Purpose: To determine the polyphenolic content of
P. dactylifera
L. (date palm) bark extract and to
investigate its in vitro inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in the brain, liver, and kidney tissues of rat,
as well as on blood hemolysis in rats.
Methods: P. dactylifera L. barks were collected from Ahvaz, (Khuzestan, Iran). Methanolic extract of the
P. dactylifera barks were prepared using maceration method. Total phenolic, flavonoid and
proanthocyanidin contents were determined by colorimetric methods. The effects of the extract were
investigated on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation in Fe
2+/ascorbate induced-lipid
peroxidation in brain, liver and kidney tissues of rats. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of the extracts
on erythrocyte hemolysis caused by 2,2'-Azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) were
evaluated.
Results: Total phenolic, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins contents per each g dry extract of
P. dactylifera L. were 50.7 mg tannic acid, 10.38 mg rutin, and 5.45 mg cyanidin, respectively, while halfmaximal
inhibitory concentration (IC
50) for inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain, liver, and kidney
tissues of rats was 3150.71, 1941.45, and 1546.01 μg/mL, respectively, and for the inhibition of
erythrocyte hemolysis, it was 472.41 μg/mL.
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate significant anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-hemolytic
effects of the bark extract. Therefore, the extract can potentially be used for the in vivo treatment of
diseases associated with lipid peroxidation such as cancers and Alzheimer\'s disease, but further studies
are required.
