Dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of mankind’s oldest cultivated plants. It is known to be the most important fruit tree particularly in the Middle Eastern and Asian countries due to its natural sources of nutrition. The element composition of 10 commercially available dates and its pit samples purchased from local market were determined and evaluated using multivariate analysis technique. Samples were digested using nitric acid and hydrochloric acid and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium were found to be the major elements in both flesh and pit samples. Comparison between minor elements in both samples showed that the flesh samples contained higher levels of aluminium, barium and selenium while other minor elements were higher in the pit samples. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were performed on multivariate dataset of the flesh and the pit samples separately to observe the relationship between samples.

Malaysia is a tropical country that has a rich diversity of fruits. Fruits are sources of many essential elements, proximate composition and minerals that play vital roles in the proper development and good health of the human body. This study aimed at evaluating the content of mineral elements; macro and micro elements. Fruit samples were obtained from the local farm located at Bagan Datuk, Perak, Malaysia. The results obtained by chemical analysis were evaluated statistically with the majority of the fruit samples were rich in some of the essential minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and zinc. The data were subjected to chemometric assessment to understand the association between the elements concentration and to classify the fruit samples according to their minerals content. The principal components analysis (PCA) clearly showed a good separation of samples in terms of mineral constituents. The results fall within the limits. � BEIESP.

The presence of nutrients and phytochemicals including alkaloids, sterols, phenols and flavonoid in Phoenix dactylifera L. has been related to the health-benefits of date fruits consumption. Metabolomics study has been conducted to explore the human urine metabolome modifications after date fruits intake. After overnight fasting, urine samples were collected before the ingestion at 0h and every 4 hours after the consumption of date fruits at 4-24-h. Samples were analysed using LC-QTOF-MS, followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results revealed the changes of urinary metabolome during the 24 h after date fruits intake. Some phytochemicals, including alkaloids, sterols, phenols and flavonoids were appeared and disappeared after date fruits intake. These findings confirm that metabolomics is an effective tool that can be practiced in order to further discover the metabolism of phytochemicals and its relation with human health. � 2019, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.

Date fruits (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) are considered as an ideal food because it consists of high nutrients and provide beneficial effect to human health. Bioactive compounds in Ajwa dates have different polarities thus require different polarities of solvents for the extraction. In this study, we investigated the effects of selective extracting solvents and their combination on extraction of bioactive compounds in Ajwa flesh using mixture design. Methanol, chloroform and hexane were used in the design. Identification of bioactive compounds using GCMS shows Ajwa date flesh contain antioxidants, antifungal, anticholesterol, antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory. Most bioactive compounds were identified in methanolic extract (D1) except ?-Sitosterol and Vitamin E were identified in hexane extract (D3). Meanwhile, Longifolenaldehyde and Nonadecyl pentafluoropropionate were identified in hexane layer (D5H) from the combination of methanol: hexane (1:1). Copyright � 2017, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.