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Ajwa Dates: A Highly Nutritive Fruit with the Impending Therapeutic Application

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Plant and Human Health, Volume 3

Abstract

Phoenix dactylifera L. (Figure 1), also known as date palm, is well known for its nutritive value around the world and consumed in Arabian peninsula as an essential diet. It has been mentioned in prophetic, traditional, and alternative medicine. Its fruits, seeds, pollen, and leaves have antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, gastrointestinal, and sexual improvement properties. The important pharmacological properties of the date palm have been attributed to potent constituents including flavonoids, phenolics, carotenoids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acids. Date fruit also increases estrogen, testosterone, PCV, and Hb levels. According to Islamic hadith (Prophet’s saying), Saud (R.A.) narrated that I heard Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) saying, “If Somebody takes seven Ajwa dates (Figure 2) in the morning, neither magic nor poison will hurt him that day.” By keeping all the detailed information in view, it can be concluded that dates are ideal food, providing multiple essential nutrients and potential health benefits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Muqtadir Baig Mirza, Fareeduddin Quadri Syed, Ayman I. Elkady, Atef M. Al-Attar & Khalid Rehman Hakeem

  2. Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Kamineni Hospital, Hyderabad, India

    Fazal Khan

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  1. Muqtadir Baig Mirza
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  2. Fareeduddin Quadri Syed
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  3. Fazal Khan
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  4. Ayman I. Elkady
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  5. Atef M. Al-Attar
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  6. Khalid Rehman Hakeem
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vice President of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, Amann, Jordan

    Munir Ozturk

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Rehman Hakeem

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Mirza, M.B., Syed, F.Q., Khan, F., Elkady, A.I., Al-Attar, A.M., Hakeem, K.R. (2019). Ajwa Dates: A Highly Nutritive Fruit with the Impending Therapeutic Application. In: Ozturk, M., Hakeem, K. (eds) Plant and Human Health, Volume 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04408-4_10

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