Characteristics and some potential applications of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds and seed oil

The seeds of four date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars, Dekel Noor, Zahidi, Medjool and Halawy, grown in the Arava Valley of southern Israel were analyzed for their inorganic and some organic constituents. The following average values were obtained for the four cultivars on a dry-weight basis: protein 5.60%, oil 8.15%, fiber 16.13%, and ash 1.13%. Analysis of the mineral elements in the ash gave the following average values: Ca, 1.55%; Na, 0.97%; Mg, 8.07%; K, 27.60%; Fe, 0.73%; Cu, 0.13% and Mn, 0.08%. The oil exhibited the following characteristics (average for the four cultivars): acid value ∼1.04, iodine value 49.5, saponification value 221.0, and unsaponifiable matter 0.8%. Gas-liquid chromatography revealed that the major unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (42.3%), while the main saturated fatty acid was lauric (21.8%). Myristic, palmitic and linoleic acids were also found, average values being 10.9, 9.6 and 13.7%, respectively. Potential uses for date seed oil are considered for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and related specialty products, and to a lesser degree for food products.