Chemical Composition of Seed and Seed Oil from Iranian Commercial Date Cultivars

In the present study, the seeds of two date palm (phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars, Mazafati and Kalutah, were analyzed for their physical properties and chemical composition. Studies were also conducted on properties of oil extracted from the seeds and its fatty acid composition. The seeds constituted about 6-10% of the fruit weight. They, on the average, contained 4.84% protein, 12.22% fat, 27.58% fiber, 80.76% carbohydrates, 1.18% ash and 1.72% moisture. Mineral analysis showed higher concentration of Fe followed by Ca, Cu, Na, Zn and Mn. The seeds were also a rich source of phenolics, which ranged from 1840.93 to 1952.93 mg GAE/100 g. The average chemical characteristics of the date seed oils were: iodine value 55.153, saponification value 228.067 and peroxide value 15.537. The main fatty acids of the seed oils were oleic (48.10-50.50%), lauric (14.00-15.80%), palmitic (10.80-11.70%), myristic (10.60-10.90%), linoleic (7.70-8.20%) and stearic acids (3.00-3.40%).