Phytochemical composition and biological activities of date palm pollen from El Oued area, Southeast Algeria

Atia, Abdelkader (author), Hamad, Brahim (author), Hadef, Leyla (author), Benmoussa, Ouissam (author)

This study assessed the phytochemical composition and biological activity of date palm pollen (DPP) from the El Oued region to determine its potential as a functional food ingredient. Fresh pollen was manually collected throughout the pollination season, air-dried, finely powdered, and stored at 4°C prior to analysis. Proximate analysis revealed a moisture level of 5.82 %, suggesting adequate post-harvest drying and storage stability; an ash content of 6.10 %, a protein content of 37.94 %, and a crude fat content of 6.49 %. Mineral analysis revealed potassium as the predominant element (1140 mg 100 g-1), followed by sodium (450 mg 100 g-1), calcium (350 mg 100 g-1), and magnesium (250 mg 100 g-1). DPP exhibited antioxidant activity with a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging IC₅₀ value of 624.25 µg ml-1. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 23.55 mg GAE g-1 and 6.94 mg QE g-1, respectively. These findings demonstrate that DPP is a rich source of nutrients, minerals, and bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant properties, supporting its potential application in semen extender formulations, dietary supplements, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. Further studies are needed to confirm its bioavailability and clinical efficacy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: antioxidant activity, bioavailability, date palm pollen, El Oued, phytochemical composition
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 122, no. 3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-189471
• UDC: 631
• ISSN on article: 1854-1941
• DOI: 10.14720/aas.2026.122.3.23138
• COBISS.SI-ID: 294084099
• Publication date in RUL: 07.10.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta agriculturae Slovenica
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1854-1941
• COBISS.SI-ID: 219581184

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Fitokemijska sestava in biološka aktivnost cvetnega prahu datljeve palme z območja El Oued v jugovzhodni Alžiriji
• Keywords: antioksidativna aktivnost, datljeva palma, biološka uporabnost, cvetni prah, fitokemična sestava