Four cultivars (
Gondi,
Gasbi,
Khalt Dhahbi, and
Rtob Ahmar) of Tunisian date palm (
Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at 3 maturation stages,
besser,
rutab and
tamr, were analyzed for their antioxidant activities (AA) using 2,2鈥?azino-
bis (3-ethyl
benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals cation, and reducing power (RP) methods. The total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), and condensed tannins (CTC) contents were measured. Results showed that all samples have the highest TPC, TFC, CTC, and AA at
besser stage. A significant correlation (
p < 0.05) was found
between TPC, TFC, CTC and AA during ripening. Sixteen phenolic compounds were identified and quantified
by HPLC. The major ones were caffeic, ferulic, protocatechuic, and catechin for the majority of cultivars. Our data indicate that common date fruits are rich in natural antioxidants that might
be more widely used
by
both the general population and the food industry as a source of
bioactive human health promoter phytochemicals.<
br>
Keywords:
bs.acs.org/action/doSearch?action=search&searchText=date+fruits&qsSearchArea=searchText">date fruits; bs.acs.org/action/doSearch?action=search&searchText=maturation+stage&qsSearchArea=searchText">maturation stage; bs.acs.org/action/doSearch?action=search&searchText=phytochemical+composition&qsSearchArea=searchText">phytochemical composition; bs.acs.org/action/doSearch?action=search&searchText=antioxidants%E2%80%99+activity&qsSearchArea=searchText">antioxidants鈥?activity; bs.acs.org/action/doSearch?action=search&searchText=phenolic+profile&qsSearchArea=searchText">phenolic profile