Résumé:
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a vital agricultural crop extensively cultivated
in the Middle East and North Africa. It holds significant nutritional, economic, and cultural
importance in these regions (Al-Farsi & Lee, 2008). Traditionally valued for its sweet fruit,
the date palm also produces date seeds, a by-product often discarded or used as animal feed,
which has recently attracted scientific interest for its health-promoting properties (Al-Kaabi et
al., 2013).
Date seeds are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, dietary fiber, and essential fatty acids,
which impart potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects (Al-Farsi et
al., 2016). Numerous studies have highlighted the potential of date seed extracts as natural
agents for preventing or alleviating liver damage caused by oxidative stress and metabolic
disorders such as diabetes (Shakoor et al., 2020; Abdelaziz et al., 2015). Given the liver’s
central role in metabolism, detoxification, and homeostasis, protecting hepatic function is
critical for overall health (Hall, 2016).
The liver is especially vulnerable to injury from toxins, metabolic imbalances, and
inflammation. Damage to liver cells can impair essential physiological processes, contributing
to chronic liver diseases (Hall, 2016). Natural dietary supplements derived from plant sources
like date seeds are promising candidates for hepatoprotection due to their bioactive compounds
and low toxicity profiles (Brown et al., 2020). However, the formulation of effective and safe
date seed-based dietary supplements requires rigorous scientific evaluation, particularly
regarding their effects on liver structure and function.
