PHYTOCHEMICAL AND METAL ANALYSIS OF DATE (Phoenix dactylifera L.) FRUITS AND ITS PRODUCTS

Date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and their processed products are
widely consumed due to their nutritional and functional importance. This study
evaluated the phytochemical composition, proximate content, and mineral
profiles of date fruits and selected products including syrup, puree, powder, and
syrup fortified with ginger and garlic. Standard analytical procedures were used
for phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, and mineral determination.
Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids,
alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, phytates, oxalates, and cyanogenic
glycosides. Proximate analysis showed that carbohydrate had the highest value
(51.67 ± 0.66%), followed by moisture (14.38 ± 0.62%) and crude fibre (7.04 ±
0.08%), while crude fat had the lowest value (0.51 ± 0.02%). Mineral analysis
indicated high concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus,
sodium, and manganese across all samples, with fortified syrup samples showing
comparatively higher mineral levels. The findings demonstrate that date fruits and their processed products are
rich sources of nutrients and essential minerals, supporting their potential application in food formulation and
functional nutrition.