The botanical details, pharmacological activities and industrial applications of date seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a very vital crop tree in many Middle Eastern countries and also, its fruits called dates are consumed worldwide by thousands of people. Date seeds which are the by-product of date fruits, are usually regarded as wastes and at most, only used as feed for farm animals. Unbeknownst to many however, date seeds are embedded with numerous amounts of fiber, carbohydrates, protein, oil, and dietary additionally, date seeds also contain phytochemicals that may elicit biological effects. Moreover, the abundant chemical composition of date seeds makes them apposite for use in medical supplements, food product formulation and cosmetics. It is the aim of the authors to review to the latest data on the pharmacological properties of date seeds discussing the botanical properties and industrial applications as well.