Date seeds, considered a major waste product of the date industry, represent a valuable economic resource. Currently, they are often discarded or used as animal feed, despite their rich chemical composition, including high levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate the phytoconstituents present in the extract of Phoenix dactylifera L (Takerboucht) seeds for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The seeds were extracted using the Soxhlet method with a polar solvent mixture, then subjected to antioxidant tests (DPPH and ABTS). The phytochemical composition of the extract was also determined. The anti-inflammatory activity in vitro was evaluated using the denaturation test on bovine serum albumin (BSA), with diclofenac as the standard.
The crude extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with an IC50 value of 2.7 μg/ml for DPPH, comparable to the standards BHT and BHA. This correlated with the phytochemical analysis, which revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, and saponins. Regarding anti-denaturation activity, the crude extract inhibited BSA by 92.05% at the highest concentration.
These findings suggest that date by-products, particularly seeds, are a promising source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. They could serve as cost-effective natural antioxidants for food and non-food applications and provide an alternative remedy for managing inflammatory disorders.