No abstract

This study assessed the total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total flavonols, and condensed tannins contents were also monitored and their antioxidant properties in vitro were investigated using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical cation, 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid), ferric reducing antioxidant power, and β‐carotene‐linoleic acid bleaching assay for second‐grade dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.), from 10 Tunisian cultivars. The results prove that the methanolic extracts of date fruits are a rich source of phenolic compounds. In addition, a positive linear correlation (p<0.05) between the phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity was found. The major phenolic compounds identified and quantified by LC‐ESI‐MS were the trans‐ferulic and syringic acids for the majority of cultivars. In this way, these results contribute to enhancing the value of the date fruits might be more widely used by both fresh consumers and food industry as a source of natural antioxidants in the diet or as natural food additives in benefit of human health. Practical applications It is known the benefits of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity in the nutrition and the health of human. These chemicals offer protection to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. For that, it is indispensable to determine the richness of our alimentation in these elements. This study aims to characterize the photochemical ingredients and antioxidant activity of 10 varieties of common dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to valorize them in food industry or in pharmaceutical industry as bioactive source for human.

Table S1Pearson correlation coefficient between the main chemical characteristics and the modeling parameters of date pulp and seeds of six varieties