Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees are largely cultivated across the Algerian oases; they are principal sources of remuneration and the economic basis for residents of these areas. Date palm fruits are rich sources of essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, with many potential health benefits, yet there are few studies on the chemical composition and biological properties of date palm seed oil. In this study, we present an in-depth characterization of the biochemical composition and antioxidant properties of date palm seed oil (DPSO) produced in Algeria. DPSOs of eight Algerian cultivars, Arechti, Degla-Baida, Deglet-Nour, Ghars, Haloua, Itima, Mech-Degla, and Tentbouchet, were investigated to determine their biochemical compositions and antioxidant properties. The results highlight the potential of DPSO as an alternative food and a natural resource, thanks to several important compounds having high antioxidant capacity. In particular, fatty acids and triacylglycerol (TAGs) analyses showed that oleic (42.74–50.19%), lauric (18.40–22.2%), and myristic (8.83–10.17%) were the major fatty acids, while 1-myristoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-linolenoyl 2-oleoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, 1-2-linolenoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol, and 1-linolenoyl 2-myristoyl 3-linoleoyl glycerol were the major TAGs. Biophenols and tocopherols analyses revealed the presence of important compounds, such as catechin (22.04–24.92 mg/kg), vanillin (10.67–23.98 mg/kg), and α-tocopherol (443.59 mg/kg), at high remarkable levels. Therefore, a comparison with the literature data concerning other seed oils, including olive oil, confirms that DPSO can be considered a high-quality oil, from a biochemical and biological point of view.
Highlights
The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L., Arecaceae) is considered a symbol of life in some arid areas, due to its tolerance to high temperatures, droughts, and salinity, compared to other fruit crop species
Our study provides an in-depth characterization of the biochemical compositions and antioxidant properties of seed oils produced from eight Algerian date palm cultivars
Seed oils of Haloua and Mech-Degla varieties had high levels of tocopherols, which are important for their antioxidant activities, but they had a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids
Summary
The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L., Arecaceae) is considered a symbol of life in some arid areas, due to its tolerance to high temperatures, droughts, and salinity, compared to other fruit crop species. It is one of the oldest trees in which humans have benefitted from, and it has been cultivated since ancient times [1]. Date palm trees are principal sources of remuneration and the economic basis for people living in Algerian oases In these areas, more than 13 million date palm trees and 940 varieties have been recorded to date, with a total production of approximately 1.13 million tons [3,4]. Antioxidants play an important role in human health, as they reduce the risk of major chronic health problems, such as different types of cancer, and cardiovascular and neurological disease [11]
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