A Phytochemical Study of Date Palm Pollen

Abstract

investigation of Date Palm pollen revealed the presence of sterols, triterpenes, saponins, proteins, carbohydrates andlor glycosides and absence of volatile substances. From the U.S.M., B-amyrin, 8-sitosterol and a third crystalline substance were isolated. Four flavonoids were detected by TLC; two.of them were identified as rutin and quercetin. A steroidal saponin glycoside was isolated, having glucose and rhamnose as sugar moiety. A glucoprotein was isolated and proved biologically to have a gonadotrophic activity. TLC analysisprovedpresence of oesterone: Introdtrction Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.; Palmae) is widely growing in Egypt and the pollen grains have been held for generations to be nutritive and therapeutic as an antisterility agent. ABOU EL-WAFA [I] reported the presence of a non-crystalline oestrogenic substance in the ether extract of-Date pollen; besides rutin, a saponin-like substance and sucrose. EL-RIDI [2] isolated, in a crude state, a gonadotrophicallyactive substance from the pollen, which was found to be toxic when injected into rats. B E N E~E [3] isolated oesterone and cholesterol from Date Palm pollen in U.S.A. FODA [4] reported the presence of a growth hormone in the alcohol extract of Date Palm pollen. In view of the significance of pollen grains a t the present time, we decided to reinvestigate its constituents applying some recent methods of identification, isolation and analysis. Materials The air-dried pollen grains of Date palm were collected during March and April 1972, 1973 and 1974 from Date palms growing in the Delta region of Egypt, mainly from Sharkia Province and immediately used after collection.

Improvement of Semen Parameters in a Man With Idiopathic Severe Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Using Date Palm Pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Based on Iranian Traditional Medicine: A Case Report and Literature Preview

“…A study also showed gonadotropic activities of this drug (15). Another study indicated the presence of LH and FSH hormones in DPP (9).…”

“…DPP contains steroidal compounds such as estradiol, cholesterol, estrogen, estrone, and estriol (15). A study on animals reported rises in estradiol levels with this drug.…”

Aphrodisiac Activity of Aqueous Extract of <i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> Pollen in Male Rats

“…Following adequate erection and activity of muscles, intromission is possible and increasing of IF by the extract show the activation of penile erection mechanism. Alkaloids of DPP have estrogenic properties [27,28] that induce vasodilation of blood vessels of penis which results in erection [29]. Saponin of PDD acts as nitric oxid and cuases smoth muscle relaxation of corpus cavernosum.…”

The Role of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) Pollen in Fertility

“…13 Estrone and cholesterol were isolated from date palm seeds and pollen. 10,14,15 High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the hexane fraction from Egyptian DPPs revealed the presence of estrone, estradiol, and estriol. …”

“…8 Considerable amount of rutin is obtained from the alcoholic extract of the pollen. 9,10 Besides rutin, 4 other flavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction (isorhamnetin, apigenin, luteolin, and naringin), 11 and quercetin was identified in the alcoholic extract of DPPs. 10 Polyamide column chromatography of the methanolic extract showed 6 phenolic compounds: caffeic acid, gallic acid, catechin, coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin.…”