Date fruit

Vayalil PK. 2002. Antioxidant and antimutagenic properties of aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae). J Agric Food Chem 50(3) 610-617. 

Both the free and the combined forms of phenolic acids in date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) were analyzed by HPLC (19). The elution rate of phenolic acids increased with the degree of hydroxylation by isocratic elution using dioxane-acetic acid (15 85) on a /zBondapak C,8 column. Ferulic acid was the most abundant in the free form, and p-coumaric, vanillic, p-hydroxy-benzoic, protocatechuic, and syringic acid were also identified in dates. 

The date fruit consists of 70 percent carbohydrates (mostly sugars), making it one of the most calorie-rich, high-nutrient fruits available. With the present uncertainty in the world food supply and the expected increase in demand from food production countries, the date could be a premium source of high nutritional and caloric value, and it preserves easily for shipping and storage. 

Shenasi, M., Aidoo, K.E., and Candlish, A.A.G. 2002. Microflora of date fruits and production of aflatoxins at various stages of maturation. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 79, 113-119. 

Boron.—B, a.n. 5 a.w. 11. This non-metal has been detected in all plants examined. The value is least in cereals (the ash of which contains about 0-5 gm. boric acid, H2BO3, per kg.), high in the beetroot, and maximal in the date fruit (30 mg. B per kg. pulp). Grape vines and wine are rich in boron. 

While certain TSILs have been developed to pull metals into the IL phase, others have been developed to keep metals in an IL phase. The use of metal complexes dissolved in IL for catalytic reactions has been one of the most fruitful areas of IL research to date. LLowever, these systems still have a tendency to leach dissolved catalyst into the co-solvents used to extract the product of the reaction from the ionic liquid. Consequently, Wasserscheid et al. have pioneered the use of TSILs based upon the dissolution into a conventional IL of metal complexes that incorporate charged phosphine ligands in their stmctures [16-18]. These metal complex ions become an integral part of the ionic medium, and remain there when the reaction products arising from their use are extracted into a co-solvent. Certain of the charged phosphine ions that form the basis of this chemistry (e.g., P(m-C6H4S03 Na )3) are commercially available, while others may be prepared by established phosphine synthetic procedures. 

Certain fruits, notably grapes and dates, may have some surface contamination or infestation when first picked, and they are fumigated with sulphur dioxide or some other gas. They must, of course, then be thoroughly ventilated before going into storage. 

The greatest surprise provided by the results to date has been the apparently low number of genes encoding proteins, estimated to lie between 30,000 and 40,000. The higher number could increase as new data are obtained. This number is approximately twice that found in the roundworm (19,099) and three times that of the fruit... 

Many important findings have already emerged. The one to date that has generated the most discussion is that the number of human genes may be only two to three times that estimated for the roundworm and the fruit fly. 

As for anthocyanins, betalains are found in vacuoles and cytosols of plant cells. From the various natural sources of betalains, beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) are the only edible sources of these compounds. In the food industry, betalains are less commonly used as natural colorants from plant sources than anthocyanins and carotenoids, probably related to their more restricted distribution in nature. To date, red beetroot is the only betalain source exploited for use as a natural food coloring agent. The major betalain in red beetroot is betanin (or betanidin 5-0-P-glucoside). Prickly pear fruits contain mainly (purple-red) betanin and (yellow-orange) indicaxanthin and the color of these fruits is directly related to the betanin-to-indicaxanthin ratio (99 to 1, 1 to 8, and 2 to 1, respectively in white, yellow, and red fruits)." ... 

Legislation at Community level dates back to November 1976 when Council Directive 76/895/EEC established MRLs for 43 active substances in fruits and vegetables. These MRLs were based on the best data available at that time. These MRLs are gradually being reviewed and, where appropriate, replaced with MRLs based on more current information and higher standards. 

To reduce the effort, another validation procedure is used for extension of the German multi-residue method to a new analyte. Actually, more than 200 pesticides can be analyzed officially with this method, which is the up-to-date version of the better known method DFG SI9. A typical validation is performed by at least three laboratories, which conduct fortification experiments at the same three levels with at least four representative matrices. These representative matrices are commodities with high water content (e.g., tomato), fruits with high acid content (e.g., lemon), dry crops (e.g., cereals) and commodities with high fat content (e.g., avocado). 

Factors Affecting Allelochemical Production or Release and their Modes of Action. This area of research should prove fruitful for the plant physiologists and biochemists who are interested in regulation of plant metabolism. Studies to date have been limited to only a few compounds. 

To date, within the scope of the writers information, there has been no residual deposit or poison residue recovered from treated fruits or vegetables, where proper formulations and amounts of the pure gamma isomer have been used not later than 2 weeks prior to crop harvest. Likewise, there is no known record of poisoning to man or animals from applying the insecticide or eating food treated with the insecticide. Freedom from poisonous residue and undesirable taste in the use of the pure gamma isomer of hexa-chlorocyclohexane is achieved therfeore by proper formulation, timing, and application of insecticide treatments. 

Sample Weight, No. of Fruit Selenium, Average Selenium, Dates Selenium Sprays... 

The amount of parathion spray residue on soft fruits is roughly proportional to the length of time between date of application and date of analysis. Parathion spray residue was lost from the surface of Delicious apples at the rate of 80 to 85% in 12 to 13 days and 93 to 100% in 30 to 32 days. The rate of loss was the same for 1-pound as for 4-pound concentrations. Fifty-five samples, collected from commercial orchards, were analyzed. No significant relationship was found between the number of days between spraying and analysis and the parathion residue. There was no significant difference in parathion residue due to the concentration of the spray mixture used. All residues were only a fraction of 1 p.p.m. 

Although parathion has not been recommended to date for insect control on soft fruits, there are indications that some injurious insects may be controlled by applications of parathion. Experimental sprays of 1 pound of the 25% wettable powder per 100 gallons of water were applied to soft fruits to determine the amount of parathion residue that would remain on the surface at harvest time. The parathion residue at harvest time is presented in Table I. 

All plots lost from 80 to 85% of their parathion residue from the surface of the fruit in 12 to 13 days and from 93 to 100% in 30 to 32 days. Plots 3 and 4 were sprayed later in the season (August 3) than plots 1 and 2 (July 2), and the slightly smaller loss of parathion residue from the surface of the fruits at the later date may be due to a decrease in volatility of parathion because of lower day and night temperatures. 

Picking fruit at an optimal harvest date is also an important factor affecting the nutritional and sensory quality and storability of fruit. Regardless of the production method, a fruit grower needs precise information on the seasonal (e.g. climate) and site-specific parameters that determine the optimal harvest... 

Lendieric I, Pinto E, Vendrell M and Larrigaudiere C. 1999. Harvest date affects die antioxidative system in pear fruits. J Hort Sci Technol 74(6) 791—795. 

Nagura J, Iso H, Watanabe Y, Maruyama K, Date C, Toyoshima H, Yamamoto A, Kikuchi S, Koizumi A, Kondo T, Wada Y, Inaba Y and Tamakoshi A. 2009. Fruit, vegetable and bean intake and mortality from cardiovascular disease among Japanese men and women the JACC Study. Br J Nutr 13 1—8. 

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