Physicochemical and Nutritional Properties of Date (Phoenix reclinata) from Dabou (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

The date, Phoenix dactylifera is known for its richness in nutrients. Given the high selling price and its scarcity, some rural populations in Côte d'Ivoire consume the Phoenix reclinata date without knowing the functional properties for their well-being. The highlighting of the nutritional value of these fruits is necessary to promote its valorization and its consumption in the form of bioformulated foods. Thus, the physicochemical and antioxidant properties as well as the mineral richness contained in the pulps and the cores were determined using the Association  of  Official Analytical Chemists and  spectrophotometric methods The analyzes were carried out on ripe fruits dried at 20°C in the laboratory of agrovalorization of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University Jean Lorougnon Guédé between March and May 2019. The results reveal that the pulps and the cores are weakly acidic with respectively pH values of 6.37 ± 0.13 and 5.74 ± 0.06. The pulps and the cores contain respectively dry matter contents (90.39 ± 0.14 against 92.1 ± 0.02), in fibers (10.40 ± 0.17 against 88.7 ± 0.48), in energy values ​​(335.2 ± 0.44 kcal against 378.7 ± 1.07 kcal), in total polyphenols (2.63 ± 0.19 against 3.69 ± 0.18) and in minerals. The pulp and the cores have, for 100 g of solids, sodium contents (3.22 ± 0.12 mg against 3.69 ± 0.18 mg), potassium (0.71 ± 0.07 mg against 2.52 ± 0.08 mg), in phosphorus (3.00 ± 0.02 mg against 2.52 ± 0.08 mg), in calcium (0.16 ± 0.04 mg against 0.65 ± 0.03 mg), zinc (3.30 ± 0.05 mg vs. 3.08 ± 0.03 mg), iron (3.09 ± 0.01 mg vs. 3.26 ± 0.01 mg) and copper (2.93 ± 0.06 mg vs 3.08 ± 0.03 mg). These nutritious potentialities could be recommended in the formulation of foods for the malnourished.