Date seed oil inhibits Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human epidermal keratinocytes

Evaluation of synergistic/antagonistic antibacterial activities of fatty oils from apricot, date, grape, and black seeds

The increasing antimicrobial resistance requires continuous investigation of new antimicrobial agents preferably derived from natural sources. New powerful antibacterial agents can be produced by simply combining oils that are known for their antibacterial activities. In this study, apricot seed oil (ASO), date seed oil (DSO), grape seed oil (GSO), and black seed oil (BSO) alone and in binary mixtures were assessed. Fatty acid profiles of individual oils and oil mixtures showed linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linolenic acid contents. Linoleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid in all samples except for ASO, where oleic acid was the dominant one. GSO showed the highest total phenolic content while ASO showed the lowest one. Antibacterial screening was performed against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results showed antibacterial activity in all oils against tested strains except for ASO against S. aureus. Highest antibacterial activity recorded was for ASO against P. mirabilis. ASO-GSO mixture (AG) was the best mixture where it showed synergistic interactions against all strains except P. aeruginosa. In conclusion, seed oil mixtures are likely to show promising antibacterial activities against specific strains.

Nutritional, medicinal and functional properties of different parts of the date palm and its fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) - A systematic review

Appraised for being one of the oldest staple nutritive foods mainly in the Arabian Peninsula, the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.), is a crop native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Southern Asia and Africa. Different parts of the date tree have been extensively studied for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Despite an array of publications on the date tree, there has been no attempt to compile in a single study the traditional uses, nutritive value, phytochemical profile, the medicinal properties as well as the potential of the different plant parts as a functional food. Therefore, this review endeavors to systematically review the scientific literature to highlight the traditional uses of date fruit and parts around the world, the nutritional profile of several parts and the medicinal properties. A total of 215 studies was retrieved (traditional uses (n = 26), nutritional (n = 52), and medicinal (n = 84)). Scientific articles were further categorized as in vitro (n = 33), in vivo (n = 35), and clinical (n = 16) evidences. Date seeds were found to be effective against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Aqueous date pollen was used to manage hormonal problems and boost fertility. Palm leaves showed anti-hyperglycemic effects via inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Unlike previous studies, this study highlighted the functional roles of all the plant parts of the palm tree and provided insights into the various mechanism of action of their bioactive compounds. Although scientific shreds of evidence have been growing over the years, there is still a dearth of studies concerning the clinical validation of the date fruit and other plant parts to provide strong evidence on their medicinal uses. In conclusion, P. dactylifera can be regarded as a potent medicinal plant with prophylactic potential and should be further explored to alleviate the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Anticancer potential of Phoenix dactylifera L. seed extract in human cancer cells and pro-apoptotic effects mediated through caspase-3 dependent pathway in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells: an in vitro and in silico investigation

Background

Phoenix dactylifera L. has a diverse set of pharmacological properties due to its distinct phytochemical profile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer potential of Phoenix dactylifera seed extract (PDSE) in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, as well as liver cancer HepG2 cells, and to investigate the anticancer efficacy in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cells, followed by in silico validation of the molecular interaction between active components of PDSE and caspase-3, an apoptosis executioner protein .

Methods

In this study, human cancer cell lines were cultured and subsequently treated with 10 to 100 μg/mL of PDSE. MTT test was performed to determine the cell viability, MMP was measured using fluorescent probe JC-1, nuclear condensation was determined by Hoechst 33258 dye, Annexin V-FITC & PI staining and cell cycle analysis were evaluated through flow cytometer, and apoptotic markers were detected using western blotting. The bioactive agents in PDSE were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The binding affinity was validated using molecular docking tools AutoDock Vina and iGEMDOCK v2.1.

Results

Cell viability data indicated that PDSE inhibited cell proliferation in both breast cancer cells and liver cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cells showed maximum growth inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 85.86 μg/mL for PDSE. However, PDSE did not show any significant toxicity against the normal Vero cell line. PDSE induced MMP loss and formation of apoptotic bodies, enhanced late apoptosis at high doses and arrested cells in the S phase of cell cycle. PDSE activated the enzymatic activity of cleaved caspase-3 and caused the cleavage of poly-ADB ribose polymerase (PARP) protein. PDSE upregulated pro-apoptotic Bax protein markedly but  no significant effect on tumor suppressor protein p53, while it downregulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression. HPLC analysis showed the presence of rutin and quercetin bioactive flavonols in ethanolic extract of PDS. Interestingly, both active components revealed a strong binding interaction with amino acid residues of caspase-3 (PDB ID: 2XYP; Hetero 4-mer - A2B2) protein.

Conclusion

PDS could serve as a potential medicinal source for apoptotic cell death in human breast cancer cells and, thus, could be used as a promising and crucial candidate in anticancer drug development. This study warrants further in vivo research, followed by clinical investigation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03533-0.

Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Effects of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Ajwa Date Extract) on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Aim

The aim of the current study is to investigate the antioxidant and apoptotic potential of Ajwa date flesh (ADF) and Ajwa date pit (ADP) extract on human squamous cell carcinoma cell line (HSC-2).

Method

ADF and ADP were extracted with a solvent extraction method using hexane, acetone, and ethanol, which were then subjected to antioxidant assay by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). HSC-2 cells were then treated with different concentrations of ADF and ADP extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. MTT assay was performed to assess the antiproliferative effect, and Annexin V-FITC was used for the detection of cellular apoptosis.

Results

Acetone extracts of ADF and ADP had the highest radical scavenging and antioxidant activities followed by the ethanolic extracts, whereas ADP appeared to have significantly higher antioxidant effects than ADF. MTT assay demonstrated that acetone extracts of ADF and ADP were significantly cytotoxic against HSC-2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ADF was found to be 8.69 mg/ml at 24 h, and the maximum cell growth inhibition was observed at 50 mg/ml. The IC50 for the ADP was found to be 0.97 mg/ml at 24 h, and the maximum cell growth inhibition was observed at 5 mg/ml. Statistical analysis of the flow cytometry assay showed that the treatment with ADF and ADP extracts had a significant apoptotic effect which occurred in a dose-dependent manner. HSC-2 cells were seen in the late apoptotic stage with higher doses of ADF and ADP extract. ADP extract demonstrated higher apoptotic activity than ADF extract. In addition, combined treatment of ADF and ADP was also performed on HSC-2 cells which demonstrated higher apoptotic activity when compared to the single extract.

Conclusion

Ajwa date fruit has a promising cytotoxic effect by inhibiting the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells and inducing cell death by apoptosis.

Date Palm as Source of Nutraceuticals for Health Promotion: a Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic diseases are problematic to health professional specially when using drugs throughout the course of life with un-tolerated side effects. Returning to nature through using nutraceuticals might have both protective and therapeutic effects. Date palm was claimed to be a good source of such nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients. The purpose of the present review was to spot light on the different phytochemicals, phytonutrients, and remedial effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in a goal to be utilized in form of nutraceuticals. The possible mechanisms of action of the remedial effects were among the aim of the study.

RECENT FINDINGS

A protein hydrolyzate prepared from date seed could prevent DNA mutation and susceptibility to cancer. In addition to cancer prevention, date palm fruit improved the treatment outcome of cancer pediatric patients and possesses anti-angiogenic activity as one of the important anticancer mechanisms of action. On the other hand, date seed extracts was recently reported to protect from ulcerative colitis. It seems that all the aforementioned remedial effect might be ascribed to immunoregulatory effect of date palm. These findings proposed that date palm is beneficial for health. Date palm fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, energy, and easily digestible and absorbable sugars that instantaneously replenish and revitalize the body specially after fasting condition. Mineral contents in date fruits include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Diverse health claims were reported to belong to various parts of the tree including the edible part of fruits, the seeds, the leaves, spathe (an envelope-like structure that encloses male and female date palm flowers), and pollen grains due to the presence of different bioactive constituents. The main phytochemicals and phytonutrients reported in date palms are phenolic compounds, carotenoids, sterols, anthocyanins, and others. In folk medicine, date palm fruits are used for enhancing immunity and treating gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, bronchitis, wound, cancer, as well as infectious diseases. However, the exact health benefits and remedial effects of date palm were not fully and deeply investigated. The present review focused on the bioactive constituents and the reported health benefits of date palm and proposed mechanism of action.

Date Palm Seed Oil (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Green Extraction: Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities, and Phenolic and Fatty Acid Profiles

Date palm seed oil is among the precious vegetable oils with low yield, whose extraction is commonly done with organic solvents which cause serious problems. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of orange peel essential oil as biosolvent for date seed oil extraction. Green extraction was conducted by Soxhlet apparatus as well as by soaking and compared with the Soxhlet method using petroleum ether. The GC-MS analysis of orange peel essential oil confirmed its richness with limonene (94.31%), which justifies its usefulness as green solvent. The latter gave higher yields, the extracted bio-oil was light brown with pleasant odor, and the characteristics were consistent with international standards. Based on the GC profiles, obtained oils were similar using both solvents, and the major compounds were oleic and lauric acids. The bio-oil phenolic content and the antioxidant activity were high, and the major compounds were the protocatechuic, chlorogenic, and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acids. Gallic and $p$ -coumaric acids were the major compounds for oil extracted by petroleum ether.

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.

Functional food and nutra-pharmaceutical perspectives of date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit

Date palm counts among the oldest fruit crops of the world and is mainly cultivated for its highly nutritious fruits consumed as a staple food in many countries, especially in the Gulf region. Dates are enriched with numerous therapeutic bioactives and functional compounds such as phenolics, flavonols, carotenoids, minerals, and vitamins that not only provide an appreciable amount of energy required for the human body but also act as an effective therapeutic agent against several diseases. This review aimed to provide a deep insight into the nutritional as well as phytochemicals profile of date fruit and its seeds in order to explore their biological (anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, cardio-protective, anti-inflammatory properties), functional food, and nutra-pharmaceutical attributes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides updated information regarding the date fruits and seeds phytochemicals composition together with highlighting dates potential as a natural therapeutic agent against several diseases. The study also urges the importance of consuming dates as a great package to live a healthy life due to the functional food and nutraceutical properties of this valuable fruit. The study also provides information first time as recommending dates to cope with the hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiency faced by the third world inhabitants. Hence, the review may further help the industry and researchers to explore the potential of dates for future medicinal and nutra-pharmaceutical applications.

Date Seeds: A Promising Source of Oil with Functional Properties

The cultivation of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the main activity and source of livelihood for people from arid and semiarid regions of the world. Date production is increasing every year. In addition, pitted date exportation is rising and great amounts of date seeds are produced. This biomass represents a problem for manufacturing companies. At the moment, date seeds are normally discarded or used as animal feed ingredients. However, this co-product can be used for many other applications due to its valuable chemical composition. Oil is one of the most interesting components of the date seed. In fact, date seeds contain 5-13% oil. Date seed oil contains saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with lauric and oleic as the main ones, respectively. Tocopherols, tocotrienols, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds are also present in significant amounts. These phytochemicals confer added value to date seed oil, which could be used for many applications, such as food product formulations, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This review provides up-to-date data on the different extraction techniques and the chemical composition of date seed oils. The applications of date seed oil have also been reviewed.

The Oxidant and Antioxidant Status in Pityriasis Rosea

Background:

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is usually an asymptomatic and self-limiting papulosquamous skin disease with acute onset. The etiology has not been clarified yet. Recently, increased oxidative stress was found to play a role in etiopathogenesis of multiple cutaneous diseases with T cell-mediated immune response. However, there are no studies demonstrating the oxidative stress status in PR.

Aim:

The aim of the study is to determine the status of oxidative stress (OS) and paraoxonase (PON) 1/arylesterase enzyme activities in PR.

Materials and Methods:

Study included 51 patients with active PR lesions, and 45 healthy volunteers. Serum levels of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and PON1/arylesterase (ARES) activity were determined and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated in all patients and controls.

Results:

TAS levels and ARES activities in the patient group were significantly lower than the control group. On the other hand, TOS and OSI levels were significantly higher in patients compared with controls. There was no significant correlation between the duration of disease and TAS, TOS, OSI levels, and ARES activities.

Conclusion:

A systemic oxidative stress exists in PR, which suggests that OS may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of disease.

Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Polyphenolics and Other Bioactive Compounds: A Traditional Islamic Remedy's Potential in Prevention of Cell Damage, Cancer Therapeutics and Beyond

This review analyzes current studies of the therapeutic effects of Phoenix dactylifera, or date palm fruit, on the physiologic system. Specifically, we sought to summarize the effects of its application in preventing cell damage, improving cancer therapeutics and reducing damage caused by conventional chemotherapy. Phoenix dactylifera exhibits potent anti-oxidative properties both in vitro and in vivo. This allows the fruit to prevent depletion of intrinsic protection from oxidative cell damage and assist these defense systems in reducing cell damage. Macroscopically, this mechanism may be relevant to the prevention of various adverse drug events common to chemotherapy including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, gastrotoxicity, and peripheral neuropathy. While such effects have only been studied in small animal systems, research suggests a potential application to more complex mammalian systems and perhaps a solution to some problems of chemotherapy in hepato-compromised and nephro-compromised patients.

Anti-atherogenic properties of date vs. pomegranate polyphenols: the benefits of the combination

MPM cholesterol content was not significantly affected by consumption of PJ or date seed extract alone. In contrast, consumption of Hallawi date fruit extract or a combination of PJ together with date fruit and date seeds extract significantly decreased macrophage cholesterol content by 12% or 28%, respectively.

Differential response of normal human epidermal keratinocytes and HaCaT cells to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

  Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and HaCaT cells are the most common models used to study the effects of various factors on skin cells. These cell lines share some common characteristics, but little is known about their differences in handling hydrogen peroxide (H(2) O(2) )-induced oxidative stress.

AIM

To investigate the differential response of NHEKs and HaCaT cells to H(2) O(2) -induced oxidative stress.

METHODS

We examined differences in NHEKs and HaCaT cells after H(2) O(2) treatment, assessing changes in cell viability; levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and caspase-3/7; percentage of cells arrested in G1 phase; number of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal)-positive cells and; expression of senescence-related protein Klotho.

RESULTS

The viability of NHEKs and HaCaT cells decreased in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner after exposure to H(2) O(2) . The inhibitory effect of 150 μmol/L H(2) O(2) on cell viability was greater in HaCaT cells than in NHEKs (P<0.05). Levels of ROS and caspase-3/7, and the percentage of cells arrested in G1 phase, were higher in HaCaT cells than in NHEKs, whereas intracellular SOD was higher in NHEKs than in HaCaT cells after exposure to 150 μmol/L H(2) O(2) (P < 0.05). SA-β-Gal positive cells increased significantly in NHEKs after treatment with H(2) O(2) (P < 0.05). Klotho was significantly downregulated in both NHEKs and HaCaT cells after H(2) O(2) treatment, but no SA-β-Gal-positive HaCaT cells were seen, even after treatment with H(2) O(2) .

CONCLUSIONS

Normal human epidermal keratinocytes are more resistant than HaCaT cells to H(2) O(2) -induced oxidative stress. HaCaT cells have senescence phenotypes, but do not express β-Gal.