Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

Phytochemical characterization of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) linked to chemical characteristics of the soil of backyard orchards

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4214
Submitted
30 June 2024
Published
12-01-2025
Versions

Abstract

The fruits of Phoenix dactylifera L. contain bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals. However, its composition and content exhibit great variability depending on genetic and environmental factors, especially the physico-chemical properties of the soils where date palms develop. To elucidate the above, samples of dates from three backyard orchards and soil samples from each orchard were collected to determine the content of bioactive compounds and chemical characteristics of the substrate and to determine the correlations between these. For total contents of polyphenols and flavonoids, antioxidant activity and soluble solids, the following methods were used - Folin-Ciocalteu reagent based total polyphenol estimation; aluminium chloride based total flavonoid estimation; 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical inhibition and a hand-held refractometer for soluble solid content determination. Each orchard was considered as a separate treatment and a completely randomized design was used, with the Tuckey’s test (?=0.05) applied to compare means. Pearson's linear correlation analysis was applied to establish the link between bioactive compounds of dates and chemical characteristics of the soils. The hypotheses were that the bioactive compounds present in dates obtained in different backyard orchards could vary depending on the chemical characteristics of their soils. The results reflected significant differences only for the soluble solids content of the dates. Statistically significant correlations were observed between two soil characteristics; organic matter (OM) and electrical conductivity (EC); and the soluble solids content of dates. It was concluded that higher organic matter in the soils is associated with higher soluble solids content in the fruit, while higher electric conductivity in the soils is linked to lower soluble solids content in the dates.

References

  1. AlAli M, Alqubaisy M, Aljaafari MN, AlAli AO, Baqais L, Molouki A, et al. Nutraceuticals: Transformation of conventional foods into health promoters/disease preventers and safety considerations. Molecules. 2021;26(9):2540. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092540
  2. Flore G, Deledda A, Lombardo M, Armani A, Velluzzi F. Effects of functional and nutraceutical foods in the context of the Mediterranean diet in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Antioxidants. 2023;12(10):1845. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101845
  3. Akram NA, Saleem MH, Shafiq S, Naz H, Farid-ul-Haq M, Ali B, et al. Phytoextracts as crop biostimulants and natural protective agents—A critical review. Sustainability. 2022;14(21):14498. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114498
  4. Al-Hooti S, Jiuan S, Quabazard H. Studies on the physico-chemical characteristics of date fruits of five UAE cultivars at different stages of maturity. Arab Gulf J Sci Res. 1995;13:553–69. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=1781085
  5. Al-Farsi MA, Lee CY, Al-Amri A. Compositional and functional characteristics of dates, syrups and their by-products. Food Chem. 2007;104(3):943–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.12.051
  6. Al Juhaimi F, Özcan MM, Uslu N, Ghafoor K, Babiker EE, Mohamed Ahmed IA. Bioactive properties, fatty acid compositions and phenolic compounds of some date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars. J Food Process Preserv. 2020;44(5):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.14432
  7. Vayalil PK. Date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn): An emerging medicinal food. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2012;52(3):249–71. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2010.499824
  8. Salomón-Torres R, Valdez-Salas B, García-Vázquez J, Zermeño-Flores S, Norzagaray-Plasencia S, Samaniego-Sandoval L. Chemical composition evaluation of Medjool date, in response to the effect of four pollinating sources. Braz J Anal Chem. 2021;(4):6216–23. https://doi.org/10.34188/bjaerv4n4-109
  9. Li Y, Kong D, Fu Y, Sussman MR, Wu H. The effect of developmental and environmental factors on secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2020;148;80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.01.006
  10. Asare MO, Száková J, Tlustoš P. The fate of secondary metabolites in plants growing on Cd-, As- and Pb-contaminated soils—A comprehensive review. Environ Sci Pollut R. 2023;30(5):11378–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24776-x
  11. Fawole OA, Opara UL. Effects of storage temperature and duration on physiological responses of pomegranate fruit. Ind Crop Prod. 2013;47:300–09. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.03.028
  12. Aqilah NMN, Rovina K, Felicia WXL, Vonnie JM. A review on the potential bioactive components in fruits and vegetable wastes as value-added products in the food industry. Molecules. 2023;14;28(6):2631. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062631
  13. Preciado-Rangel P, Murillo-Amador B, Hernández-Montiel LG, Espinosa-Palomeque B, Parra-Terraza S, Rivas-García T. Interaction of electrical conductivity and humic acids on yield and nutraceutical quality of Capsicum annuum L. fruits cv Arista. Bioagro. 2024;36(1):71–84. https://doi.org/10.51372/bioagro361.7
  14. Zraik M, Booth T, Piercey-Normore MD. Relationship between lichen species composition, secondary metabolites and soil pH, organic matter and grain characteristics in Manitoba. Botany. 2018;96(4):267–79. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjb-2017-0176
  15. Al-Abdoulhadi IA, Al-Ali S, Khurshid K, Al-Shryda F, Al-Jabr AM, Ben Abdallah A. Assessing fruit characteristics to standardize quality norms in date cultivars of Saudi Arabia. Ind J Sci Technol. 2011;4(10):1262–66. https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2011/v4i10/30169
  16. Lillo A, Carvajal-Caiconte F, Nuñez D, Balboa N, Alvear-Zamora M. Cuantificación espectrofotométrica de compuestos fenólicos y actividad antioxidante en distintos berries nativos del Cono Sur de América. RIA. Rev Investig Agropecu. 2016;42(2):168–74. http://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1669-23142016000200009&lng=es&nrm=iso [accessed March 2023]
  17. Brand-Williams W, Cuvelier ME, Berset C. Use of a free radical method to evaluate antioxidant activity. Food Sci Technol Int. 1995;28(1):25–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0023-6438(95)80008-5
  18. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Manual of methods of analysis of foods fruit and vegetable products. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. New Delhi. 2015. p.57. https://fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/FRUITS_AND_VEGETABLE.pdf#:~:text=Standards%20for%20processed%20fruits%20and%20vegetables%20are%20laid [accessed March 2023]
  19. Walkey A, Black IA. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 1934;37(1):29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
  20. Bremner JM. Methods of soil analysis. In: Black CA, editor. Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: Chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy. 1965;195–224. Methods of Soil Analysis | Agronomy Monographs [accessed March 2023]
  21. Olsen SR, Sommers LE. Phosphorus. In: Page AL, editor. Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties. Agron Monogr. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI. USA. 2nd ed.; 1982. 9. p.403–30. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c24
  22. SAS. Statistical analysis system: Version 9.0. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C., USA. 2022.
  23. Hadrami AE, Al-Khayri JM. Socioeconomic and traditional importance of date palm. Emir J Food Agric. 2012;24(5):371-85. https://ejfa.me/index.php/journal/article/view/1378
  24. Noui Y, Lombarkia OA, Bekrar A, Chibane HA, Lekbir A, Abdeddaim M, et al. Comparative study of the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of three dates varieties (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown in Algeria. Ann Food Sci Technol. 2014;15(2):276–83. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:208368617
  25. Guizani N. Date palm fruits as functional foods. Int J Nutr Pharmacol Neuro Dis. 2013;3(3):161. https://doi.org/10.4103/2231-0738.114830
  26. Ouamnina A, Alahyane A, Elateri I, Boutasknit A, Abderrazik M. Relationship between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of some Moroccan date palm fruit varieties (Phoenix dactylifera L.): A two-year study. Plants. 2024;13(1119):1–20. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081119
  27. Herchi W, Kallel H, Boukhchina S. Physico-chemical characterization and antioxidant activities of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits of different Tunisian cultivars. Food Sci Technol. 2014:34(3):464–70. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-457x.6360
  28. Mohamed-Lemine FM, Mohamed-Ahmed MV, Mohamed-Maoulainine LB, Bouna-Zel A, Samb A, Boukhary AOO. Antioxidant activity of various Mauritanian date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at two edible ripening stages. Food Sci Nutr. 2014;2(6):700–05. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.167
  29. Lister CE, Lancaster JE, Walker JRL. Developmental changes in enzymes of flavonoid biosynthesis in the skins of red and green apple cultivars. J Sci Food Agric. 1994;64(4):455–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199607)71:3<313::AID-JSFA586>3.0.CO;2-N
  30. Häkkinen SH, Kärenlampi SO, Heinonen IM, Mykkänen HM, Törrönen AR. Content of the flavonols quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol in 25 edible berries. J Agric Food Chem. 1999;47(6):2274–79. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf9811065
  31. Tomás-Barberán FA, Espín JC. Phenolic compounds and related enzymes as determinants of quality in fruits and vegetables. J Sci Food Agric. 2001;81(9):853–76. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.885
  32. Al-Mssallem MQ. The role of date palm fruit in improving human health. J Clin Diagn Res. 2020;14(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/43026.13442
  33. Fazili MA, Bashir I, Ahmad M, Yaqoob U, Geelani SN. In vitro strategies for the enhancement of secondary metabolite production in plants: A review. Bull Natl Res Cent. 2022;46(1):35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-022-00717-z
  34. Zhuang WB, Li YH, Shu XC, Pu YT, Wang XJ, Wang T, et al. The classification, molecular structure and biological biosynthesis of flavonoids and their roles in biotic and abiotic stresses. Molecules. 2023;28(8):3599. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083599
  35. González-González JA. Manual básico SPSS: Manual de introducción a SPSS. Programa Jóvenes Profesionales. Centro de Inserción Laboral. Universidad de Talca, Chile. 2009. https://www.academia.edu/67833717/Manual_basico_spss_universidad_de_talca
  36. Wang Y, Liu H, Yu S, Zhang Y, Huang Y, He X, et al. Effects of geographical, soil and climatic factors on the two marker secondary metabolites contents in the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. Front Plant Sci. 2024;15:1419392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1419392

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.