Nutritional quality of 18 date fruit varieties

The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the chemical and physical properties of 18 varieties of the date fruits from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera); which are regarded as popular fruit commodities among the populace of the Middle Eastern peninsula. Dietary fiber; proximate analysis; micronutrients (micro-elements and macro-elements) and physical properties (weight; […]

Date syrup: effect of hydrolytic enzymes (pectinase/cellulase) on physico-chemical characteristics; sensory and functional properties.

Abstract: This work is a contribution to give value addition to second grade dates (with hard texture) by the production of enzymatically treated syrup with high commercial value. It was observed that the pulp: water at ratio 1:3 treated with 50 U of pectinase and 5 U of cellulase during 120 min at 50°C gave […]

Quantification of water soluble vitamins in six date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar’s fruits growing in Dubai; United Arab Emirates; through high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract: In present investigation; a comparative analysis of water soluble vitamins viz.; B1 (thiamine HCl); B2 (riboflavin); B3 (nicotinamide); B5 (pantothenic acid); B6 (pyridoxine HCl); B9 (Folic acid); B12 (Cynocobalamin) was carried out in fruits (immature; semimature and mature) of six date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars (“Barhee”; “Khalasah”; “Muzati”; “Shishi”; “Zart”; “Zardai”) growing in […]

Chemical and aroma volatile compositions of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at three maturation stages

Abstract: The effect of maturity stage on the physicochemical composition and volatile components of date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) was investigated at three different stages. Total sugars; pH; proteins and ash increased up to the full-ripe stage of all date types. On the contrary; weight; moisture and total lipids decreased across the same period. […]

The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery.

Abstract: We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 at Jordan University of Science and Technology; a prospective study was carried out on 69 women who consumed six date fruits per day for 4 weeks prior […]

Preliminary characterization of food tablets from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and spirulina (Spirulina sp.) powders.

Abstract: In this work; some physical properties (hardness; friability; disintegration time and erosion) of food tablets containing various food powders obtained from dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.); spirulina (Spirulina sp.) and oranges (juice and zest) were investigated. Also; experimental data related to the release kinetic of phycocyanin (antioxidant substance of spirulina) into different liquid mediums; correctly […]

Improving fruit quality; nutritional value and yield of Zaghloul dates by the application of organic and/or mineral fertilizers

A field study was carried out during the years 2007 and 2008 on 30-year old Zaghloul cultivar growing in clay soil. Mineral fertilization sources: N; ammonium nitrate or NPK; ammonium nitrate + calcium superphosphate + potassium sulphate; and organic sources: chicken manure (CM); cow dung (CD) and composted domestic refuse (CDR) were applied either alone […]

Physicochemical changes in Mazafati date fruits incubated in hot acetic acid for accelerated ripening to prevent diseases and decay

A method was developed and optimized for the accelerated ripening of date fruits of cultivar ‘Mazafati’ to prevent diseases and decay. The date fruits were incubated in hot acetic acid solution 0.5% at 40 + 1 °C for 72 h. During the process some physicochemical changes in the fruits were studied and were found to […]

Effect of drying methods on physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of date fibre concentrates

Effects of different drying methods (freeze-; oven- and sun-drying) on physico-chemical properties of date fibre concentrates (DFC) from three potential Tunisian cultivars were investigated. DFC had high contents of dietary fibre (71.01–93.46% dry matter); with high proportions of insoluble dietary fibre. Freeze dried DFC had the highest values of swelling; water holding and oil holding […]

The effect of a beta-mannanase-based enzyme on growth performance and humoral immune response of broiler chickens fed diets containing graded levels of whole dates

The use of low-quality whole dates in broilers' diets was evaluated. The apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of whole dates and date pits was determined with or without a beta-mannanase-based enzyme (Hemicell–a registered trademark of ChemGen Corp.; Gaithersburg; MD. Dried Bacillus lentus fermentation solubles with 158 million units/kg minimum enzyme activity. Recommended usage rate is 0.4 […]