PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF DATE SEEDS LIPIDS OF THREE FRUITS (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L) PRODUCED IN OUARGLA REGION

Abstract

Algeria is considered as one of the major date producing countries. The annual production reaches up to 468,000 tons; most of it is consumed locally. The seeds or date stones which represent a relatively high weight are considered in most cases as waste and hence the present work is a contribution to their valorization. The physico-chemical characteristics and the fatty acid composition of date seed oil of three date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L), Deglet-Nour, Ghars , and Tamdjouhert, originating from south eastern of Algeria (Ouargla region) .The oil contents of these seeds range fromn5.05 to 6.08%. The physico-chemical properties of these oils indicated that acid values range from1.35 to 1.38 mgKOH/g. The saponification values and Iodine values are in the range 204.84 – 215.87 mgKOH/g ; 67.22-74.80 (g Iodine /100g) respectively. The refractive index of date seeds oil was found to be between 1.4778 and 1.4792. The Specific gravity of these oils range from 0.8836 to 0.9295. The amount of sterols has been determined by a simple spectrophotometric method. The total sterol contents were found to be between. 5.417and 7.884 mg/g .However, the Physico-chemical properties are within the same range of some edible oils.