Date seed flour and hydrolysates affect physicochemical properties of muffin

Potential of fruit seeds: Exploring bioactives and ensuring food safety for sustainable management of food waste

Sweet cherry pits, date seeds, and grape seeds are abundant fruit by-products in the Mediterranean region. Assessing their antioxidant capacity is crucial for their valorization. Grape and date seeds exhibited higher concentrations of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and significant antioxidant capacity. Epicatechin was the main flavonoid in sweet cherry pits and date seeds (29-85 mg/g), while vanillic acid was the predominant phenolic acid across all by-products (5-23 mg/g). However, some sweet cherry pit varieties exceeded Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) for five pesticides, while grape seeds contained thirteen fungicide residues, all below MRL. Ochratoxin A was detected in one date seed but below the limit of quantification. Additionally, grape seeds showed an Al content of approximately 130 mg/kg, along with levels of As, Cd, and Pb. Date seeds exhibited high potential for food and pharmaceutical applications, pending evaluation for chemical contaminants.

Characterizing date seed polysaccharides: A comprehensive study on extraction, biological activities, prebiotic potential, gut microbiota modulation, and rheology using microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent

This study investigated the biological activities, prebiotic potentials, modulating gut microbiota, and rheological properties of polysaccharides derived from date seeds via microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent systems. Averaged molecular weight (246.5 kDa) and a monosaccharide profile (galacturonic acid: glucose: mannose: fructose: galactose), classifying MPS as a heteropolysaccharide. MPS, at concentrations of 125-1000 µg/mL, demonstrates increasing free radical scavenging activities (DPPH, ABTS, MC, SOD, SORS, and LO), potent antioxidant potential (FRAP: 51.2-538.3 µg/mL; TAC: 28.3-683.4 µg/mL; RP: 18.5-171.2 µg/mL), and dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against common foodborne pathogens. Partially-purified MPS exhibits inhibition against α-glucosidase (79.6 %), α-amylase (85.1 %), and ACE (68.4 %), along with 80 % and 46 % inhibition against Caco-2 and MCF-7 cancer cells, respectively. Results indicate that MPS fosters the growth of beneficial fecal microbiota, including Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, supporting microbes responsible for major SCFAs (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids) production, such as Ruminococcus and Blautia.

Food-derived peptides unleashed: emerging roles as food additives beyond bioactivities

Innovating food additives stands as a cornerstone for the sustainable evolution of future food systems. Peptides derived from food proteins exhibit a rich array of physicochemical and biological attributes crucial for preserving the appearance, flavor, texture, and nutritional integrity of foods. Leveraging these peptides as raw materials holds great promise for the development of novel food additives. While numerous studies underscore the potential of peptides as food additives, existing reviews predominantly focus on their biotic applications, leaving a notable gap in the discourse around their abiotic functionalities, such as their physicochemical properties. Addressing this gap, this review offers a comprehensive survey of peptide-derived food additives in food systems, accentuating the application of peptides' abiotic properties. It furnishes a thorough exploration of the underlying mechanisms and diverse applications of peptide-derived food additives, while also delineating the challenges encountered and prospects for future applications. This well-time review will set the stage for a deeper understanding of peptide-derived food additives.

Multifunctional apple seed protein hydrolysates: Impact of enzymolysis on the biochemical, techno-functional and in vitro α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition activities

The work was designed to assess the amelioration effect of papain hydrolysis on the biochemical, techno-functional, and biological properties of apple seed protein isolate (API) after 0-90 min of hydrolysis. Hydrolysis significantly enhanced the nutritional value (protein content ˃ 90 %) while decreasing the average particle size. With increasing hydrolysis time, FTIR analysis revealed a transition from α-helix to β-turn structure, indicating the unfolding of protein structure. This structural alteration positively influenced the functional characteristics, with samples hydrolyzed for 90 min exhibiting excellent solubility, higher water and oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity, and increased emulsifying activity index. Moreover, samples hydrolyzed for 90 min displayed the highest α-glucosidase (29.62-57.43 %), pancreatic lipase inhibition (12.87-31.08 %), and ACE inhibition (25.32-62.70 %) activity. Interestingly, the inhibiting ability of protein hydrolysates against α-glucosidase and ACE was more effective than pancreatic lipase, suggesting their usefulness as a functional ingredient, particularly in type II diabetes and hypertension management.

Strategies for the Valorization of Date Fruit and Its Co-Products: A New Ingredient in the Development of Value-Added Foods

Date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are traditionally cultivated in South-West Asia and North Africa for date fruit consumption, although in recent years, its consumption has increased worldwide, and its cultivation has spread to other areas of America, sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and Southern Europe. During date fruit processing, several types of by-products are generated, such as low-quality dates or seeds, which along with date fruit, represent an excellent source of dietary fiber and bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols. Therefore, this review provides information on the processing of dates fruit and the value-added by-products generated from them as well as their applications in different types of foods for the development of foods with an enhanced nutritional and functional profile. The incorporation of date fruit and their co-products in food formulations will help to cover the current consumer demands for foods made with ingredients of natural origin and with health properties beyond the merely nutritional.

Advanced Processing of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) for Protein Extraction and Generation of Hydrolysates with Anti-Hypertensive and Antioxidant Activities In Vitro and the Thermal/Ionic Stability of These Compounds

In this study, giant kelp was explored under various conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions for the extraction of protein, its hydrolysis, and ultrafiltration to generate multiple fractions. The amino acid composition of all the fractions and their biological activities in vitro, including angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE) inhibitory activity and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power (RP), and ferrous chelating (FC) activities) were tested by storing the compounds for 2 weeks at various temperatures (-20-60 °C) and pHs (2-11) to elucidate their thermal and ionic stability, respectively. The yield of protein extraction using the conventional method was lower (≈39%) compared to the use of UAE (150 W, 15 min), which achieved protein recoveries of approximately 60%. After enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafiltration, low-molecular-weight (MW) hydrolysates had the highest levels of ACE inhibitory (80%), DPPH (84%), RP (0.71 mM trolox equivalents), and FC (81%) activities. Amino acids associated with peptides of high biological activities, such as Val, Ala, Asx, Gly, Lys, Met, Leu, and His, were at higher levels in the low MW fraction compared to any other sample. The biological activities in vitro of all the samples fluctuated under the multiple storage conditions studied, with the highest stability of all the samples appreciated at -20 °C and pH 7. This study shows for the first time the use of giant kelp as a promising source of bioactive peptides and indicates the optimum processing and storing conditions for the use of these compounds as nutraceuticals or functional foods that could help in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders and multiple chronic diseases associated with oxidative damage.

Novel Plant-Protein (Quinoa) Derived Bioactive Peptides with Potential Anti-Hypercholesterolemic Activities: Identification, Characterization and Molecular Docking of Bioactive Peptides

Hypercholesterolemia remains a serious global public health concern. Previously, synthetic anti-hypercholesterolemic drugs were used for ameliorating this condition; however, long-term usage presented several side-effects. In this regard, natural products as an adjunct therapy has emerged in recent times. This study aimed to produce novel bioactive peptides with anti-hypercholesterolemic activity (cholesterol esterase (CEase) and pancreatic lipase (PL)) from quinoa protein hydrolysates (QPHs) using three enzymatic hydrolysis methods (chymotrypsin, protease and bromelain) at 2-h hydrolysis intervals (2, 4, and 6 h). Chymotrypsin-generated hydrolysates showed higher CEase (IC₅₀: 0.51 mg/mL at 2 h) and PL (IC₅₀: 0.78 mg/mL at 6 h) inhibitory potential in comparison to other derived hydrolysates and intact quinoa proteins. Peptide profiling by LC-MS QTOF and in silico interaction with target enzymes showed that only four derived bioactive peptides from QPHs could bind in the active site of CEase, whereas twelve peptides could bind in the active site of PL. Peptides QHPHGLGALCAAPPST, HVQGHPALPGVPAHW, and ASNLDNPSPEGTVM were identified to be potential CEase inhibitors, and FSAGGLP, QHPHGLGALCAAPPST, KIVLDSDDPLFGGF, MFVPVPH, and HVQGHPALPGVPAHW were identified as potential PL inhibitors on the basis of the maximum number of reactive residues in these bioactive peptides. In conclusion, QPHs can be considered as an alternative therapy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Stimulation of ACE inhibitory and improving α-amylase and α-glucosidase and antioxidant activities of semi-prepared and dry soup by incorporating with date kernel powder

Date kernel as a functional food component has a special importance due to its rich nutritional profile, low price, and ease of access. For this, in this research, the sub-product was used for formulation of semi-prepared dry soup (SPDS); the effect of adding 0 (S1 = control), 2 (S2), and 4 (S3) %w/w date kernel powder (DKP) on physicochemical, nutritional, and organoleptic properties and beneficial effects of SPDS samples were evaluated. The results revealed that S2 and S3 samples were different from the control sample in some physicochemical properties so that viscosity increased 1.27 and 1.52 times and a* raised 5.6 and 8.5 times, respectively, while L* decreased 0.94 and 0.88 times and b* reduced 0.92 and 0.8 times, respectively. The nutritional properties of S2 and S3 samples compared with the control sample improved. Also, differences were observed in the beneficial effects of S2 and S3 compared with the control sample as total polyphenol content (TPC) increased 1.06 and 1.11 times, respectively (p < .05); antioxidant activities (AA) of S2 and S3 samples were 8.04 and 6.01 mg/ml and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities were measured to be 8.2 and 7.86 mg/ml, respectively; also, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of S2 and S3 samples were observed 4.48% and 5.70%, and 4.59% and 6.36%, respectively. From the organoleptic aspect, S3 had the highest acceptability. Generally, it is concluded that with the addition of DKP (maximally 4%w/w) to SPDS formulation, a functional soup could be produced considering the rich nutritional profile of DKP.

Antioxidant effects and reaction volatiles from heated mixture of soy protein hydrolysates and coconut oil

Soy protein hydrolysates (SPHs) are prepared from soybean meal using commercially available protease enzymes and acid/alkali treatment. The antioxidant properties of SPHs were evaluated by measuring headspace oxygen consumption and conjugated diene formation in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. In addition, volatile profiles were analyzed for the heated mixture of SPHs and the coconut oil (SPHCO). Total amino acid content was the highest in double proteases. SPHs prepared from enzymes acted as better antioxidants than those prepared from acid/alkali treatments in O/W emulsions. SPHs prepared from double proteases generated the highest amounts of total volatiles and nitrogen-containing compounds in SPHCO. 2,3-Dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 2-methyl-butanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, and 2,6-dimethylpyrazine were the major volatiles in SPHCO. Enzymatic SPHs act as natural antioxidants in the O/W emulsion matrix, and thermal reaction products from SPHCO may contribute to the production of a unique volatile flavor in plant protein-based foods.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01189-7.

Applications of date pits in foods to enhance their functionality and quality: A review

Summary of the abstract

Antioxidant peptides: Overview of production, properties, and applications in food systems

In recent years, several studies have reported the beneficial effects of antioxidant peptides in delaying oxidation reactions. Thus, a growing number of food proteins have been investigated as suitable sources for obtaining these antioxidant peptides. In this study, some of the most critical developments in the discovery of peptidic antioxidants are discussed. Initially, the primary methods to release, purify, and identify these antioxidant peptides from various food-derived sources are reviewed. Then, computer-based screening methods of the available peptides are summarized, and methods to interpret their structure-activity relationship are illustrated. Finally, approaches to the large-scale production of these bioactive peptides are described. In addition, the applications of these antioxidants in food systems are discussed, and gaps, future challenges, and opportunities in this field are highlighted. In conclusion, various food items can be considered promising sources to obtain these novel antioxidant peptides, which present various opportunities for food applications in addition to health promotion. The lack of in-depth data on the link between the structure and activity of these antioxidants, which is critical for the prediction of possible bioactive amino acid sequences and their potency in food systems and in vivo conditions (rather than in vitro systems), requires further attention. Consequently, future collaborative research activities between the industry and academia are required to realize the commercialization objectives of these novel antioxidant peptides.

Chemical Characterization of Date Seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Cultivated in Algeria for its Application as Functional Ingredients

Seven date seeds cultivars, Deglet Nour, Degla Baïdha, Fakht, Ghars, Hamraya, Tafezouin and Takermost were provided from Algerian Sahara. Some of these Algerian date seeds were studied for the first time (Fakht, Hamraya and Takermost). The biochemical characterization of these date seeds were studied, including fatty acids and minerals profiles. The results showed that date seeds are a good source of carbohydrates and crude cellulose, with averages of 66.63 and 13.20%, respectively. They are also a good source of proteins, with the cultivar Deglet Nour seeds as the richest one (9.27 ± 0.03%). The main fatty acid for all date seeds oils is oleic acid except for Deglet Nour in which lauric acid is the main one. However, the studied date seed oils could be classified as oleic-lauric oil. Potassium was the highest mineral in all date seeds cultivars, with values ranging from 2700 to 2900 mg/Kg, followed by sodium and iron. These results indicate that date seeds have good nutritional value with different compositions among cultivars. It could be concluded that date seeds could be considered as a good opportunity for their technological and industrial valorization.

Influence of Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Molecular Weight Fractionation on the Antioxidant and Lipase / α-Amylase Inhibitory Activities In Vitro of Watermelon Seed Protein Hydrolysates

This study aims to evaluate the potential in vitro antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of watermelon seed protein hydrolysates (WSPH) obtained using different combinations of enzymes alcalase−proteinase K (ALC-PK) and alcalase−actinidin (ALC-ACT). There was a direct relationship between the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and the biological activities of the WSPH, with the highest DPPH (approximately 85%) and lipase inhibitory activities (≈59%) appreciated at DH of 36−37% and 33−35% when using ALC-PK and ALC-ACT, respectively. Following molecular weight fractionation, the ALC-PK WSPH < 3 kDa (F1) assayed at 1 mg.mL−1 had the highest DPPH-radical scavenging (89.22%), ferrous chelating (FC) (79.83%), reducing power (RP) (A 0.51), lipase inhibitory (71.36%), and α-amylase inhibitory (62.08%) activities. The amino acid analysis of ALC-PK WSPH and its fractions revealed a relationship between the biological activity of the extracts and their composition. High contents of hydrophobic amino acids, arginine, and aromatic amino acids were related to high antioxidant, lipase inhibitory, and α-amylase inhibitory activities in the extracts, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that underutilized protein sources such as WSPH, using the appropriate combination of enzymes, could result in the generation of new ingredients and compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-obesity activities with promising applications as nutraceuticals or functional foods.

Bioactivity and Pharmacological Potential of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Against Pandemic COVID-19: a Comprehensive Review

A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), transmitted from person to person, has quickly emerged as the pandemic responsible for the current global health crisis. This infection has been declared a global pandemic, resulting in a concerning number of deaths as well as complications post-infection, primarily among vulnerable groups particularly older people and those with multiple comorbidities. In this article, we review the most recent research on the role of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits (DPFs) to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection. The mechanisms underlying this preventive or therapeutic effect are also discussed in terms of bioactivity potentials in date palm, e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and hemolytic potential, as well as prospect against COVID-19 disease and the potential product development. Therefore, it can be concluded that regular consumption of DPFs may be associated with a lower risk of some chronic diseases. Indeed, DPFs have been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times to treat a variety of health conditions, demonstrating the importance of DPFs as a nutraceutical and source of functional nourishment. This comprehensive review aims to summarize the majority of the research on DPFs in terms of nutrient content and biologically active components such as phenolic compounds, with an emphasis on their roles in improving overall health as well as the potential product development to ensure consumers' satisfaction in a current pandemic situation. In conclusion, DPFs can be given to COVID-19 patients as a safe and effective add-on medication or supplement in addition to routine treatments.

Exploration of bioactive peptides from various origin as promising nutraceutical treasures: In vitro, in silico and in vivo studies

The current health scenarios describe growing public health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Therefore, researchers focused on studying these health issues are interested in exploring bioactive compounds from different food sources. Among them, bioactive peptides have garnered huge scientific interest because of their multifunctional biological activities such as antioxidative, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anticancer, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory effect. They can be used as food and pharmaceutical ingredients with a great potential against disease targets. This review covers methods of production in general for several peptides obtained from various food sources including seed, milk and meat, and described their biological activities. Particular focus was given to bioinformatic tools to advance quantification, detection and characterize each peptide sequence obtained from different protein sources with predicted biological activity. Besides, various in vivo studies have been discussed to provide a better understanding of their physiological functions, which altogether could provide valuable information for their commercialization in future foods.

Antioxidant Potential of Cookies Formulated with Date Seed Powder

Utilising major waste products from the food industry can have both a great environmental impact and be a means to improve consumer health. Date seed is a food industry byproduct that has been proven to have high nutritional value. The aim of this work was to measure the total polyphenolic content (TPC), flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the seeds of six date fruit varieties, Fard, Khalas, Khinaizi, Sukkary, Shaham, and Zahidi, and to use those seeds to enhance the antioxidant value of cookies by partially substituting flour with ground date seed. Date seed powder (DSP) was extracted at three levels of sample to solvent ratio (5:1, 10:1 and 15:1 mg/mL). Cookies were prepared using three substitution levels of wheat flour (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5%, w/w) by DSP and two types of flour (white and whole wheat), and were baked at two different temperatures, 180 and 200 °C. The composite cookies were found to contain a significant amount of TPC and flavonoids, and showed increased antioxidant activity compared with the control samples.

Physical Chemical and Textural Characteristics and Sensory Evaluation of Cookies Formulated with Date Seed Powder

Date seeds are a major waste product that can be utilised as a valuable and nutritional material in the food industry. The aim of the present study was to improve cookies quality in terms of functional and textural value and assess the effect of date seed powder flour substitution on the physical and chemical characteristics of cookies. Three substitution levels (2.5, 5 and 7.5%) of flour by fine date seed powder from six varieties locally named Khalas, Khinaizi, Sukkary, Shaham, Zahidi and Fardh were prepared. Two types of flour were used (white flour and whole wheat) at two different baking temperatures: 180 and 200 °C. The incorporation of date seed had no or slight effect on moisture, ash, fat and protein content of the baked cookies. On the other hand, incorporation significantly affected the lightness and hardness of cookies; the higher level of addition, the darker and crispier the resulting cookies. The sensory analysis indicated that the produced cookies were acceptable in terms of smell, taste, texture and overall acceptability. The results indicate that the most acceptable cookies across all evaluated parameters were produced using whole wheat flour with 7.5% levels of date seed powder using Khalas and Zahidi varieties. Overall, the analysis indicated that cookies with acceptable physical characteristics and an improved nutritional profile could be produced with partial replacement of the white/whole wheat flour by date seed powder.

Date Components as Promising Plant-Based Materials to Be Incorporated into Baked Goods—A Review

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae) fruits and their by-products are rich in nutrients. The health benefits of dates and their incorporation into value-added products have been widely studied. The date-processing industry faces a significant sustainability challenge as more than 10% (w/w) of the production is discarded as waste or by-products. Currently, food scientists are focusing on bakery product fortification with functional food ingredients due to the high demand for nutritious food with more convenience. Utilizing date components in value-added bakery products is a trending research area with increasing attention. Studies where the researchers tried to improve the quality of bakery goods by incorporating date components have shown positive results, with several drawbacks that need attention and further research. The objective of this review is to present a comprehensive overview of the utilization of date components in bakery products and to identify gaps in the current knowledge. This review will help focus further research in the area of valorization of date by-products and thereby contribute to the generation of novel functional bakery products that meet consumer expectations and industry standards, thus generating income for the relevant industry and considerable alleviation of the environmental burden this waste and by-products contribute to. Only a few studies have been focused on utilizing date by-products and their extracts for baked goods, while a research area still remaining under-explored is the effect of incorporation of date components on the shelf life of bakery products.

A state-of-art review on camel milk proteins as an emerging source of bioactive peptides with diverse nutraceutical properties

The generation of camel milk derived bioactive peptides (CM-BAPs) have started to grab keen interest of many researchers during the past decade. CM-BAPs have shown more significant bioactive properties in comparison to camel milk intact proteins. CM-BAPs can be obtained using enzyme hydrolysis to form hydrolysates, or by the fermentation process. In this systematic review, 46 research articles exploring the health-related bioactive properties of CM-BAPs through in-vitro and in-vivo studies have been included. CM-BAPs have been reported for their antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, antihypertensive, antibacterial, antibiofilm, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-haemolytic, and anti-hyperpigmentation activities. The effects of factors such as molecular weight of peptides, type of enzyme, enzyme to substrate ratio, hydrolysis temperature and duration have been analysed. The in-vitro studies have provided enough evidence on certain aspects of the pharmacological actives of camel milk bioactive peptides. Nevertheless, the in-vivo studies are very limited, and no clinical studies on CM-BAPs have been reported.

Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Snack Bars Enriched with Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) By-Product Powders

This research aimed to evaluate tilapia by-product powders as a novel food ingredient and the suitable cooking method for snack bar (SBs) production. Tilapia by-product powders were made by two processing methods; one powder was oven-dried as tilapia dry powder (TDP) and another was bromelain-hydrolyzed and then freeze-dried as tilapia hydrolysate powder (THP). SBs were prepared by incorporating tilapia dry powders (TDP or THP; 10%). SBs were further separated in two different cooking methods, namely unbaked and baked ones. The baked SBs had yellow and darker coloration (L* value ranged from 66.38 to 76.12) and more reddish color (a* value range from −1.26 to 1.06). Addition of tilapia by-product powders significantly (p < 0.05) increased the protein content of the original SB from 21.58 to 32.08% (SB + THP). Regarding DPPH scavenging activity, the control group showed the lowest activity, followed by SB + TDP and SB + THP with the highest activity (p < 0.05), with DPPH scavenging activity ranged from 12.40 to 26.04%. The baking process significantly (p < 0.05) increased the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the SBs. In particular, the SB + THP group showed the highest activity (17.78%). All samples exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and the SB + THP group showed the highest activity (15.08 ± 1.95 mm growth inhibition). Based on principal component analysis, four principal components (nutraceutical pigmentation, physical characteristics, nutrition value, and greater dehydration) were contributed towards the physicochemical and functional properties of the SBs. The overall results suggested that tilapia by-product powders can be potential ingredients for adding functional values to food products.

Date Fruit and Seed in Nutricosmetics

Many recent studies in the field of cosmetics have focused on organically sourced substances. Products made from organic materials are safe, high quality, cruelty-free, and more effective than those made from synthetic materials. Many organic compounds are known to be physiologically active in humans and have an extended storage capacity and long-lasting environmental effects. Agro-industrial waste has recently increased substantially, and the disposal of date palm waste, often performed in primitive ways such as burning, is harmful to the environment. Fruit processing industries generate over 10% of the total date seed waste daily, which could be converted into useful food products. Date fruit and seed are rich in sugar, vitamins, fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that significantly promote human and animal health. This waste is rich in bioactive compounds and essential oils used in many kinds of food, medicine, and cosmetics. Most active cosmetic ingredients come from natural sources such as fruit, fish, and dairy, and recent research shows that date extract and seed oil help to reduce melanin, eczema, acne, and dry patches, while increasing skin moisture and elasticity. This review details the bioactive compounds and nutraceutical properties of date fruit and seed, and their use as cosmetic ingredients.

Camel whey protein hydrolysates induced G2/M cellcycle arrest in human colorectal carcinoma

Camel milk has been gaining immmense importance due to high nutritious value and medicinal properties. Peptides from milk proteins is gaining popularity in various therapeutics including human cancer. The study was aimed to investigate the anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory properties of camel whey protein hydrolysates (CWPHs). CWPHs were generated at three temperatures (30 ℃, 37 ℃, and 45 ℃), two hydrolysis timepoints (120 and 360 min) and with three different enzyme concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2 %). CWPHs demonstrated an increase in anti-inflammatory effect between 732.50 (P-6.1) and 3779.16 (P-2.1) µg Dicolfenac Sodium Equivalent (DSE)/mg protein. CWPHs (P-4.3 & 5.2) inhibited growth of human colon carcinoma cells (HCT116) with an IC50 value of 231 and 221 μg/ml, respectively. P-4.3 induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and modulated the expression of Cdk1, p-Cdk1, Cyclin B1, p-histone H3, p21 and p53. Docking of two peptides (AHLEQVLLR and ALPNIDPPTVER) from CWPHs (P-4.3) identified Polo like kinase 1 as a potential target, which strongly supports our in vitro data and provides an encouraging insight into developing a novel peptide-based anticancer formulation. These results suggest that the active component, CWPHs (P-4.3), can be further studied and modeled to form a small molecule anti-cancerous therapy.

Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of camel and bovine casein hydrolysates: Identification and characterization of novel anti-diabetic bioactive peptides

Camel milk proteins are an important substrate for bioactive peptides generation. This study investigates in-vitro antidiabetic effect (via inhibition of α-amylase (AA), α-glucosidase (AG) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV)) of bovine (BC) and camel casein (CC) hydrolysates. Further, effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) on inhibitory potential of generated hydrolysates was also explored. Both BC and CC hydrolysates displayed potent inhibitory properties against AA (IC₅₀ value- 0.58 & 0.59 mg/mL), AG (IC₅₀ value- 1.04 & 0.59 mg/mL) and DPP-IV (IC₅₀ value- 0.62 & 0.66 mg/mL), respectively. Among different peptides identified in BC and CC hydrolysates, it was observed that FLWPEYGAL was predicted to be most potent inhibitory peptide against AA. While LPTGWLM, MFE and GPAHCLL as most active inhibitor of AG and HLPGRG, QNVLPLH and PLMLP were predicted to be active against DPP-IV. Overall, BC and CC hydrolysates can be proposed to be used in different food formulations as functional antidiabetic agents.

Antioxidant mechanism, antibacterial activity, and functional characterization of peptide fractions obtained from barred mackerel gelatin with a focus on application in carbonated beverages

The present study aimed to use fish by-products to generate gelatin peptides with potential applications in carbonated beverages. After ultrafiltration, the F < 3 kDa (fraction < 3 kDa) showed the highest peptide concentration (227.22 mg/g) as well as antibacterial (MIC of ≤ 0.5 mg/mL) and antioxidant activities, including hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging, ferrous chelation, and ferric reduction (with IC₅₀ values of 0.88, 1.04, 0.50 mg/mL, and 0.58, respectively). 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging was the highest in the 3 < F < 10 kDa (IC₅₀ of 0.64 mg/mL). In vitro gastrointestinal digestion significantly decreased all biological activities. Solubility, water holding capacity, and emulsifying activity of the F < 3 kDa were the highest while foaming properties and overfoaming were reversibly related to the molecular weight. All abovementioned properties, in addition to in vitro cytotoxicity analysis in different cell lines and better flavor characteristics, indicated that the F < 3 kDa could be safely and properly used as an ingredient for the fortification of carbonated beverages.

Bioactive compounds from date fruit and seed as potential nutraceutical and functional food ingredients

Date palm is an important fruit bearing tree grown widely in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The date fruit and its by-products, such as seeds, have both nutritional and medicinal value. However, date fruit and seeds have not been fully considered as potential functional food ingredients to develop foods with promising health benefits. Based on the available information in the literature, fruit and seed of date palm are rich in phytochemicals, such as phenolics, anthocyanin, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols and dietary fiber. In addition, they were reported to possess several beneficial health properties explored under in-vitro and in-vivo conditions. Further research in this area would provide valuable information for the potential utilization of date fruit and seed as functional food ingredients. This review presents a comprehensive information about the bioactive compounds and nutraceutical properties of different varieties of date fruit and seed, as well as the potential for using them as functional food ingredients.

Functional properties of muffin as affected by substituing wheat flour with carob powder

Carob (Cerationa soliqua L.) pod is the good source of dietary fiber, minerals and polyphenolic substances. The aim of this study was to prepare muffin where wheat flour was substituted with carob powder, and determine some physicochemical properties. Carob powder was prepared by milling dry carob pods to particles smaller than 600 μm. Then wheat flour in muffin dough was replaced by carob powder in 5, 10, 15 and 20% (w/w) and subsequently baked at 180 °C for 20 min. It was found that the height of the muffin fortified with carob powder decreased in comparison with that in control muffin sample. Although the height of muffins decreased with the increase in level of carob powder, the differences were not statistically significant. Weight loss was similar for all the muffin samples in this study. Moisture content of muffins with carob powder was significantly higher than that in control. Addition of carob powder had also effect on water activity of muffin. While 0.905 aw was observed in control sample, significantly higher aw values were determinated in fortified muffins (0.912 – 0.923 aw). The antioxidant characteristics were determinated using spectrophotometric assays for total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), radical scavenging activities (DPPH, ABTS) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging (HPS). TPC values gradually increased with the increase in level of carob powder from 348.1 to 829.1 μg gallic acid.g-1 dry matter but TFC values significantly increased in muffin with 15 and 20% (w/w) of carob powder. All the antioxidant assays showed strong and positive association with the increase in level of carob powder. Addition of carob powder resulted in the increase of browning index and FAST index as a metrics of the formation of Maillard products.

Phenolic Compounds of Pomegranate Byproducts (Outer Skin, Mesocarp, Divider Membrane) and Their Antioxidant Activities

Pomegranate peel was separated into outer leathery skin (PS), mesocarp (PM), and divider membrane (PD), and its phenolic compounds were extracted as free (F), esterified (E), and insoluble-bound (B) forms for the first time. The total phenolic content followed the order PD > PM > PS. ABTS(•+), DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and metal chelation were evaluated. In addition, pomegranate peel extracts showed inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase activity, lipase activity, and cupric ion-induced LDL-cholesterol oxidation as well as peroxyl and hydroxyl radical-induced DNA scission. Seventy-nine phenolic compounds were identified using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS(n) mainly in the form of insoluble-bound. Thirty compounds were identified for the first time. Gallic acid was the major phenolic compound in pomegranate peel, whereas kaempferol 3-O-glucoside was the major flavonoid. Moreover, ellagic acid and monogalloyl-hexoside were the major hydrolyzable tannins, whereas the dominant proanthocyanidin was procyanidin dimers. Proanthocyanidins were detected for the first time.