BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN LOCAL DATE VARIETIES AND POSSIBLE USE AS FUNCTIONAL FOOD

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits is one of the most important cultivates grown in the world. Therefore, targeted study was conducted on the types of date fruits available in Egypt, whether soft or semi dry or dry, the study varieties spread in the areas such as Upper Egypt like (Aswan) which targeted from it two dry varieties like (Partamoda and Malakabi). While the semi dry varieties were obtained of Oasis especially El-kharga Oasis which targeted from it one variety semi dry like (Saiedi or known as Sewi), also from the delta especially (Rasheed) which targeted from it one variety soft was (Samani) and second from (Agriculture Research Center) was (Zaghloul). Then estimation the following in these date fruits targeted: The gross chemical composition, sugars (total, reducing and non-reducing), dietary fibers content (total, soluble and insoluble), available carbohydrate and energy value, mineral elements content like (K, Na, Fe, Mn, P, Zn and Cu); antioxidant power (DPPH scavenging activity, total phenolics and total flavonoids), physico-chemical characteristics like (pH, acidity and TSS) and sensory evaluation.