Phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and antiglycation potential of select Moroccan date varieties: promising sources for functional food development

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit is one of the most popular in Morocco, and globally owing to its nutritional and therapeutic value. The aim of this research is to assess the quantity of phenolic compounds in two date varieties with low market value, and to identify the antioxidant and antiglycation potential. Our findings indicate that the total phenolic levels ranged from 117.124 to 153.635 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)-/100 g of dry weight (DW). The range of flavonoid content was 71.01–94.219 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g of DW, while the condensed tannin content exhibited variability from 26.565 to 48.428 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g of DW. Additionally, the values for flavonols and anthocyanins fell within the ranges of 14.538–23.994 mg of QE/100 g of DW and 1.051–1.223 mg/100 g of DW, respectively. In antioxidant activity tests, the 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay showed an activity range from 336.472 to 414.291 μmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/100 g DW. On the other hand, the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical test showed values that varied between 80.513 and 91.229 μmol TE/100 g DW. Additionally, the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values ranged from 2.51 to 3.34 mg/mL, and the ferrous ion chelating capacity varied from 6.66 to 11.74 mg/mL. The study also assessed the antiglycation activity using the BSA-fructose model. This activity showed that the Iklane variety had a high glycation inhibition capacity (IC50: 0.112 mg GAE/mL) compared with the Black Bousthammi variety (IC50: 0.128 mg GAE/mL). The antioxidant and antiglycation properties of dates open up opportunities for the use of dates for innovative products in the pharmaceutical and nutritional sectors.