Planta Med 2014; 80 - PPL25
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382661

Quantification of sugars in date fruits from 29 date palm varieties

CR Zhang 1, SA Aldosari 2, PSPV Vidyasagar 2, P Shukla 2, MG Nair 1
  • 1Bioactive Natural Products and Phytoceuticals Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
  • 2College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Chair of Date Palm Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Palmaceae), is an important agricultural crop in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and USA. Date fruit is an important dietary component in the Middle Eastern region. Date fruits contain significant amount of sugar in the form of fructose and glucose in addition to dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. We have reported the functional food components in Ajwa, the most expensive date fruit in the market1. The major sugars present in Ajwa dates were fructose and glucose. Based on this research, we now have evaluated and quantified the sugars in all 29 varieties of date fruits (Rushoda, Nabtatali, Mutwah, Khala, Dekhaini, Ajwa, Khodry, Sullaj, Meneifi, Nabootsaif, Majhool, Sukkari, Segae, Ruthana, Barnial Madina, Shalabi, Sabaka, Luban, Rabeaa, Shaishee, Hilali, Khashram, Helwa, Safawi, Ruthana Alsharag, Anbara, Mabroom, Sefri, Deglet Noorin) produced commercially in Saudi Arabia by HPLC using a carbohydrate column and RI detection. Details of HPLC analyses, sugar contents in each variety of date fruit and varietal differences will be presented.

1. Zhang, C.-R., Aldosari, S. A., Vidyasagar, P. S. P. V., Nair, K. M., & Nair, M. G. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays confirm bioactive compounds in Ajwa date fruit. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 61, 5834 – 5840, 2013