Phytochemical profile and Anti-inflammatory activity of date seeds ( Phoenix dactylifera L. ) variety ( Ghars ) "in vitro"

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the phytochemical properties and anti-inflammatory activity of date seeds from the “Ghars” variety, Phoenix dactylifera.L. The extraction yield by soaking in a methanol/water solution (80/20) was estimated at 11.425% for the date pit sample. Total polyphenol content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, resulting in a concentration of 290.5 mg/mL. The flavonoid content was estimated to be 12.2 mg/mL by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) analysis. The extract showed a condensed tannin content of 118.6 mg/mL, with a hydrolyzable tannin content of 68.81 mg/mL. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays, demonstrating its activity against free radicals attributed to its antioxidant components. However, date kernel extract showed lower antiradical activity compared to ascorbic acid, with the highest IC50 value recorded at 0.04 mg/mL. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, the extract showed an inhibition rate of 18.29%, while diclofenac showed an inhibition of 69%. As for the qualitative analysis of the studied extracts, which was conducted using HPLC, there were quantitative and qualitative differences in the presence of some reference phenolic compounds, which differed depending on the plant extract. These results confirm the therapeutic importance of Phoenix dactylifera. L as a natural repository of bioactive compounds for disease management. It is recommended that further research be conducted to isolate potential compounds and verify their effectiveness through clinical trials.