Authors : Ladana J. Dirini, Hayder A. Al-Domi and Malik S. Hadadin
Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of antioxidants in “Medjool” variety of Date Fruits (DF) (Phoenix dactylifera L.) at the tamr stage on oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a High Fat Diet (HFD). Proximate nutrient composition of the “Medjool” DF was determined as well as antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content and individual phenolic compounds gallic acid, phyroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid and caffeic acid. The Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either control or HFD based on the AIN-93 diet for six weeks. They were then grouped as control, control+10% DF, HFD (45% kilocalories) and HFD+10% DF with 10 rats per group. The antioxidant capacity of DF was 1.55±0.058 mmole/100 g FW, the total phenolic content was 104.3±3.46 mg GAE/100 g FW and the total flavonoid content was 8.10±0.19 mg CEQ/100 g FW. Findings also showed that hepatic TBARS levels were significantly the highest in the HFD group (21.83±1.9 nmol mLG1 MDA equivalents) (p<0.01). The HFD caused a percentage increase of TBARS by 59.4% from the control group. The control+DF group had the highest level of serum total antioxidant capacity (0.164±0.017 mM Trolox equivalents) than the rest of the groups but the p-value only indicated a trend toward significance (p = 0.082). Dietary intake of “Medjool” variety of DF could have a potential role in ameliorating oxidative damage during obesity to possibly reduce the risk of obesity comorbidities.
Ladana J. Dirini, Hayder A. Al-Domi and Malik S. Hadadin, 2020. The Effect of Antioxidants in Medjool Variety of Date Fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) At the Tamr Stage on Oxidative Stress in Sprague-Dawley Rats Fed a High Fat Diet. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 15: 106-111.