Khaled Elsherif - Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Benghazi
Amal Aljaroushi - Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Technology, Misurata, Libya

The current research targeted to estimate total sugars, fats, proteins, phenols, and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of five date varieties (al-Tabouni (TAB), al-Bakrari (BAK), al-Aami (AAM), al-Hamouri (HAM), and al-daqla (DAQ)) available in Libya. Also, phytochemical screening for ethanolic and aqueous extracts were performed. In general, the two extracts were rich in carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. However, steroids didn’t exist in aqueous extract and saponins in both extracts. Total sugars were estimated by spectrophotometric methods, the proteins using the Kjeldahl method, and fats by the Soxhlet device, and their percent were ranged between ۴۹ - ۶۶%, ۱.۴۳ - ۲.۲۵, ۰.۱۰ - ۰.۲۵% (w/w) for sugars, proteins and fats, respectively. The total phenols were also estimated using the Folin reagent method, where the results are expressed as mg (gallic acid equivalent) per g (extract) and ranged from ۱۳.۵ to ۲۰.۵ mg/g, and the highest level was in the DAQ variety. The DPPH (۲,۲-diphenyl-۱-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging method was also used to estimate total antioxidants where the two largest levels were found in the DAQ and HAM varieties with concentrations of ۱۰.۶۸ and ۱۰.۶۳ mg (ascorbic equivalent)/g (extract), respectively. DAQ extract has reduced the ۵۰% of DPPH at lower concentration of ۰.۱۱۰ mg/ml (IC۵۰). Furthermore, good positive correlation was found between total phenols and DDPH in ethanolic extract.

Date Palm, Phytochemical screening, Total phenols, Total antioxidant