which lasted only for 20 days of cold storage before converting to the Rutab stage. Using LDPE with EAS instead of the more expensive EMAP bags could be a cheaper way to keep the quality of ‘Barhi’ date fruit and make it last longer during cold storage.
... Dates are a very good source of numerous nutritive components, viz., sugars, proteins, fats, dietary fibers, minerals (Punia 2016;Benmeddour et al., 2013). It is preferable to consume dates regularly, because of its beneficial properties in increasing sexual stamina, reducing sterility, decreasing fatigue and sluggishness in anemic patients (Siddiqi et al 2020;Vayalil 2012). ...
Date fruit is known to be the staple food in the Arab countries. It provides a lot of potential health benefits and can be the essential source of nutrients. The majority of Moroccan varieties are not characterized for their chemical, biochemical and quality properties. The aim of this work was to assess the chemical composition of 17 varieties of Moroccan date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and to determine their nutritive components. The analysis showed that the dates are rich in sugars (51.80-87.98%), they contain low concentration of proteins (1.09-2.80%) and lipids (0.16-0.39%). The predominant mineral is potassium (1055.26-1604.10 mg/100 g DW). Moreover, they contain high concentrations of malic acid (69.48-495.58 mg/100 g (DW)), oxalic acid (18.47-233.35 mg/100 g DW) and tartaric acid (115.70-484.168 mg/100 g DW). These results suggest that the date fruit are nutritious and can be an excellent source for human nutrition and health benefits.
... This structure reduces the access of water through powder (Caliskan and Dirim, 2016). Furthermore, the poorly water soluble nature of drying-aid agent (inulin) at room temperature and high amounts of insoluble dietary fibres and non-starch polysaccharides as well as other lipophilic substances such as carotenoids found in date palm fruit may also contribute to the limited water solubility of date powders (Elleuch et al., 2008;Kha, Nguyen and Roach, 2010;Kim, Faqih and Wang, 2001;Ozdikicierler, Dirim and Pazir, 2014;Vinita and Punia, 2016). ...
... crude fiber, and crude protein up to 6.9%. 7,8 Also DK contains abundant quantities of phenolic compounds (210-620 mg/kg DM gallic acid equivalents) with high antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. 7 Plant phenolic components were supposed to be modifiers of rumen fermentation, and consequently, they may reduce the ruminal CH 4 emission improve animal health and may enhance milk production. ...
2021): Effect of replacing corn grains with date palm kernels on ruminal fermentation, feed degradability, and methane production under different initial in vitro pH conditions, Animal Biotechnology, ABSTRACT Date kernels (DK) are cheap by-products rich in energy and phenolic compounds. It can be used as an alternative to the conventional sources of energy in ruminant diets while reducing methane (CH 4) production. Using a semi-automated gas production (GP) system, the initial pH of buffered rumen liquor was adjusted to 5.5 and 6.8. Five experimental diets were evaluated, control (0% DK), and DK 25 , DK 50 , DK 75, and DK 100 presented 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacement of maize by DK, respectively. Of the 16 phenolic compounds detected in DK, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic and catechin were the most abundant. At pH 6.8, the control diet recorded higher (p < 0.05) GP values throughout the first 12 h incubation than all other DK diets, while at 5.5 pH, DK 50 displayed the highest (p < 0.05) GP at 3 and 6 h compared to all other diets. At either pH conditions, all DK diets reduced (p < 0.05) CH 4 compared to the control without affecting protozoal counts. At 5.5 pH, DK diets showed enhanced (p < 0.05) nutrients degradability compared to control. DK modified (P < 0.05) the fermentation patterns toward more propionate than the control under either pH conditions. Substitution of maize by 50% DK was highly recommended in ruminant diets.
... Recent studies have shown that fruits are rich in many bioactive compounds and have high antioxidant capacity and that these chemical components are mostly concentrated in the pulps, peels and seeds of these species (Albuquerque et al., 2016;Vinita and Punia, 2016;Rydlewski et al., 2017;Souza et al., 2018, Stafussa et al., 2018Bala and Barmanray, 2019;Loizzo et al., 2019;Ribeiro et al., 2019;Ousaaid et al., 2020). Several authors have also associated the beneficial effects on human health of regular consumption of fruits, vegetables and grains with the presence of substances as antioxidant potential, such as Potential of the Jerivá Fruit (Syagrus romanzoffiana C.): Physicochemical and Bioactive Characterization phenolic compounds, vitamin C and E and carotenoids (Rababah et al., 2004;Kim et al., 2007;Schreckinger et al., 2010;Donno et al., 2013;Albuquerque et al., 2016;Loizzo et al., 2019). ...
Background: Jerivá is a native palm tree from Brazil, very abundant in the rural environment and widely observed in the urban area. Its fruits can be consumed in fresh and drink form. Despite this context there are few studies on the species, especially when portraying the nutritional value of its fruit. This research aims to investigate jerivá fruits in three ripening stages.Methods: The fruits were harvested in a domestic orchard in Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, in three ripening stages, according to the color: green (green peel), intermediate (yellowish green peel) and ripe (orange peel). The fruits were characterized in terms of physicochemical and bioactive composition.Result: This fruit has a low source of ascorbic acid in all evaluated stages, but has high levels for yellow flavonoids and total extractable polyphenols when mature (23.07 mg/100 g and 596.95 mg GAE/100 g, respectively). Considering the relevance of this fruit species and the few researches at national level, it is necessary to evaluate the physicochemical and bioactive characteristics of the fruits of Jerivá, in order to quantify particularities regarding the detailed composition, guaranteeing its potential for use.
... Dates possess very high nutritive value and can thus play an effective role in helping to meet human nutritional needs. Table 1 illustrates the general composition of the dried date fruit (Ahmed et al., 2014;Assirey, 2015;Borchani et al., 2010;Punia, 2016). ...
The purpose of this review was to provide information about the chemical composition and nutritional benefits of date fruits, known more commonly as dates. We also present the potential application of dates in energy nutrition bars for athletes. Dates have a high nutritional value and are rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, and many vitamins including B complex. Carbohydrates comprise 70% of dates mainly as fructose and glucose. In addition, dates are rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sulfur, cobalt, fluorine, and manganese. Recently, there has been enhanced interest in the abundant health-promoting properties of dates, and this has led to the need to develop food products that use dates as a rich source of nutrients. Dates thus have a great potential for application as a food ingredient in dietary supplements, energy nutrition bars and as a functional food for athletes
... Likewise, in another study conducted in Mexico [6], the chemical composition of 'Medjool' dates was reported with the following parameters: composition proximal (g/100 g, dry weight), moisture (17.14-27. These quality characteristics are similar to or better than those reported in similar studies in Jordan, Iran, Morocco, and India [18,[32][33][34][35]. So we can conclude that the date cultivar 'Medjool' cultivated in Mexico is of high quality. ...
The Date palm (Phoenix dactilifera L.) was introduced to Mexico during the Spanish colonization, but its commercial production did not develop until the second half of the past century. A literature and field research, including a trip to the oases missions and main commercial production areas, allowed us to identify the actual status for this crop in Mexico. While the date culture in the old oases is fading, in the commercial production zones it is in active development. San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali Valley region, comprise 97% of the commercial crop production area of the country. The main cultivar is Medjool with 94% of the growing area; actual yields are around 7.9 ton/ha. Ongoing government support and motivated growers training will lead to the application of better crop practices. It is expected to increase yields around 10 ton/ha in the next 5 years. Commercial date production is focused on exports, the internal market is growing, as well as the transformation of the product. Knowledge of the actual trends of the crop will allow to understand their historic importance and its future potential as a commodity and food. Production practices, competitive advantages and research results are presented.
... The principal chemical constituents of date fruit are carbohydrates. Dates are good source of energy as they consist of 70% carbohydrates, most of which are in the form of sugars; and dietary fiber, as 100 g of dates supplies 32% of the advisable daily allowance of dietary fiber (Vanita and Punia 2016). According to Al-Farsi and Lee (2008), dates are not a significant source of proteins and lipids. ...
The fruit of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an important component of the diet in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This study gathered nutritional informations about the important date varieties grown in the countries from the MENA region. The objective of this article is to give a general overview of what has been achieved with dates from MENA countries, especially Arab countries, in terms of nutritional quality, content of bioactive molecules, and therapeutic virtues. More than 80 references were consulted that were published in well-known databases. This analysis revealed that dates from the MENA region are of high nutritional density. The dates are a rich source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber with contents up to 88.02% and 16.95%, respectively, in some varieties. However, the dates are low in proteins and fats, less than 3.30% and 0.56%, respectively, except the Halaoua variety from Saudi Arabia that can present a high content of fats. The presence of minerals is also noteworthy in dates at up to 6.20% in some varieties. The dates are also a considerable source of bioactive molecules, in particular carotenoids and phenolic compounds that can prevent and/or reduce the risk of diseases due to oxidative stress. This composition makes the fruit beneficial and an appropriate food source for all people of different age groups. Results from this overview underline the importance of the consumption of dates, which can be a good alternative source of basic nutritional requirements, beside encouraging the development of new appropriate processing and packaging technologies in order to extend the shelf life of the fruit to allow access to other parts of the world for general nutrition and a potential emerging medicinal food, thus improving long-term human well-being.
... Likewise, in another study conducted in Mexico [6], the chemical composition of 'Medjool' dates was reported with the following parameters: composition proximal (g/100 g, dry weight), moisture (17.14-27. These quality characteristics are similar to or better than those reported in similar studies in Jordan, Iran, Morocco, and India [18,[32][33][34][35]. So we can conclude that the date cultivar 'Medjool' cultivated in Mexico is of high quality. ...
The Date palm (Phoenix dactilifera L.) was introduced to Mexico during the Spanish colonization, but its commercial production did not develop until the second half of the past century. A literature and field research, including a trip to the oases missions and main commercial production areas, allowed us to identify the actual status for this crop in Mexico. While the date culture in the old oases is fading, in the commercial production zones it is in active development. San Luis Rio Colorado and Mexicali Valley region, comprise 97% of the commercial crop production area of the country. The main cultivar is Medjool with 94% of the growing area; actual yields are around 7.9 ton/ha. Ongoing government support and motivated growers training will lead to the application of better crop practices. It is expected to increase yields around 10 ton/ha in the next 5 years. Commercial date production is focused on exports, the internal market is growing, as well as the transformation of the product. Knowledge of the actual trends of the crop will allow to understand their historic importance and its future potential as a commodity and food. Production practices, competitive advantages and research results are presented.
... Finding is in accordance with the report of Yusuf et al. (2017) which observed remarkable decrease in weight in lead-exposed rats. Body weight gain observed in EFPD-treated rats could be attributed to the plant's wide range of essential nutrients with high caloric value, particularly carbohydrates and lipids (Shaba et al., 2015;Punia, 2016;Megbo et al., 2017). This finding is in agreement with the report of Wahab et al. (2010) and Haouas et al. (2014). ...
The aim of the study was to assess the chemical and biochemical composition of heat-treated dates palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivated in Algeria and stored under Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). In this research, fresh dates palm fruits at harvest (Phoenix dactylifera L.) have been subjected at heat treatment at 55 ± 2°C for 20 min in a ventilated oven. The samples were packed in specific Polyethylene Terephthalate packaging (PET) bags with a thickness of 2.5 μm under MAP condition. The effect of this heat treatment on date fruits quality was investigated during 5 months of storage at room temperature storage (22 ± 1°C of temperature with 75 to 80% of relative humidity (RH), and 10 ± 1°C with 85 to 90% of RH). Chemical and biochemical composition of the samples were studied. Results indicated that during storage the Brix degree, protein, and vitamin C content changed significantly (p<0.05). The major change was observed for lipid values varied from about 0.02 to 0.06% at 10°C, and 0.04 to 0.07% at 22°C for samples not heat-treated unpacked after 5 months of storage, these results represent a highly significant difference (p<0.01). Harvesting at Tamr stage followed by treating the fruits with heat disinfestation packed in MAP, and storing at 10 ± 1°C showed to be a promising method for maintaining dates fruits storage quality.
Abstract Date pit powder (DPP) as a promising by-product additive from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) was recovered as a novel fat replacer fiber source in processed cheese block type (PCB). Four concentrations of cheese fat replaced by DPP (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) in PCB were conducted and its impact on chemical composition, microstructure, rheological and sensory properties was evaluated. The inclusion of DPP was improved the fiber content and texture properties of PCB. The DPP stabilized the cheese hardness, adhesiveness, and springiness with fat replacement in cheese. The microstructure of replaced fat PCB with DPP showed lesser numerous fat globules and has a smooth and homogenous protein embedded and distributed uniformly throughout the cheese structure compared to the control. The replacement of 5% fat in PCB by DPP recorded the closest rated sensorial evaluation comparing with control in all criteria and acceptance scores. Regarding the obtained results, date pit as a novel by-product from dates may have a potential texture property and could enrich fiber content and bioactivity of PCB.
(PDF) Effects of Date Pit Powder Inclusion on Chemical Composition, Microstructure, Rheological Properties, and Sensory Evaluation of Processed Cheese Block. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346382329_Effects_of_Date_Pit_Powder_Inclusion_on_Chemical_Composition_Microstructure_Rheological_Properties_and_Sensory_Evaluation_of_Processed_Cheese_Block [accessed Dec 01 2020].
Increased consumption of processing food items rich in fat diet increased lipid laden products in body organs and developed obesity. It is also associated with the development of infertility. The present study designed to illustrate the developmental aspects of ovaries of offspring maternally fed on a high cholesterol diet and how supplementation of barley and date palm fruit to this die improved the ovarian structure and function. Ninety-six pregnant Wister albino rats categorized into eight groups (n=12); control (C), barley (B) (20%), dates (D) (20%) , barley & dates (10+10%) , hypercholesterolemic- (H), hypercholesterolemic & barley (H+B), hypercholesterolemic & dates (H+D) and hypercholesterolemic & barley & dates groups (H+B+D). Hypercholesterolemic diet (3% cholesterol) was intake for 6 weeks before conception and throughout gestation and lactation period. At 2 and 3 weeks post- partum, the offspring were sacrificed and their ovaries were removed and processed for histological, immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopy. Sera and ovaries of the other groups were kept in refrigerator for biochemical investigations. The present findings revealed loss of ovarian follicles in offspring maternally fed in hypercholesterolemic groups associated with decreased expression of PCNA and over expression of caspase 3 and flow-cytometric analysis of annexin V manifesting cell death. At transmission electron microscopy, the ovaries of hypercholesterolemic group exhibited dense chromatin condensation of the nuclei of oocyte and follicle cells. On the other hand, the ovaries of offspring maternally fed on hypercholesterolemic diet plus barley and date palm fruit improved the decreased activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-s- transferase in comparison with the control. However, there was a marked increase of malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2`-deoxyguanosine, caspase 3 and tumor necrosis factor-α in comparison with the control. Also, the sera levels of hyperocholesterolemic mothers such as follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and antimullerian hormone were almost retained to the normal level in animal groups fed on hypercholesterolemic diet containing dates /or barley grains. The authors finally concluded that offspring maternally fed on hypercholesterolemic diet developed reduction of ovarian follicular reserve, increases lipid peroxidation and altered maternal reproductive hormone involved in ovarian development. These dramatic alterations were improved post supplementing date palm fruits and/barley to the hypercholesterolemic diet.
Abstract: The fruit flesh and seeds of Phoenix dactylifera were analyzed. The proximate
analysis, mineral composition, phytochemical constituents and amino acids of the fruit
flesh and seeds were evaluated. The fruit flesh has moisture content of 3.50±0.06g/100g,
crude protein 17.15±0.15g/100g, crude lipid 0.52±0.01g/100g, ash content
1.50±0.07g/100g, carbohydrate 75.85±0.18g/100g, calorific value 337.7±9.70kj/100g and
crude fiber is below detection limit. For seeds these values are 4.03±0.06g/100g, 12.6±0.13
g/100g, 4.50±0.09g/100g, 2.00±0.10g/100g, 79.50±0.19g/100g, 344.05±9.70kj/100g,
1.50±0.00 g/100g respectively. Mineral compositions and vitamin C content for the
samples were investigated as well. The data indicated they are very good sources of
mineral elements such as K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and P. The results also showed that they
both contain essential and non-essential amino acids. The phytochemical analysis revealed
the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides and steroids in both fruit
flesh and seed. Results compare well with those of other edible fruits.
Keywords: Nutritional, phoenix dactylifera, fruit flesh, seed.
The aim of the study was to determine the chemical composition of dates from 10 types of palm cultivated in Saudi Arabia (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to assess their nutritive (crude protein, crude fat and ash) and amino acid composition. The dates were rich in sugar (71.2–81.4% dry weight), while ash represented 1.68–3.94%; they contained low concentrations of protein and lipid (1.72–4.73% and 0.12–0.72%, respectively). The predominant mineral was potassium, and the main sugars were glucose and fructose. They contained high concentrations of aspartic acid, proline, alanine, glycine, valine and leucine; low concentrations of threonine, serine, isoleucine, tyrosine, arginine, phenylalanine and lysine and very low concentrations of methionine and histidine. These results show that dates are nutritious and can play a major role in human nutrition and health.
Objective:
To assess the nutritional values and antioxidant analysis of 22 varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit collected from various regions of the Sultanate of Oman.
Methods:
Nutritional parameters including moisture, fats, fiber, proteins, carbohydrates, and energy value were determined using standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The antioxidant activity was screened for their free radical scavenging properties using ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical.
Results:
The results of the date fruits (dried/tamar stage) revealed significantly higher moisture (15%-21%), dry matter (78%-86%), ash content (1.0%-2.0%), fiber (1.0%-2.5%), fat (0.1%-0.7%), protein (1.8%-3.8%), nitrogen (0.25%-0.55%), carbohydrates (74.5%-82.4%), and energy values (307-345.5 kcal/100 g). The antioxidant activity ranged between 40% and 86% depending upon the type of date and location. Overall, Khalas, Fardh and Khasab have significantly higher nutritional attributes; however, other varieties such as Barshi, Qush LuLu, Handal, and Khunaizi also have comparable nutritional values. The cluster analysis further evidenced the correlation of proximate parameters in different locations. Moreover, the nutritional and antioxidant attributes of similar date varieties collected from different locations were slightly varied.
Conclusions:
The present finding helps in understanding the nutritional significance of different date varieties in Oman while the lesser known varieties can be improved through sustainable horticultural practices as a valuable product. The study further reveals that the consumption of these dates' fruits would exert several beneficial effects by virtue of their antioxidant activity.
Fourteen native date cultivars from different oases and regions of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were examined for their approximate composition, water activity, and CIELAB parameters. Sugars were the predominant component in all studied date cultivars (~ 54.14 -75.56 g/100g dry matter), followed by moisture content (~7.2 -31.9%), along with small amount of protein (~1.9 -3.3g/100g dry matter), fat (~ 0.1 -0.44g/100g dry matter), and ash (~1.88 -3.45g/100 g dry matter). Dates with early maturity had the highest water activity (0.78 -0.87) in contrast to late maturing dates cultivars. In the Deglet Nour (Tunisia) and Aziza bouzid (Morocco) cultivars, sucrose is dominant, whereas, the majority of other cultivars were rich in fructose and glucose in comparable proportions. No significant changes were observed in the approximate composition of samples of different geographical origins. All cultivars show significant differences in color. The date with late maturity (from Assiane, Aziza bouzid and Boufeggous gharas locations of Morocco) were characterized by higher L * , a * , b * than the other date cultivars. Chemical composition of dates seems to be a good tool for fruit physiological and technological ability studies.
The date (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a high-energy fruit, is regarded as a popular food commodity for thousands of years in Egypt, the Arabian Gulf peninsula and its neighboring region. The aim of present study is to characterize the biochemical and nutritional values of constituents of the Egyptian date fruits. Date palm fruits contain a variety of B-complex vitamins B1, B2, Nicotinic acid and vitamin A. the date palm extracts contains 13.80 % moisture and 86.50 % total solid. Ash and Crud fibers contents were 2.13 and 5.20 respectively. Protein, carbohydrates and lipids contents were 3.00%, 73.00% and 2.90 % respectively. The low level of lipids content 2.90% compared with its content of sugars means that, the date palm is save to heart and blood patients because its containing a very low level of fatty acids and cholesterol. HPLC analysis of sugars content showed that, the carbohydrate content consists of a large amount of glucose, fructose and sucrose, The protein pattern on SDS-PAGE showed that, most of proteins in the date palm are a high molecular weight proteins between 80 and 135 KD and contained a minimum levels of the LMW proteins less than 55 KD. Date Palm contained high concentration of Aspartic acid, Proline, Glycine, Histidine, Valine, Leucine and Arginine, but low concentration of Threonine, Serine, Methionine, Isoleucine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine and Lysine and very low concentration of Alanine. The date palm fruits provide unique functional and nutritional values. Numerous health benefits beyond its nutritional value have been associated with consuming date palm fruits to enrich nutrition values of different kinds of food.
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%. Gas–liquid 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.
The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the chemical and physical properties of 18 varieties of the date fruits from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), which are regarded as popular fruit commodities among the populace of the Middle Eastern peninsula. Dietary fiber, proximate analysis, micronutrients (micro-elements and macro-elements) and physical properties (weight, length, and density) of the selected 18 leading varieties of dates cultivated in the United Arab Emirates-namely Khalas, Barhe, Lulu, Shikat alkahlas, Sokkery, Bomaan, Sagay, Shishi, Maghool, Sultana, Fard, Maktoomi, Naptit saif, Jabri, Khodary, Dabbas, Raziz and Shabebe-were determined and compared. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in the measured parameters were observed among the different varieties. However, the results depict that date fruits, depending on the variety, contain significant but quite variable amounts of macro-elements and micro-elements. The macro-elements measured are calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium and magnesium, while the essential micro-elements and the possibly essential micro-elements are iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt and molybdenum, and aluminum, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, strontium and vanadium, respectively.
This review article provides information on the nutritional and functional constituents of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and their seeds from over 80 references. Date flesh is found to be low in fat and protein but rich in sugars, mainly fructose and glucose. It is a high source of energy, as 100 g of flesh can provide an average of 314 kcal. Ten minerals were reported, the major being selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium. The consumption of 100 g of dates can provide over 15% of the recommended daily allowance from these minerals. Vitamins B-complex and C are the major vitamins in dates. High in dietary fiber (8.0 g/100 g), insoluble dietary fiber was the major fraction of dietary fiber in dates. Dates are a good source of antioxidants, mainly carotenoids and phenolics. Date seeds contain higher protein (5.1 g/100 g) and fat (9.0 g/100 g) as compared to the flesh. It is also high in dietary fiber (73.1 g/100 g), phenolics (3942 mg/100 g) and antioxidants (80400 micromol/100 g). This detailed information on nutritional and health promoting components of dates and their seeds will enhance our knowledge and appreciation for the use of dates in our daily diet and their seeds as a functional food ingredient.
The present study evaluated the nutritional quality and glycemic index of three sun-dried date varieties (Khalas, Khsab and Fardh) grown in Oman. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the proximate chemical composition, dietary fiber contents, various sugar fractions and energy value of these dates. The moisture, ash, crude protein, total fat, and nitrogen-free extract values ranged between 18.77 and 23.71 g/100 g date flesh, 1.12 and 1.55 g/100 g date flesh, 1.28 and 1.89 g/100 g date flesh, 1.14 and 2.37 g/100 g date flesh, and 68.53 and 75.37 g/100 g date flesh, respectively. The dietary fiber and total sugar contents ranged between 8.83 and 13.11 g/100 g and between 52.17 and 59.96 g/100 g, respectively. The glycemic index (GI) of different varieties of dates collected from various regions of Oman ranged between 47.6 and 57.7. Overall no significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the GI values of different varieties of dates. The regional effects on the GI values of dates were also non-significant (P>0.05). An inverse correlation (r(2)) was observed between the fructose fraction and the GI value of dates.
The goal of this work is to determine the amount and quality of phenol antioxidants in dried fruits and compare them with the corresponding fresh fruits; to compare the nutrients in fresh and dried fruits; to determine if figs are a source of in vivo antioxidants when eaten.
Commercial samples of dried fruits and fresh fruits were compared in the in vitro studies using a colorimetric method to measure phenolic antioxidants. The quality of the antioxidants was measured by inhibition of lower density lipoprotein oxidation. Ten normal free-living subjects were tested in the human study. Fasting subjects were given 40 g of figs with or without a carbonated beverage and the plasma antioxidant capacity was measured for six hours using the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay.
Dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among the dried fruits. Figs and dried plums have the best nutrient score among the dried fruits, and dates among the fresh fruits. Processing to produce the dried fruit significantly decreases the phenols in the fruits on a dry weight basis. Compared with vitamins C and E, dried fruits have superior quality antioxidants with figs and dried plums being the best. Fig antioxidants can enrich lipoproteins in plasma and protect them from subsequent oxidation. Figs produced a significant increase in plasma antioxidant capacity for 4 hours after consumption, and overcome the oxidative stress of consuming high fructose corn syrup in a carbonated soft drink.
Dried fruits and especially figs, are a convenient and superior source of some nutrients, but in the American diet amount to less than 1% of total fruit consumed. Figs are in vivo antioxidants after human consumption. The findings suggest that dried fruits should be a greater part of the diet as they are dense in phenol antioxidants and nutrients, most notably fiber.
Twenty one date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Pakistani varieties were investigated for their physico-chemical characteristics. All observations were made at tamr stage (maturity) of fruit. Significant differences were recorded in the physical and chemical characteristics among varieties. The heaviest fruit weight (13.89g), flesh weight (12.89g), maximum length (4.56cm) and volume (11.94cm3) of fruit were recorded in Dhakki. Edible/non-edible ratio of different date varieties were found in the range of 1.94 (Desi simple) to 14.50 (Aseel Sindh). Maximum water activity was found in Desi basray (0.482) and minimum in Karblain (0.323). The highest peak force of puncture test as an index of firmness was recorded in Dora (59.64g) and maximum value of fruit color was observed in Desi red small (149.10CTn). Crude protein content ranged from 1.57% (Simple basraywal) to 3.51% (Desi green) and crude fiber content from 2.65% (Karblai Sindh) to 4.55% (Khopra). Total sugars content ranged from 59.03% (Desi basray) to 73.92% (Karblain), reducing sugars from 52.76% to 68.95% and non-reducing sugars from 4.65% to 7.66% among date varieties on dry matter basis. Results proved that Dhakki and Aseel are suitable for table purpose while other varieties are suitable for processing and converting into date products. © 2012 Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Faisalabad, Pakistan. All rights reserved.
Cited By (since 1996):129, Export Date: 18 October 2014
Thirty-four date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties, from start of Tamr stage of maturity, were analyzed for moisture, protein, lipid and ash. The mean percent of moisture, protein, lipid and ash were 29.35, 3.3, 0.42 and 2.25 g/100 g (fresh weight basis), respectively. Predominant sugars were fructose (12.62—43.31 g/100 g) and glucose (16.41—54.23 g/100 g, fresh weight basis). Sucrose was not practically detected in most varieties (excepting in Zark variety). Mineral elements such as Na, Mg, K and Ca were determined by ICP atomic spectroscopy and their amounts were in the range of 4.46—47.74, 18.44—79.35, 203.61—982.97 and 23.24—73.85 mg/100 g (dry weight basis), respectively. These results were generally in agreement with those reported previously for some other varieties grown in the other dates producing countries. A few differences will be related to date variety, agro-climatic and environmental conditions.
Five date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties, commonly grown in the UAE, were studied for their chemical composition, physical, mechanical and rheological properties. All measurements were made at the ‘tamr’ stage, the final stage of fruit ripeness. Samples were analysed for sugar, moisture, protein, ash and mineral element contents. Physical measurements as well as mechanical and rheological measurements of the fruit including pitting pressure, shear pressure, and modulus of elasticity were also carried out. Significant differences were observed in the characteristics that were studied, allowing for distinguishable grades among the five varieties. Chemical and physical characteristics of the fruits influenced their mechanical and rheological properties, which in turn can be indicators of firmness and ultimately of quality. Results from this work revealed new and essential information for better understanding of the date fruit that helps to enhance industrialisation and propagation of the best date varieties that satisfy producers’ as well as consumers’ demands.
The protein and amino acid contents of three Libyan date varieties (Taasfirt, Bikrari and Khadhrai) at different stages of fruit development were determined. The protein concentration in all three varieties was highest at the green stage. Seventeen amino acids were detected and quantified; their concentrations (dry weight basis) were higher in Khadhrai and Bikrari than in Taasfirt. At the green stage the concentrations of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, alanine and serine were highest. At the yellow and ripe stages, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, leucine, proline and glycine were present in high concentrations. For most amino acids the concentrations were higher at the yellow stage than at the ripe stage. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
The influence of variety and drying temperature range of 50–80 °C on air-drying pattern of date palm fruits were investigated. Results indicated that drying took place in the falling rate period. Moreover, the effect of variety and rehydration temperature range of 15–45 °C, maintaining a fruit : water ratio of 1:25 w/w were also investigated. Moisture transfer during air-drying and rehydration were described by applying the Fick’s diffusion model, and the effective diffusivities and activation energies were calculated. Arrhenius relation with activation energy range of 35.17–44.02 and 30.29–40.29 kJ/mol expressed the effect of temperature on the diffusivities during air-drying and rehydration, respectively.
The date by-products of two date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars, Deglet-Nour and Allig, from the Degach region (Tunisia), were analysed for their main chemical composition. Studies were also conducted on the physicochemical properties (colour, water and oil-holding capacity and rheological behaviour) of dietary fibre (DF) extracted from date flesh. The following values (on a dry matter basis: DM) were obtained for fleshes of Deglet-Nour and Allig cultivars, respectively: sucrose 52.7% and 13.9%, glucose 13.7% and 29.9%, fructose 12.6% and 29.0%, total dietary fibre 14.4% and 18.4%, protein 2.1% and 3%, ash 2.5% and 2.52%. Insoluble DF, the major fraction of total DF, constituted 9.19–11.7% DM for Deglet-Nour and Allig, respectively. The elaboration of DF concentrates from date fleshes was characterised by an extraction yield of 67%. The chemical composition of these DF concentrates showed high total DF contents (between 88% and 92.4% DM) and low protein and ash contents (8.98–9.12% and 2.0–2.1% DM, respectively). The DF concentrates showed a high water-holding capacity (∼15.5 g water/g sample) and oil-holding capacity (∼9.7 g oil/g sample) and pseudoplasticity behaviour of their suspensions. Thus, date DF concentrates may not only be an excellent source of DF but an ingredient for the food industry.
The chemical analysis of fruits from twelve varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) which are widely consumed in the United Arab Emirates was undertaken, and figures showed that glucose and fructose increase rapidly with maturation from Kimri through Khalal and Rutab to Tamr. Total sugars may represent over 50% of the fresh weight at Tamr, and these values, together with low moisture contents, encourage resistance to fungal spoilage after harvest. Minerals accumulated in the fruits as well, and the date could be an important source of potassium for regular consumers.
Second-grade dates (with a hard texture) from three potential Tunisian cultivars (Deglet Nour, Allig and Kentichi) showed the same sugar (∼73.30–89.55 g/100 g dry matter), fibre (∼7.95–18.83 g/100 g dry matter) and total phenolics (∼280.6–681.8 mg of GAE/100 g) content as dates of high quality. Deglet Nour and Kentichi varieties were characterised by a high content of sucrose and low reducing sugar content; contrary to Allig and the majority of other date varieties tested. This work intended to add value to these raw materials by using them in jam production. The corresponding jams were characterised in terms of chemical composition, physical (texture and water retention capacities) and sensory properties. Results showed a significant effect of the date variety on the composition and physical characteristics of date jams. Indeed, Allig jam was richer in reducing sugars and was characterised by its higher firmness and water retention capacity. To test the acceptability of these new products, we compared them with quince jam (the most consumed in Tunisia). Results showed that Allig and Kentichi jams presented a higher overall acceptability. However, quince and Deglet Nour jams did not show any significant differences (P > 0.05). Results from this work revealed essential information that could promote the commercialization of dzate jam.
The fruits (dates) of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) contain a high percentage of carbohydrate (total sugars, 44-88%), fat (0.2-0.5%), 15 salts and minerals, protein (2.3-5.6%), vitamins and a high percentage of dietary fibre (6.4-11.5%). The flesh of dates contains 0.2-0.5% oil, whereas the seed contains 7.7-9.7% oil. The weight of the seed is 5.6-14.2% of the date. The fatty acids occur in both flesh and seed as a range of saturated and unsaturated acids, the seeds containing 14 types of fatty acids, but only eight of these fatty acids occur in very low concentration in the flesh. Unsaturated fatty acids include palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The oleic acid content of the seeds varies from 41.1 to 58.8%, which suggests that the seeds of date could be used as a source of oleic acid. There are at least 15 minerals in dates. The percentage of each mineral in dried dates varies from 0.1 to 916 mg/100 g date depending on the type of mineral. In many varieties, potassium can be found at a concentration as high as 0.9% in the flesh while it is as high as 0.5% in some seeds. Other minerals and salts that are found in various proportions include boron, calcium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, sodium and zinc. Additionally, the seeds contain aluminum, cadmium, chloride, lead and sulphur in various proportions. Dates contain elemental fluorine that is useful in protecting teeth against decay. Selenium, another element believed to help prevent cancer and important in immune function, is also found in dates. The protein in dates contains 23 types of amino acids, some of which are not present in the most popular fruits such as oranges, apples and bananas. Dates contain at least six vitamins including a small amount of vitamin C, and vitamins B(1) thiamine, B(2) riboflavin, nicotinic acid (niacin) and vitamin A. The dietary fibre of 14 varieties of dates has been shown to be as high as 6.4-11.5% depending on variety and degree of ripeness. Dates contain 0.5-3.9% pectin, which may have important health benefits. The world production of dates has increased 2.9 times over 40 years, whereas the world population has doubled. The total world export of dates increased by 1.71% over 40 years. In many ways, dates may be considered as an almost ideal food, providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits.
Simultaneous analysis of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber
- I Furda
Furda, I. (1981). Simultaneous analysis of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. In W.P.T. James, and O. Theander (Eds.),
The Analysis of dietary fibre in food. Marcel Dekker, New York. 163-172.
Physiochemical characteristics of date palm varieties
- M Iqbal
- I Ullah
- M Munir
- M Niamatullah
Iqbal, M., Ullah, I., Munir, M. and Niamatullah, M. (2011). Physiochemical characteristics of date palm varieties. J. Agric.
Res. 49: 249-252.
A new DPTA-TEA Soil test for zinc and iron
- W L Lindsey
- M A Norwell
Lindsey, W.L. and Norwell, M.A. (1969). A new DPTA-TEA Soil test for zinc and iron. Agron. Abst. 61: 84-89.
Anti-nutritional factors in some date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Pakistan
- M Nadeem
- R Salimur
- F Anjum
- T Zahoor
- F Saeed
- A Ahmad
Nadeem, M., Salimur, R., Anjum, F., Zahoor, T., Saeed, F. and Ahmad, A. (2011a). Anti-nutritional factors in some date
palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Pakistan. Inter. J. Food Safety. 13: 386-390.