Exploring the bioactivities and phytochemistry of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Aseel and Zahidi dates)

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a monocotyledonous plant belonging to the Arecaceae family, has been utilized as a medicinal plant. In this study, we investigated and compared the cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties of the fruit pulp extracts from two varieties of Phoenix dactylifera, namely Aseel and Zahidi. Solvent extraction was performed using the maceration method to extract the bioactive components. In this study, the antioxidant activity of two Phoenix dactylifera varieties was assessed by determining total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Alpha-amylase inhibitory assay confirmed anti-diabetic potential. Hemolytic assays measured cytotoxicity. The results of all activities were expressed as mean±S.D and a t-test was applied to check the significance of the results. Phoenix dactylifera (Aseel date) showed 61.4±5.9mg CE/100 g TPC, 28.03±0.72 mgGAE/100 g TFC and 69.0±1.0 DPPH scavenging activity. Zahidi variety has 49.1±2.51 mgCE/100 g TPC, 115.8±0.65 mgGAE/I00 g TFC and 76.6±0.48 DPPH scavenging activity. Phoenix dactylifera (Aseel date) inhibits E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus at 13mm and 15mm, respectively. Zahidi variety had no inhibition zone. Chemical characterization of the extracts was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).