Physico-chemical Characterization and Associated Antioxidant Capacity of Fiber Concentrates from Moroccan Date Flesh

The aim of this research was to investigate physico-chemical and some functional properties (water and oil holding capacity, emulsion capacity and stability) and associated antioxidant capacity of date fiber concentrates (DFC) from five potential Moroccan cultivars. The main chemical composition of date flesh was also analyzed. Date flesh had high amount of reducing sugars (fructose and glucose), total and insoluble dietary fiber and natural antioxidants (polyphenol and flavonoid). DFC exhibited high proportions of insoluble dietary fiber and presented a relatively low amount of protein, ash, fat, total phenolic and total flavonoid content. DFC also showed high water-holding and oil-holding capacities (^~ 6.1- 8 g water/100g and 5.34-6.4 g oil/100g, respectively). Emulsion capacity of DFC was in the range of 17.5 to 23 ml/100 ml. DFC showed also high emulsion stability (^~ 34.5 - 38 ml/100 ml). DFC was shown to possess an antiradical capacity. In fact, antiradical efficiency (AE) ranged between 1.26 and 7.09×10^-3 of DFC, which were considered suitable for antioxidant dietary fiber production. Findings of this investigation revealed essential information that could be advance the possibility to use DFC as an ingredient for the food industry.