Chemical composition of seeds of date fruit cultivars of United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Date seeds from five cultivars at kimri stage (fully mature fruit, but still having green colour) of maturity grown in the United Arab Emirates were analyzed for proximate, amino acid and mineral composition. The average ash, protein and fat contents were 1.5, 6. and 9.0%, respectively. Among the macro-elements, the potassium concentration was the highest (538.5, mg/100g), followed in descending order by phosphorus (181.1), magnesium (132.8) and calcium (155.5). The sodium concentration (5.0) was the lowest among the macro-elements. Of the micro-elements, zinc was present in the highest concentration (4.94), followed in descending order by iron (3.81), manganese (3.60) and copper (1.21). The amino acids profile of date-seed proteins was comparable to the FAO/WHO reference pattern. Oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid (56.1%) in date seed fat, followed by palmitic acid (11.9%), linoleic acid (11.6%). lauric acid (8.3%), myristic acid (6.0%) and stearic acid (2.6%). The data showed that date seeds could be a potential raw material for animal feeds.