This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blende...This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blended with bitumen at varying contents ranging from 1%to 5%by weight,prior to mixing with aggregates.The resulting mixtures were evaluated based on several key performance indicators,including Marshall stability,creep resistance,compactness,and water sensitivity.The inclusion of fibers generally enhanced mechanical properties,with optimal improvements observed at 2%to 4%fiber content.Notably,the mixture with 3%DPF content demonstrated a 35.7%increase in Marshall stability,while the lowest compactness reduction(−1.9%)occurred at 1%fiber addition.In the dry process,the effects of both fiber length(1 cm,3 cm,and 5 cm)and fiber content(0.1%to 0.5%)were examined,focusing specifically on rutting and creep resistance.The results showed that 3 cm fibers significantly improved rutting resistance,whereas the 0.1%fiber content yielded the highest enhancement in creep resistance.However,no clear correlation was established between the two performance metrics,suggesting that the mechanical response is highly deformation-dependent.Overall,the addition of DPF contributed to improved durability,strength,and resistance to deformation in asphalt mixtures.The findings underscore the potential of date palm fibers as a sustainable,low-cost,and environmentally friendly additive in pavement engineering,particularly in regions where palm waste is readily available and underutilized.展开更多
The precise identification of date palm tree diseases is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming methods.Conventional approaches rely on visual examination by experts to d...The precise identification of date palm tree diseases is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming methods.Conventional approaches rely on visual examination by experts to detect infected palm leaves,which is time intensive and susceptible to mistakes.This study proposes an automated leaf classification system that uses deep learning algorithms to identify and categorize diseases in date palm tree leaves with high precision and dependability.The system leverages pretrained convolutional neural network architectures(InceptionV3,DenseNet,and MobileNet)to extract and examine leaf characteristics for classification purposes.A publicly accessible dataset comprising multiple classes of diseased and healthy date palm leaf samples was used for the training and assessment.Data augmentation techniques were implemented to enhance the dataset and improve model resilience.In addition,Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique(SMOTE)was applied to address class imbalance and further improve the classification performance.The system was trained and evaluated using this dataset,and two of the models,DenseNet and MobileNet,achieved classification accuracies greater than 95%.MobileNetV2 emerged as the top-performing model among those assessed,achieving an overall accuracy of 96.99%and macro-average F1-score of 0.97.All nine categories of date palm leaf conditions were consistently and accurately identified,showing exceptional precision and dependability.Comparative experiments were conducted to assess the performance of the Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)architectures and demonstrate their potential for scalable and automated disease detection.This system has the potential to serve as a valuable agricultural tool for assisting in disease management and monitoring date palm cultivation.展开更多
In the present work,we investigated novel,green,and facile approach for the synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles by use of inexpensive and available Iraqi Zahdi palm dates extract as reducing and stabilizing agent...In the present work,we investigated novel,green,and facile approach for the synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles by use of inexpensive and available Iraqi Zahdi palm dates extract as reducing and stabilizing agents.The formation and color change of dark brown suspension of silver nanoparticles were monitored and examined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric analysis at maximum wavelength of 401 nm.The produced nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering(DLS),Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry(FTIR),atomic force microscope(AFM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS).The results demonstrated that particle size distribution was around 90±40 nm which was in line with grain size of the nanoparticles measured by AFM,while the crystallite size was about 20 nm according to the results observed from XRD technique.Additionally,the zeta potential of synthesized silver nanoparticles was found to be nearly about-25 mV,whereby the suspension showed high stability upon storing the sample in a cool place for a long period of time.The synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited efficient antibacterial activity against pathogenic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)bacteria.They also showed enhanced anticancer activity against breast cancer cells(MCF7)with high apoptotic effect as compared with normal MCF10A cells,which confirmed the biocompatible nature of green synthesized silver nanoparticles.It is considered that nanosilver particles synthesized with palm dates extract may basically establish a significant step to synthesize such nanoparticles for topical applications as well as an alternative anticancer drug of existing chemotherapeutics of cancer..展开更多
First, the date palm kernel is used to produce granular activated carbon （GAC） by a physiochemical activation process. The process involves six steps： washing, drying, crushing, sieving, carbonization, and activati...First, the date palm kernel is used to produce granular activated carbon （GAC） by a physiochemical activation process. The process involves six steps： washing, drying, crushing, sieving, carbonization, and activation. Secondly, the ability of the produced GAC to remove pollutants is examined through batch experiments of residual chlorine adsorption whereas the equilibrium isotherm experimental data are tested for the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms equations. Thirdly, the experimental and theoretical study of dynamic adsorption process and the effect of major operating parameters on dynamic adsorption are investigated. The results show that the Langmuir isotherm gives the best fitting to experimental data, which indicates that the residual chlorine adsorption can be characterized by mono layer adsorption behavior. The produced GAC has a great potential as an adsorbent for residual chlorine in water systems and it can compete favorably with the conventional adsorbents. The Thomas extended model with combined mass transfer resistances is used for verifying the experimental results and the results show that the proposed model coincides well with the experimental data of the dynamic adsorption process.展开更多
Sodium carboxymethylcellulose （CMCNa） is an anionic water soluble polyelectrolyte widely used in many industrial sectors including food, textiles, papers, adhesives, paints, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and mineral pr...Sodium carboxymethylcellulose （CMCNa） is an anionic water soluble polyelectrolyte widely used in many industrial sectors including food, textiles, papers, adhesives, paints, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and mineral processing. CMCNa was produced by chemical modification of cellulose, and represents many advantages： natural, renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. In this study, different kinds of CMCNa, prepared from an agricultural waste date palm rachis, were tested as eco-friendly flocculants for drinking water treatment and their performances as flocculants in turbidity removal enhancement were assessed. The prepared materials were characterized by the degree of substitution （DS） and polymerisation （DP）. The study of the effect of some experimental parameters on the coagulation-flocculation performance, using the prepared materials combined with aluminium sulphate （as coagulant）, showed that the best conditions for turbidity treatment were given for pH 8, coagulant dose 20 mg/L, flocculant concentration of 100 mg/L and stirring velocity （during the flocculation step） of 30 r/min. Under the optimum conditions, the turbidity removal using CMCNa, prepared from raw material, was about 95%. A comparison study between the flocculation performance of a commercial anionic flocculant （A100PWG： polyacrylamide） and that of the prepared CMCNa showed that the performance of the waste-based flocculant with a DS of 1.17 and a DP of 480 was 10% better than that achieved by the commercial one.展开更多
Date palm(Phoenix dactylifera),one of the most ancient crops,is grown commercially in>30 countries.Using whole plastome assemblies,phylogenetic analyses revealed that cultivated date palm accessions share the same ...Date palm(Phoenix dactylifera),one of the most ancient crops,is grown commercially in>30 countries.Using whole plastome assemblies,phylogenetic analyses revealed that cultivated date palm accessions share the same clade with Phoenix sylvestris,Phoenix pusilla and Phoenix acaulis,which are native to the Indian subcontinent,and Phoenix caespitosa that is native to the Arabian Peninsula and the deserts of Somalia.Analysis of genetic diversity and genetic relationships among date palm accessions from 13 producing countries involved 195 date palm accessions that were genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci.Extensive genetic diversity was observed,with many accessions heterozygous for most markers in this clonally propagated crop.The average number of alleles per locus(42.1),expected heterozygosity(0.8),observed heterozygosity(0.47)and fixation indices(FST=0.42)demonstrated substantial genetic diversity and population structure.Iraqi accessions were found to have the richest allelic diversity,and the most private alleles.The model-based Bayesian method indicated that these accessions could be broadly divided into two structure groups,one group with predominantly African accessions and another predominantly Asian.Some germplasm,especially from Tunisia and Iraq,deviated from this generalization.Many accessions in the STRUCTURE-derived groups were found to be genetic admixtures,with gene flow between Asian and African groups.Indian and Pakistani date palms were found to be most closely related to North African germplasm.展开更多
Fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are consumed throughout the world and are a vital component of the diet in most Arabian countries. The effect of partial replacement of wheat flour with a 1:1 mixture of wh...Fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are consumed throughout the world and are a vital component of the diet in most Arabian countries. The effect of partial replacement of wheat flour with a 1:1 mixture of wheat bran and date palm fruit powder on rheological properties of the biscuit dough was studied. Levels of mixture used were 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Dough rheology (farinograph, extensograph properties) and biscuit quality (physical properties, colour, sensory evaluation) were assessed. Results obtained indicated that water absorption gradually increased by increasing the levels of wheat bran: palm date powder, meanwhile mixing tolerance index decreased. Dough stability, which indicates the dough strength, also found to decrease by increasing mixture of wheat bran and date powder (1:1). Furthermore, dough development time gradually increased by increasing the mixture at all levels. It was 6.04 min at level of 40% compared to the control (2.5 min). Extensograph results showed that dough energy and dough resistance to extension and proportional number also increased compared with control sample. The proportional number (R/E) ratios increased largely from 3.20 to 5.27 at the level of 40.0%. Ash and fibre contents gradually increased as the mixture levels increased. However, mineral content progressively increased by increasing the level of date powder in the mixture. Incorporation of wheat bran and date powder mixture decreased the spread of the biscuits from 55.66 to 52.82 mm without change in the thickness of the biscuits. Organoleptic properties revealed that quality of biscuits was acceptable at mixture level of 30%.展开更多
Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we su...Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we summarize examples of how people in the few oases of the MENA region overcome environmental challenges by sustainably managing economically important date production. On the basis of the limited studies found in the existing literature, this mini-review focuses on the role of traditional soil organic matter amendments beneath the soil surface as a key tool in land restoration. We conclude that soil organic matter amendments can be very successful in restoring soil water and preventing the soil from salinization.展开更多
This paper is based on research work conducted during 2008-2010 in Dera Ismail Khan (D. I. Khan) District, Pakistan, to investigate Socio-Economic Impacts of Dwarf Palm (Nannorhops ritchieana) and Date Palm (Phoenix d...This paper is based on research work conducted during 2008-2010 in Dera Ismail Khan (D. I. Khan) District, Pakistan, to investigate Socio-Economic Impacts of Dwarf Palm (Nannorhops ritchieana) and Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) on the local inhabitants. A questionnaire for data collection of Dwarf Palm was designed and local people were interviewed. The main Dwarf Palm (Mazri) areas are lying between the Koh-i-Surkh and Marwat hill and yielding about 1000 tons of mazri leaves annually. Date Palm plantations are concentrated in Paniala, Paharpur, Chawdwan and Dhakki. The prominent varieties grown in the area are Dhakki, Shakri, Gulistan, Zaidi, Hillawi, Basra, Azadi and khudarawi. Dhakki Dates are well-known among all other varieties. Total area under dates cultivation in the district is 100,000 hectares, with total production of 11,000 tons dates. An average yield of Dhakki-Dates y-1 ranges from 6500 to 7000 tons i.e., 75% of the total production of dates in the area and dried dates production ranges from 800 - 1000 tons·year-1. A significant population is involved in processing of mazri and date palm leaves to prepare different products. Dates have a tremendous potential for economic uplift of the people. But growers face limitations and challenges regarding lack of information about customers and markets, harvesting, processing, and packaging techniques and infrastructure for producing good quality fresh dates. Fruit dropping in date palm particularly in Dhakki variety has become a serious concern. More than 70% date fruits drop before maturity. If production and processing constraints are properly handled, this may have significant socio-economic impact on local inhabitants.展开更多
Camels’ milk (CM) and goats’ milk (GM) are rich in nutrients and vitamins necessary for the health of humans and have therapeutic properties as they are rich in antioxidants and have a protective role against free r...Camels’ milk (CM) and goats’ milk (GM) are rich in nutrients and vitamins necessary for the health of humans and have therapeutic properties as they are rich in antioxidants and have a protective role against free radicals that </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">have harmful effects on human health. Date palm (DP), camels’ milk and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">goats’ milk have been reported to be used for the prevention and treatment of vari</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ous diseases in Arab countries. This study was designed to mix date palm</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> with camels’ milk and goats’. Eight formulations of both camels’ milk and goats’ were made from different percentages of date palm. These formulations were added at ratios of 0 (control), 10%, 20% and 30% (w/v) to camels’ milk and goats’ and the effect of this date palm on the composition and texture properties of the fermented obtained products were followed. It has been found that pH, protein, fat decreased and total solid, carbohydrate, ash, viscosity, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants increased with the increase of the added percentage of date palm compared to control. Microbial counts of the fermented camels’ milk (FCM) and goats’ milk (FGM) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the addition of different formulations and during storage. Also, fermented camels’ milk (FCM) and fermented goats’ milk (FGM) fortified with different ratios date palm (DP) concentration resulted in good properties and higher acceptable sensory values (at a rate of 10% - 20%) in fresh and till the end of storage periods. The addition of the date palm to all treatments </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">improved the composition, viscosity, microbiological quality of fermented</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">camels’ and goats’ milk with nutritional functional values and acceptable</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> sensory attributes.展开更多
This study presents an analysis of the impact of mycorrhizal inoculation on growth under salt stress of date palms cultivars Nakhla hamra (NHH) and Tijib known in the Sahel for their earliness in flowering and fruitin...This study presents an analysis of the impact of mycorrhizal inoculation on growth under salt stress of date palms cultivars Nakhla hamra (NHH) and Tijib known in the Sahel for their earliness in flowering and fruiting. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse on a sandy substrate watered to field capacity every two days and were subjected to increasing levels of NaCl (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 16 g·L-1) and then inoculated with 5 strains of Glomus (G. aggregatum, G. intraradices, G. verriculosum, G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three factors (cultivars: Tijib and Nakhla Hamra x seven levels of NaCl concentrations x six levels of inoculum). The results showed that in the absence of NaCl, G. verriculosum significantly enhanced shoot growth: 33.5 cm against 30.3 cm in the control and roots growth: 81.5 cm against 78 cm in NHH, while in Tijib, the growth is stimulated by Glomus fasciculatum: 33.8 cm against 32.7 cm for stems and 90 cm against 86 cm for the roots of inoculated plants and controls. In contrast, in the presence of NaCl 8 g·L-1, NHH has a better growth in the presence of G. intraradices: 37.3 cm against 30.6 cm for stems and 77 cm against 73 for roots, while Tijib grows better in the presence of G. fasciculatum with respectively 31.9 cm against 31.7 cm and 51.27 cm against 51.6 cm for stems and roots of inoculated plants and controls. Biochemical analysis revealed that changes in levels of proline depend on the cultivar, the mycorrhizal strain used and concentrations of NaCl applied. These results open the prospect of using mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity of palm trees in the Sahel.展开更多
The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, minerals and antioxidants of heart of date palm from three Saudi cultivars. Moisture (ranged from 80.44% - 82.82%) was the predominant component in the ...The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, minerals and antioxidants of heart of date palm from three Saudi cultivars. Moisture (ranged from 80.44% - 82.82%) was the predominant component in the heart date palm. Sukkari cultivar had the highest protein (5.27%) and ash (7.9%) compared to the other two cultivars. Fat was low in the three cultivars. Sucrose was the predominant sugar in the heart date palm and ranged from 7.65% - 20.25%. Potassium was the predominant mineral in the heart date palm and was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Sukkari and Solleg compared to the Naboat Saif cultivar. Sulfur and chloride were next to potassium in abundance in the three heart date palm cultivars. Total phenols and flavonoids were higher in Solleg compared to the other two cultivars. IC50 for Solleg, Sukkari and Naboat Saif were 0.12, 0.13 and 0.29 mg/ml, respectively. The results of the present study may highlight the potential importance of heart of date palm as a product rich in essential minerals and antioxidants. Future researches are needed to explore other characteristics of heart of date palm which could be considered for human nutrition.展开更多
This paper summarizes our studies on metal and metalloid uptake by the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., a tree of considerable importance in arid regions. The typical concentrations of 17 elements in the date palm a...This paper summarizes our studies on metal and metalloid uptake by the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., a tree of considerable importance in arid regions. The typical concentrations of 17 elements in the date palm are summarized and compared with existing data in the scientific literature. The role and toxicity of these elements are considered. Issues encountered by us during sample collection, pre-treatment and chemical analysis are described. Future studies are suggested.展开更多
A comprehensive review of scientific literature has uncovered no reported cases of date palm trees infected by a virus and no viral infections have been reported by farmers. In spite of the hot and humid environment t...A comprehensive review of scientific literature has uncovered no reported cases of date palm trees infected by a virus and no viral infections have been reported by farmers. In spite of the hot and humid environment they inhabit, the abundance of viral infestations in the soil, other plants and organisms surrounding the trees and the frequency of importation and transplantation of these trees into the region. Such conditions should cause the date palms to also be infected. Notably, other palm trees do not exhibit the same level of innate viral immunity that is found in date palms. The date palm tree’s innate viral immunity is a virgin area in botanical research. The biological segment in date palm tree DNA that enables survival under genotoxic radiation also deserves further investigation. This field of study may enable the breeding of other economically important plants to improve desert ecology and economy, land management, agriculture and horticulture.展开更多
Endophytic flora plays a vital role in the colonization and survival of host plants, especially in harsh environments, such as arid regions. This flora may, however, contain pathogenic species responsible for various ...Endophytic flora plays a vital role in the colonization and survival of host plants, especially in harsh environments, such as arid regions. This flora may, however, contain pathogenic species responsible for various troublesome host diseases. The present study is aimed at investigating the diversity of both cultivable and non-cultivable endophytic fungal floras in the internal tissues(roots and leaves) of Tunisian date palm trees(Phoenix dactylifera). Accordingly, 13 isolates from both root and leaf samples, exhibiting distinct colony morphology, were selected from potato dextrose agar(PDA) medium and identified by a sequence match search wherein their 18S–28S internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequences were compared to those available in public databases. These findings revealed that the cultivable root and leaf isolates fell into two groups, namely Nectriaceae and Pleosporaceae. Additionally, total DNA from palm roots and leaves was further extracted and ITS fragments were amplified. Restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis of the ITS from 200 fungal clones(leaves: 100; roots: 100) using HaeIII restriction enzyme revealed 13 distinct patterns that were further sequenced and led to the identification of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Davidiella(Cladosporium teleomorph), Pythium, Curvularia, and uncharacterized fungal endophytes. Both approaches confirmed that while the roots were predominantly colonized by Fusaria(members of the Nectriaceae family), the leaves were essentially colonized by Alternaria(members of the Pleosporaceae family). Overall, the findings of the present study constitute, to the authors' knowledge, the first extensive report on the diversity of endophytic fungal flora associated with date palm trees(P. dactylifera).展开更多
Date palm(phoenix dactylifera),which is mostly found in the middle east countries such as Iran,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,and the United States(California)that play a significant role in the economical and the environmental co...Date palm(phoenix dactylifera),which is mostly found in the middle east countries such as Iran,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,and the United States(California)that play a significant role in the economical and the environmental condition in those areas.The main purpose of planting dates is its fruit,which is consumed as fresh,dried or processed forms.There are approximately 100 million date palm trees in the worldwide that 62 million of these trees located in the Middle East and North Africa.In Saudi Arabia only,15000 tons of date palm leaves is prepared as waste materials.The leaves of date palm tree are used in several applications such as making ropes,baskets,and mats in many parts of the world.Unfortunately,the huge amount of the non-food products from the date palm remains as landfill materials without any specific usage.By attention to the date palm properties,the literature clearly showed that each part of date palm has great potential to be used for a variety of applications such as:making paper,absorption of heavy and toxic metals,energy production and soil fertilizing.Some of the obstacles and solutions for using palm date in these applications were also explored.Considering these issues and their solutions,the date palm is a favorable alternative.Despite some limited and traditional uses of these palm wastes,this review considered date palm applications and the properties’of the most important part of that tree in recent researches and related issues for future research are also spotted.展开更多
Since ancient times,the inhabitants of dry areas have depended on the date palm(Phoenix dactylifera L.)as a staple food and means of economic security.For example,dates have been a staple diet for the inhabitants of t...Since ancient times,the inhabitants of dry areas have depended on the date palm(Phoenix dactylifera L.)as a staple food and means of economic security.For example,dates have been a staple diet for the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula and Sahara Desert in North Africa for millennia and the local culture is rich in knowledge and experience with the benefits of dates,suggesting that dates contain many substances essential for the human body.Madinah dates are considered one of the most important types of dates in the Arabian Peninsula,with Ajwa being one of the most famous types and grown only in Madinah,Saudi Arabia.Date seeds are traditionally used for animal feed,seed oil production,cosmetics,and as a coffee substitute.Phytochemical compounds that have been detected in date fruits and date seeds include phenolic acids,carotenoids,and flavonoids.Phenolic acids are the most prevalent bioactive constituents that contribute to the antioxidant activity of date fruits.The bioactive properties of these phytochemicals are believed to promote human health by reducing the risk of diseases such as chronic inflammation.Ajwa dates especially are thought to have superior bioactivity properties.To investigate these claims,in this study,we compare the metabolic profiles of Ajwa with different types of dates collected from Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.We show by UHPLC-MS that date seeds contain several classes of flavonoids,phenolic acids,and amino acid derivatives,including citric acid,malic acid,lactic acid,and hydroxyadipic acid.Additionally,GC-MS profiling showed that date seeds are richer in metabolite classes,such as hydrocinnamic acids(caffeic,ferulic and sinapic acids),than flesh samples.Deglet N fruit extract(minimum inhibitory concentration:27 MIC/μM)and Sukkari fruit extract(IC_(50):479±0.58μg/mL)have higher levels of antibacterial and antioxidative activity than Ajwa fruits.However,the seed analysis showed that seed extracts have better bioactivity effects than fruit extracts.Specifically,Ajwa extract showed the best MIC and strongest ABTS radical-scavenging activity among examined seed extracts(minimum inhibitory concentration:20μM;IC_(50):54±3.61μg/mL).Our assays are a starting point for more advanced in vitro antibacterial models and investigation into the specific molecules that are responsible for the antioxidative and anti-bacterial activities of dates.展开更多
Background : Diabetes-induced oxidative stress can have adverse effects on sperm and its DNA integrity. The Ashrasi date palm(ADP) has potent antioxidant properties.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidan...Background : Diabetes-induced oxidative stress can have adverse effects on sperm and its DNA integrity. The Ashrasi date palm(ADP) has potent antioxidant properties.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of ADP hydroalcoholic extract on sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in diabetic rats.Methods : Forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups( n = 7): 1, control;2, diabetic;3– 5, diabetic + ADP(30, 90 and 270 mg/kg for groups 3, 4 and 5, respectively). After preparation of ADP extract and its phytochemical screening, it was administered orally to rats, once a day for 5 weeks. At the end of the study, sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in all groups were investigated.Results : At doses of 90 and 270 mg/kg, ADP extract significantly increased the sperm viability compared to diabetic group 2( p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively)and resulted in a significant decrease in immotile sperm( p = 0.002 and p = 0.006,respectively). At a dose of 270 mg/kg, a considerable enhancement of forward sperm motility was observed( p = 0.04) and there was a significant decrease in sperm DNA fragmentation( p = 0.04).Conclusions : The findings of the present study show for the first time that the hydroalcoholic extract of ADP has protective and antioxidant effects against diabetesinduced oxidative stress and can improve sperm parameters and protect sperm DNA integrity.展开更多
Diabetes is a major health global problem that has reached alarming levels. The present study aims for studying the effect of date palm pollen (<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Phoenix dacty...Diabetes is a major health global problem that has reached alarming levels. The present study aims for studying the effect of date palm pollen (<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Phoenix dactylifera L</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.) El-Hayani cultivar on serum glucose and lipids profile in induced diabetic male albino rats. Palm pollen chemically analyzed besides chemical constituents, mineral contents, polyphenols </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> flavonoids. Male Albino rats (36</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">rats </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weight 170</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">190</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">gm) were divided </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 6 groups. 1</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Normal control (</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), 2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Alloxanized diabetes control (+) (150</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mg/Kg rat body weight). Diabetic groups 3 and 4 had 0.5%,</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.0% date palm pollen, respectively, also diabetic </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">group</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 5 and 6 had 100 ppm, 200 ppm date palm pollen extract, respectively. At the end of </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">experiment</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (4 weeks) rats were fasted overnight and anesthetized and blood samples were taken for analysis of serum glucose, lipids profile </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> renal-hepatic function parameters, relative organ weight data obtained are </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">statistically</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> analysis. Results showed that the major polyphenolic components were that e-vanillic acid (16.33 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), pyrogallol (15.02 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), epicatechin (11.04 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), catechin (10.96 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g). </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> date palm pollen was rich in hesperidin (8.84 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), Kaempferol 3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2 p-coumaroyl glucose (6.92 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">hesperitin</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (5.10 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), rutin (3.11mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g) as flavonoids components. Date palm pollen has </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">high</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> content of protein, calcium </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> iron (30.87 g/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g, 510.82 </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 236.50 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), respectively. Also, serum glucose decreased significantly in diabetic groups (3, 4, 5 </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 6, respectively) (179.47, 137.80, 156.77, 145.47 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mL, respectively). Lipids profile, renal and liver functions were improved </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">significant</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ly</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (P < 0.05) in diabetic groups </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">which had</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> date palm pollen or its extracts.</span></span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It is concluded that the dried date palm pollen 1% in the diet and 200 ppm extract are more effective compared with controlling diabetes mellitus, also improve renal and liver functions. Diabetics are advised to eat date palm pollen</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> are considered treatment foods for Diabetes Mellitus.</span>展开更多
The invasive insect pest, red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, poses a significant threat to date production, causing substantial economic damage. If uncontrolled, RPW leads the severely infested host tre...The invasive insect pest, red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, poses a significant threat to date production, causing substantial economic damage. If uncontrolled, RPW leads the severely infested host tree to collapse and eventually die. The symbiotic associations with microorganisms and RPW in their gut may help their host insects’ establishment, development, nutrition assimilation, and survival. The objective of this research was the molecular characterization of the microbiome of RPW. In this study, the microbiome was compared among different tissues in females and males of RPW of three different morphs and larvae collected from date palm plantations in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A 251-bp segment of bacterial 16S rRNA was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and processed using the bioinformatics platform QIIME2. One ASV, corresponding to the obligate weevil symbiont Nardonella, predominated in adult female samples, constituting 56 ± 7% of total reads, but was less dominant in male samples (12 ± 3%) and larval samples (2.6 ± 1.9%). For females, samples that included reproductive tissues were almost entirely composed of Nardonella (88% - 99%). When Nardonella was excluded from analyses, there were no differences between adult females and adult males, but larval samples were more species-rich and differed in microbial composition from adults. There were no consistent differences in the microbiomes among morphs. Several specimens showed evidence of infection with host-specific strains of Spiroplasma-like members of the Entomoplasmatales, which are often pathogens or vertically transmitted symbionts. Such close microbial associates deserve additional attention as potential routes to control this destructive date palm pest.展开更多
文摘This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blended with bitumen at varying contents ranging from 1%to 5%by weight,prior to mixing with aggregates.The resulting mixtures were evaluated based on several key performance indicators,including Marshall stability,creep resistance,compactness,and water sensitivity.The inclusion of fibers generally enhanced mechanical properties,with optimal improvements observed at 2%to 4%fiber content.Notably,the mixture with 3%DPF content demonstrated a 35.7%increase in Marshall stability,while the lowest compactness reduction(−1.9%)occurred at 1%fiber addition.In the dry process,the effects of both fiber length(1 cm,3 cm,and 5 cm)and fiber content(0.1%to 0.5%)were examined,focusing specifically on rutting and creep resistance.The results showed that 3 cm fibers significantly improved rutting resistance,whereas the 0.1%fiber content yielded the highest enhancement in creep resistance.However,no clear correlation was established between the two performance metrics,suggesting that the mechanical response is highly deformation-dependent.Overall,the addition of DPF contributed to improved durability,strength,and resistance to deformation in asphalt mixtures.The findings underscore the potential of date palm fibers as a sustainable,low-cost,and environmentally friendly additive in pavement engineering,particularly in regions where palm waste is readily available and underutilized.
基金funded by the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number(PNURSP2025R821),Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘The precise identification of date palm tree diseases is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming methods.Conventional approaches rely on visual examination by experts to detect infected palm leaves,which is time intensive and susceptible to mistakes.This study proposes an automated leaf classification system that uses deep learning algorithms to identify and categorize diseases in date palm tree leaves with high precision and dependability.The system leverages pretrained convolutional neural network architectures(InceptionV3,DenseNet,and MobileNet)to extract and examine leaf characteristics for classification purposes.A publicly accessible dataset comprising multiple classes of diseased and healthy date palm leaf samples was used for the training and assessment.Data augmentation techniques were implemented to enhance the dataset and improve model resilience.In addition,Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique(SMOTE)was applied to address class imbalance and further improve the classification performance.The system was trained and evaluated using this dataset,and two of the models,DenseNet and MobileNet,achieved classification accuracies greater than 95%.MobileNetV2 emerged as the top-performing model among those assessed,achieving an overall accuracy of 96.99%and macro-average F1-score of 0.97.All nine categories of date palm leaf conditions were consistently and accurately identified,showing exceptional precision and dependability.Comparative experiments were conducted to assess the performance of the Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)architectures and demonstrate their potential for scalable and automated disease detection.This system has the potential to serve as a valuable agricultural tool for assisting in disease management and monitoring date palm cultivation.
文摘In the present work,we investigated novel,green,and facile approach for the synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles by use of inexpensive and available Iraqi Zahdi palm dates extract as reducing and stabilizing agents.The formation and color change of dark brown suspension of silver nanoparticles were monitored and examined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric analysis at maximum wavelength of 401 nm.The produced nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering(DLS),Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry(FTIR),atomic force microscope(AFM),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)-energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS).The results demonstrated that particle size distribution was around 90±40 nm which was in line with grain size of the nanoparticles measured by AFM,while the crystallite size was about 20 nm according to the results observed from XRD technique.Additionally,the zeta potential of synthesized silver nanoparticles was found to be nearly about-25 mV,whereby the suspension showed high stability upon storing the sample in a cool place for a long period of time.The synthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited efficient antibacterial activity against pathogenic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)bacteria.They also showed enhanced anticancer activity against breast cancer cells(MCF7)with high apoptotic effect as compared with normal MCF10A cells,which confirmed the biocompatible nature of green synthesized silver nanoparticles.It is considered that nanosilver particles synthesized with palm dates extract may basically establish a significant step to synthesize such nanoparticles for topical applications as well as an alternative anticancer drug of existing chemotherapeutics of cancer..
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 51078074)
文摘First, the date palm kernel is used to produce granular activated carbon （GAC） by a physiochemical activation process. The process involves six steps： washing, drying, crushing, sieving, carbonization, and activation. Secondly, the ability of the produced GAC to remove pollutants is examined through batch experiments of residual chlorine adsorption whereas the equilibrium isotherm experimental data are tested for the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms equations. Thirdly, the experimental and theoretical study of dynamic adsorption process and the effect of major operating parameters on dynamic adsorption are investigated. The results show that the Langmuir isotherm gives the best fitting to experimental data, which indicates that the residual chlorine adsorption can be characterized by mono layer adsorption behavior. The produced GAC has a great potential as an adsorbent for residual chlorine in water systems and it can compete favorably with the conventional adsorbents. The Thomas extended model with combined mass transfer resistances is used for verifying the experimental results and the results show that the proposed model coincides well with the experimental data of the dynamic adsorption process.
基金supported by the Institute of Cooperation Francaise of the Embassy of France in Tunisia(IFC Tunisia)and by the Region Rhone Alpes(MIRA program)
文摘Sodium carboxymethylcellulose （CMCNa） is an anionic water soluble polyelectrolyte widely used in many industrial sectors including food, textiles, papers, adhesives, paints, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and mineral processing. CMCNa was produced by chemical modification of cellulose, and represents many advantages： natural, renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. In this study, different kinds of CMCNa, prepared from an agricultural waste date palm rachis, were tested as eco-friendly flocculants for drinking water treatment and their performances as flocculants in turbidity removal enhancement were assessed. The prepared materials were characterized by the degree of substitution （DS） and polymerisation （DP）. The study of the effect of some experimental parameters on the coagulation-flocculation performance, using the prepared materials combined with aluminium sulphate （as coagulant）, showed that the best conditions for turbidity treatment were given for pH 8, coagulant dose 20 mg/L, flocculant concentration of 100 mg/L and stirring velocity （during the flocculation step） of 30 r/min. Under the optimum conditions, the turbidity removal using CMCNa, prepared from raw material, was about 95%. A comparison study between the flocculation performance of a commercial anionic flocculant （A100PWG： polyacrylamide） and that of the prepared CMCNa showed that the performance of the waste-based flocculant with a DS of 1.17 and a DP of 480 was 10% better than that achieved by the commercial one.
基金funded by endowment funds from the University of Georgia Giles Professorship and the Georgia Research Alliance
文摘Date palm(Phoenix dactylifera),one of the most ancient crops,is grown commercially in>30 countries.Using whole plastome assemblies,phylogenetic analyses revealed that cultivated date palm accessions share the same clade with Phoenix sylvestris,Phoenix pusilla and Phoenix acaulis,which are native to the Indian subcontinent,and Phoenix caespitosa that is native to the Arabian Peninsula and the deserts of Somalia.Analysis of genetic diversity and genetic relationships among date palm accessions from 13 producing countries involved 195 date palm accessions that were genotyped at 19 microsatellite loci.Extensive genetic diversity was observed,with many accessions heterozygous for most markers in this clonally propagated crop.The average number of alleles per locus(42.1),expected heterozygosity(0.8),observed heterozygosity(0.47)and fixation indices(FST=0.42)demonstrated substantial genetic diversity and population structure.Iraqi accessions were found to have the richest allelic diversity,and the most private alleles.The model-based Bayesian method indicated that these accessions could be broadly divided into two structure groups,one group with predominantly African accessions and another predominantly Asian.Some germplasm,especially from Tunisia and Iraq,deviated from this generalization.Many accessions in the STRUCTURE-derived groups were found to be genetic admixtures,with gene flow between Asian and African groups.Indian and Pakistani date palms were found to be most closely related to North African germplasm.
文摘Fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are consumed throughout the world and are a vital component of the diet in most Arabian countries. The effect of partial replacement of wheat flour with a 1:1 mixture of wheat bran and date palm fruit powder on rheological properties of the biscuit dough was studied. Levels of mixture used were 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Dough rheology (farinograph, extensograph properties) and biscuit quality (physical properties, colour, sensory evaluation) were assessed. Results obtained indicated that water absorption gradually increased by increasing the levels of wheat bran: palm date powder, meanwhile mixing tolerance index decreased. Dough stability, which indicates the dough strength, also found to decrease by increasing mixture of wheat bran and date powder (1:1). Furthermore, dough development time gradually increased by increasing the mixture at all levels. It was 6.04 min at level of 40% compared to the control (2.5 min). Extensograph results showed that dough energy and dough resistance to extension and proportional number also increased compared with control sample. The proportional number (R/E) ratios increased largely from 3.20 to 5.27 at the level of 40.0%. Ash and fibre contents gradually increased as the mixture levels increased. However, mineral content progressively increased by increasing the level of date powder in the mixture. Incorporation of wheat bran and date powder mixture decreased the spread of the biscuits from 55.66 to 52.82 mm without change in the thickness of the biscuits. Organoleptic properties revealed that quality of biscuits was acceptable at mixture level of 30%.
基金supported by the Exploratory Grant(STC_TUNGER-006/INTOASES)as part of the Bilateral Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Republic of Tunisia and the Federal Republic of Germany
文摘Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we summarize examples of how people in the few oases of the MENA region overcome environmental challenges by sustainably managing economically important date production. On the basis of the limited studies found in the existing literature, this mini-review focuses on the role of traditional soil organic matter amendments beneath the soil surface as a key tool in land restoration. We conclude that soil organic matter amendments can be very successful in restoring soil water and preventing the soil from salinization.
文摘This paper is based on research work conducted during 2008-2010 in Dera Ismail Khan (D. I. Khan) District, Pakistan, to investigate Socio-Economic Impacts of Dwarf Palm (Nannorhops ritchieana) and Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) on the local inhabitants. A questionnaire for data collection of Dwarf Palm was designed and local people were interviewed. The main Dwarf Palm (Mazri) areas are lying between the Koh-i-Surkh and Marwat hill and yielding about 1000 tons of mazri leaves annually. Date Palm plantations are concentrated in Paniala, Paharpur, Chawdwan and Dhakki. The prominent varieties grown in the area are Dhakki, Shakri, Gulistan, Zaidi, Hillawi, Basra, Azadi and khudarawi. Dhakki Dates are well-known among all other varieties. Total area under dates cultivation in the district is 100,000 hectares, with total production of 11,000 tons dates. An average yield of Dhakki-Dates y-1 ranges from 6500 to 7000 tons i.e., 75% of the total production of dates in the area and dried dates production ranges from 800 - 1000 tons·year-1. A significant population is involved in processing of mazri and date palm leaves to prepare different products. Dates have a tremendous potential for economic uplift of the people. But growers face limitations and challenges regarding lack of information about customers and markets, harvesting, processing, and packaging techniques and infrastructure for producing good quality fresh dates. Fruit dropping in date palm particularly in Dhakki variety has become a serious concern. More than 70% date fruits drop before maturity. If production and processing constraints are properly handled, this may have significant socio-economic impact on local inhabitants.
文摘Camels’ milk (CM) and goats’ milk (GM) are rich in nutrients and vitamins necessary for the health of humans and have therapeutic properties as they are rich in antioxidants and have a protective role against free radicals that </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">have harmful effects on human health. Date palm (DP), camels’ milk and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">goats’ milk have been reported to be used for the prevention and treatment of vari</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ous diseases in Arab countries. This study was designed to mix date palm</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> with camels’ milk and goats’. Eight formulations of both camels’ milk and goats’ were made from different percentages of date palm. These formulations were added at ratios of 0 (control), 10%, 20% and 30% (w/v) to camels’ milk and goats’ and the effect of this date palm on the composition and texture properties of the fermented obtained products were followed. It has been found that pH, protein, fat decreased and total solid, carbohydrate, ash, viscosity, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants increased with the increase of the added percentage of date palm compared to control. Microbial counts of the fermented camels’ milk (FCM) and goats’ milk (FGM) increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the addition of different formulations and during storage. Also, fermented camels’ milk (FCM) and fermented goats’ milk (FGM) fortified with different ratios date palm (DP) concentration resulted in good properties and higher acceptable sensory values (at a rate of 10% - 20%) in fresh and till the end of storage periods. The addition of the date palm to all treatments </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">improved the composition, viscosity, microbiological quality of fermented</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">camels’ and goats’ milk with nutritional functional values and acceptable</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> sensory attributes.
文摘This study presents an analysis of the impact of mycorrhizal inoculation on growth under salt stress of date palms cultivars Nakhla hamra (NHH) and Tijib known in the Sahel for their earliness in flowering and fruiting. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse on a sandy substrate watered to field capacity every two days and were subjected to increasing levels of NaCl (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 16 g·L-1) and then inoculated with 5 strains of Glomus (G. aggregatum, G. intraradices, G. verriculosum, G. mosseae, G. fasciculatum). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three factors (cultivars: Tijib and Nakhla Hamra x seven levels of NaCl concentrations x six levels of inoculum). The results showed that in the absence of NaCl, G. verriculosum significantly enhanced shoot growth: 33.5 cm against 30.3 cm in the control and roots growth: 81.5 cm against 78 cm in NHH, while in Tijib, the growth is stimulated by Glomus fasciculatum: 33.8 cm against 32.7 cm for stems and 90 cm against 86 cm for the roots of inoculated plants and controls. In contrast, in the presence of NaCl 8 g·L-1, NHH has a better growth in the presence of G. intraradices: 37.3 cm against 30.6 cm for stems and 77 cm against 73 for roots, while Tijib grows better in the presence of G. fasciculatum with respectively 31.9 cm against 31.7 cm and 51.27 cm against 51.6 cm for stems and roots of inoculated plants and controls. Biochemical analysis revealed that changes in levels of proline depend on the cultivar, the mycorrhizal strain used and concentrations of NaCl applied. These results open the prospect of using mycorrhizal fungi to improve the productivity of palm trees in the Sahel.
文摘The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, minerals and antioxidants of heart of date palm from three Saudi cultivars. Moisture (ranged from 80.44% - 82.82%) was the predominant component in the heart date palm. Sukkari cultivar had the highest protein (5.27%) and ash (7.9%) compared to the other two cultivars. Fat was low in the three cultivars. Sucrose was the predominant sugar in the heart date palm and ranged from 7.65% - 20.25%. Potassium was the predominant mineral in the heart date palm and was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in Sukkari and Solleg compared to the Naboat Saif cultivar. Sulfur and chloride were next to potassium in abundance in the three heart date palm cultivars. Total phenols and flavonoids were higher in Solleg compared to the other two cultivars. IC50 for Solleg, Sukkari and Naboat Saif were 0.12, 0.13 and 0.29 mg/ml, respectively. The results of the present study may highlight the potential importance of heart of date palm as a product rich in essential minerals and antioxidants. Future researches are needed to explore other characteristics of heart of date palm which could be considered for human nutrition.
文摘This paper summarizes our studies on metal and metalloid uptake by the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., a tree of considerable importance in arid regions. The typical concentrations of 17 elements in the date palm are summarized and compared with existing data in the scientific literature. The role and toxicity of these elements are considered. Issues encountered by us during sample collection, pre-treatment and chemical analysis are described. Future studies are suggested.
文摘A comprehensive review of scientific literature has uncovered no reported cases of date palm trees infected by a virus and no viral infections have been reported by farmers. In spite of the hot and humid environment they inhabit, the abundance of viral infestations in the soil, other plants and organisms surrounding the trees and the frequency of importation and transplantation of these trees into the region. Such conditions should cause the date palms to also be infected. Notably, other palm trees do not exhibit the same level of innate viral immunity that is found in date palms. The date palm tree’s innate viral immunity is a virgin area in botanical research. The biological segment in date palm tree DNA that enables survival under genotoxic radiation also deserves further investigation. This field of study may enable the breeding of other economically important plants to improve desert ecology and economy, land management, agriculture and horticulture.
基金supported by EGIDE(No.18470SA),CMCU(No.08G908)the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education
文摘Endophytic flora plays a vital role in the colonization and survival of host plants, especially in harsh environments, such as arid regions. This flora may, however, contain pathogenic species responsible for various troublesome host diseases. The present study is aimed at investigating the diversity of both cultivable and non-cultivable endophytic fungal floras in the internal tissues(roots and leaves) of Tunisian date palm trees(Phoenix dactylifera). Accordingly, 13 isolates from both root and leaf samples, exhibiting distinct colony morphology, were selected from potato dextrose agar(PDA) medium and identified by a sequence match search wherein their 18S–28S internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequences were compared to those available in public databases. These findings revealed that the cultivable root and leaf isolates fell into two groups, namely Nectriaceae and Pleosporaceae. Additionally, total DNA from palm roots and leaves was further extracted and ITS fragments were amplified. Restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) analysis of the ITS from 200 fungal clones(leaves: 100; roots: 100) using HaeIII restriction enzyme revealed 13 distinct patterns that were further sequenced and led to the identification of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Davidiella(Cladosporium teleomorph), Pythium, Curvularia, and uncharacterized fungal endophytes. Both approaches confirmed that while the roots were predominantly colonized by Fusaria(members of the Nectriaceae family), the leaves were essentially colonized by Alternaria(members of the Pleosporaceae family). Overall, the findings of the present study constitute, to the authors' knowledge, the first extensive report on the diversity of endophytic fungal flora associated with date palm trees(P. dactylifera).
文摘Date palm(phoenix dactylifera),which is mostly found in the middle east countries such as Iran,Iraq,Saudi Arabia,and the United States(California)that play a significant role in the economical and the environmental condition in those areas.The main purpose of planting dates is its fruit,which is consumed as fresh,dried or processed forms.There are approximately 100 million date palm trees in the worldwide that 62 million of these trees located in the Middle East and North Africa.In Saudi Arabia only,15000 tons of date palm leaves is prepared as waste materials.The leaves of date palm tree are used in several applications such as making ropes,baskets,and mats in many parts of the world.Unfortunately,the huge amount of the non-food products from the date palm remains as landfill materials without any specific usage.By attention to the date palm properties,the literature clearly showed that each part of date palm has great potential to be used for a variety of applications such as:making paper,absorption of heavy and toxic metals,energy production and soil fertilizing.Some of the obstacles and solutions for using palm date in these applications were also explored.Considering these issues and their solutions,the date palm is a favorable alternative.Despite some limited and traditional uses of these palm wastes,this review considered date palm applications and the properties’of the most important part of that tree in recent researches and related issues for future research are also spotted.
基金KAUST Smart Health Initiative grants(SHI REI 4447)(MJ)and through baseline-funds(MJ).
文摘Since ancient times,the inhabitants of dry areas have depended on the date palm(Phoenix dactylifera L.)as a staple food and means of economic security.For example,dates have been a staple diet for the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula and Sahara Desert in North Africa for millennia and the local culture is rich in knowledge and experience with the benefits of dates,suggesting that dates contain many substances essential for the human body.Madinah dates are considered one of the most important types of dates in the Arabian Peninsula,with Ajwa being one of the most famous types and grown only in Madinah,Saudi Arabia.Date seeds are traditionally used for animal feed,seed oil production,cosmetics,and as a coffee substitute.Phytochemical compounds that have been detected in date fruits and date seeds include phenolic acids,carotenoids,and flavonoids.Phenolic acids are the most prevalent bioactive constituents that contribute to the antioxidant activity of date fruits.The bioactive properties of these phytochemicals are believed to promote human health by reducing the risk of diseases such as chronic inflammation.Ajwa dates especially are thought to have superior bioactivity properties.To investigate these claims,in this study,we compare the metabolic profiles of Ajwa with different types of dates collected from Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.We show by UHPLC-MS that date seeds contain several classes of flavonoids,phenolic acids,and amino acid derivatives,including citric acid,malic acid,lactic acid,and hydroxyadipic acid.Additionally,GC-MS profiling showed that date seeds are richer in metabolite classes,such as hydrocinnamic acids(caffeic,ferulic and sinapic acids),than flesh samples.Deglet N fruit extract(minimum inhibitory concentration:27 MIC/μM)and Sukkari fruit extract(IC_(50):479±0.58μg/mL)have higher levels of antibacterial and antioxidative activity than Ajwa fruits.However,the seed analysis showed that seed extracts have better bioactivity effects than fruit extracts.Specifically,Ajwa extract showed the best MIC and strongest ABTS radical-scavenging activity among examined seed extracts(minimum inhibitory concentration:20μM;IC_(50):54±3.61μg/mL).Our assays are a starting point for more advanced in vitro antibacterial models and investigation into the specific molecules that are responsible for the antioxidative and anti-bacterial activities of dates.
基金The financial support for this study was provided by Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences,Kermanshah,Iran (grant number:4000504)。
文摘Background : Diabetes-induced oxidative stress can have adverse effects on sperm and its DNA integrity. The Ashrasi date palm(ADP) has potent antioxidant properties.The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of ADP hydroalcoholic extract on sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in diabetic rats.Methods : Forty male rats were randomly divided into five groups( n = 7): 1, control;2, diabetic;3– 5, diabetic + ADP(30, 90 and 270 mg/kg for groups 3, 4 and 5, respectively). After preparation of ADP extract and its phytochemical screening, it was administered orally to rats, once a day for 5 weeks. At the end of the study, sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in all groups were investigated.Results : At doses of 90 and 270 mg/kg, ADP extract significantly increased the sperm viability compared to diabetic group 2( p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively)and resulted in a significant decrease in immotile sperm( p = 0.002 and p = 0.006,respectively). At a dose of 270 mg/kg, a considerable enhancement of forward sperm motility was observed( p = 0.04) and there was a significant decrease in sperm DNA fragmentation( p = 0.04).Conclusions : The findings of the present study show for the first time that the hydroalcoholic extract of ADP has protective and antioxidant effects against diabetesinduced oxidative stress and can improve sperm parameters and protect sperm DNA integrity.
文摘Diabetes is a major health global problem that has reached alarming levels. The present study aims for studying the effect of date palm pollen (<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Phoenix dactylifera L</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">.) El-Hayani cultivar on serum glucose and lipids profile in induced diabetic male albino rats. Palm pollen chemically analyzed besides chemical constituents, mineral contents, polyphenols </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> flavonoids. Male Albino rats (36</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">rats </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weight 170</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">190</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">gm) were divided </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">to</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 6 groups. 1</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">: </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Normal control (</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">-</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">), 2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">:</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> Alloxanized diabetes control (+) (150</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mg/Kg rat body weight). Diabetic groups 3 and 4 had 0.5%,</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.0% date palm pollen, respectively, also diabetic </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">group</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 5 and 6 had 100 ppm, 200 ppm date palm pollen extract, respectively. At the end of </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">experiment</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (4 weeks) rats were fasted overnight and anesthetized and blood samples were taken for analysis of serum glucose, lipids profile </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> renal-hepatic function parameters, relative organ weight data obtained are </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">statistically</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> analysis. Results showed that the major polyphenolic components were that e-vanillic acid (16.33 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), pyrogallol (15.02 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), epicatechin (11.04 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), catechin (10.96 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g). </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">While,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> date palm pollen was rich in hesperidin (8.84 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), Kaempferol 3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2 p-coumaroyl glucose (6.92 mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">hesperitin</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (5.10 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), rutin (3.11mg/100</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g) as flavonoids components. Date palm pollen has </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">high</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> content of protein, calcium </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> iron (30.87 g/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g, 510.82 </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 236.50 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">g), respectively. Also, serum glucose decreased significantly in diabetic groups (3, 4, 5 </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> 6, respectively) (179.47, 137.80, 156.77, 145.47 mg/100</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mL, respectively). Lipids profile, renal and liver functions were improved </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">significant</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ly</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> (P < 0.05) in diabetic groups </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">which had</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> date palm pollen or its extracts.</span></span><span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It is concluded that the dried date palm pollen 1% in the diet and 200 ppm extract are more effective compared with controlling diabetes mellitus, also improve renal and liver functions. Diabetics are advised to eat date palm pollen</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> and</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> are considered treatment foods for Diabetes Mellitus.</span>
文摘The invasive insect pest, red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, poses a significant threat to date production, causing substantial economic damage. If uncontrolled, RPW leads the severely infested host tree to collapse and eventually die. The symbiotic associations with microorganisms and RPW in their gut may help their host insects’ establishment, development, nutrition assimilation, and survival. The objective of this research was the molecular characterization of the microbiome of RPW. In this study, the microbiome was compared among different tissues in females and males of RPW of three different morphs and larvae collected from date palm plantations in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A 251-bp segment of bacterial 16S rRNA was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and processed using the bioinformatics platform QIIME2. One ASV, corresponding to the obligate weevil symbiont Nardonella, predominated in adult female samples, constituting 56 ± 7% of total reads, but was less dominant in male samples (12 ± 3%) and larval samples (2.6 ± 1.9%). For females, samples that included reproductive tissues were almost entirely composed of Nardonella (88% - 99%). When Nardonella was excluded from analyses, there were no differences between adult females and adult males, but larval samples were more species-rich and differed in microbial composition from adults. There were no consistent differences in the microbiomes among morphs. Several specimens showed evidence of infection with host-specific strains of Spiroplasma-like members of the Entomoplasmatales, which are often pathogens or vertically transmitted symbionts. Such close microbial associates deserve additional attention as potential routes to control this destructive date palm pest.
