Abstract
This study evaluated the cortex, pulp and seed of Libyan Bekrari and Bronci date varieties for antioxidant, antibacterial and nutritional properties using standard methods. For both varieties, tannins, flavonoids, reducing sugars and cardiac glycosides were found in the cortex, pulp, and seed, whereas coumarins were only detected in the cortex and pulp. Saponins were present in seeds and alkaloids were absent in both varieties. The IC50 for Bekrari and Bronci seed and pulp extracts were 0.092 - 0.047 mg/ml and 8.81 - 4.98 mg/ml, respectively. The concentration of cortex extracts to reduce DDPH free radicals by 50 % were recorded at 4.25 and 3.69 mg/ml for Bekrari and Bronci, respectively. The seed extract of Bekrari at 100, 50, 25, and 12.5% showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zones 15.6, 13.3, 13, and 12 mm, respectively; and MRSA with inhibition zones 18.3, 16, 14, and 13 mm, respectively. The seed extract of Bronci also inhibited S. aureus and MRSA giving zones of inhibitions 16, 14.5, 12.5, 11 mm and 16.5, 14.2, 12.5, mm respectively, at the various concentrations. The Bronci and Bekrari seeds respectively contained 6.59 - 6.02 % protein, 5.48-6.60 % fat, 8.36-8.25 % moisture, 1.12-1.16 % ash, 38.45-39.60 % fiber, 0.80-1.24 % fructose, 1.05-1.24 % glucose and 1.32-1.56 % sucrose. The Bronci and Bekrari pulp respectively contained 3.47-2.25 % protein, 0.05-0.04 % fat, 7.67-7.84 % moisture, 1.72-1.85 % ash, 2.26-2.74 % fiber, 32.27-37.46 % fructose, 37.17-40.52 % glucose and 37.17-0.10 % sucrose. The Bronci and Bekrari cortex respectively contained 4.87-3.82 % crude protein, 0.65-0.29 % fat, 7.46-4.66 % moisture, 2.74- 1.59 % ash, 17.55-9.79 % fiber 17.95-20.01 % fructose, 17.32-18.41% glucose and 0.01-0.063 % sucrose. These results revealed and highlighted the strong antimicrobial, antioxidant and nutritional potential of Libyan date varieties.