Date Palm Tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.): Natural Products and Therapeutic Options

Abstract

Many plants, including some of the commonly consumed herbs and spices in our daily food, can be safely and effectively used to prevent and/or treat some health concerns. For example, caffeine the active ingredient found in coffee beans (Coffea), shows biological activity in the treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders, indole-3-carbinol, and 3,3'-diindolylmethane are both broccoli (Brassica oleracea) derived phytochemicals with potential anti-cancer activity, and resveratrol, isolated from grape (Vitis vinifera), is reported to extend lifespan and provide cardio-neuro-protective, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer effects. Date palm fruits possess high nutritional and therapeutic value with significant antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-proliferative properties. This review focuses on the date fruit extracts and their benefits in individual health promoting conditions and highlights their applications as useful to the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries in the development of natural compound-based industrial products.

Keywords: Arecaceae; Phoenix dactylifera L.; antioxidant; cancer; date fruit; palm tree.

Figure 1

Date production by the top twenty date fruits producing countries (in metric tons).

Figure 2

World map of the top ten date fruit producing countries in 2014.

Figure 3

The five growth stages of a date fruit by days post pollination (DPP) (Al-Mssallem et al., 2013).

Figure 4

Chemical structures of carotenoids identified in date fruits.

Figure 5

Chemical structures of phytoestrols and phytoestrogens isolated/identified in the fruit of date palm tree.

Figure 6

Chemical structures of phenolic acid compounds identified in date fruits.

Figure 7

Basic flavonoid skeleton and some flavonoids identified in date fruits.

Figure 8

Selected plant derived natural products with paramount health promoting activity.