Biochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Seeds: A Review

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an essential agricultural crop in most Middle Eastern countries, and its fruit, known as dates, is consumed by millions of people. Date seeds, a by-product of the date fruit processing industry, are a waste product used as food for domestic farm animals. Date seeds contain abundant sources of carbohydrates, oil, dietary fiber, and protein; they also contain bioactive phenolic compounds that may possess potential biological properties. In addition, its rich chemical composition makes date seeds suitable for use in food product formulation, cosmetics, and medicinal supplements. This review aims to provide a discourse on the nutritional value of date seeds. The latest data on the cytotoxicity of date seed compounds against cancer cell lines, its ability to combat diabetes, antioxidant potential, antimicrobial effect, and anti-inflammatory activity will be provided, considering its potential to be a nutritional therapeutic agent for chronic diseases. Application of date seeds in the form of powder and oil will also be discussed.

Current insights into date by-product valorization for sustainable food industries and technology

“…Furthermore, the oil derived from date seed extraction is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and lipid-soluble antioxidants like phenols and phytosterols, which have the potential to lower the likelihood of various diseases. 73 The oil extracted from date seeds contains more saturated fatty acids than unsaturated ones, with oleic and linoleic acids being the major mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids being the major saturated fatty acids. The ratio of oleic to linoleic acids determines the quality of the extracted oil.…”

“…Furthermore, the oil derived from date seed extraction is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and lipid-soluble antioxidants like phenols and phytosterols, which have the potential to lower the likelihood of various diseases. 73…”

“…6 These compounds possess antioxidant properties that positively scavenge and eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), placing them at the forefront of research in health promotion and maintenance. 73,151…”

Strategies for the Valorization of Date Fruit and Its Co-Products: A New Ingredient in the Development of Value-Added Foods

“…Nowadays, the valorization of by-products from the food industry by reincorporating them into the food chain is one of the main approaches used to improve the sustainability of food production through the reduction of the amount of waste generated, thus promoting the circular economy. In this sense, the processing of dates for the manufacture of value-added food products, including syrup, paste, jam, jelly, and vinegar, produces various co-products, such as seeds that are rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols [ 5 , 13 , 14 ] that can be incorporated in bread and bakery products for functional purposes. Moreover, date by-products have nutrients for microbial growth, being a good substrate for the production of fermentation products, including organic acids and polysaccharides [ 93 , 95 ].…”

“…Date seeds are also an interesting source of important nutrients, such as dietary fiber (75–80%), oil (10–12%), proteins (5–6%), and minerals (2–3%) [ 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, their content in some bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds (21.0–62.0 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g date seeds), total flavonoids, anthocyanins, flavonols, and proanthocyanidins [ 6 , 14 , 15 ] have increased the interest for their potential functional applications as an antioxidant and antibacterial compounds.…”