title: Chemical characterisation and the anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antibacterial properties of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Date fruit, Phoenix dactylifera L. has traditionally been used as a medicine in many cultures for the treatment of a range of ailments such as stomach and intestinal disorders, fever, oedema, bronchitis and wound healing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present review aims to summarise the traditional use and application of P. dactylifera date fruit in different ethnomedical systems, additionally the botany and phytochemistry are identified. Critical evaluation of in vitro and in vitro studies examining date fruit in relation to anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antimicrobial activities are outlined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethnomedical use of P. dactylifera in the treatment of inflammatory disease has been previously identified and reported. Furthermore, date fruit and date fruit co-products such as date syrup are rich sources of polyphenols, anthocyanins, sterols and carotenoids. In vitro studies have demonstrated that date fruit exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activity. The recent interest in the identification of the numerous health benefits of dates using in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed that date fruit and date syrup have beneficial health effects that can be attributed to the presence of natural bioactive compounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Date fruit and date syrup have therapeutic properties, which have the potential to be beneficial to health. However, more investigations are needed to quantify and validate these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare and Food, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, CF5 2YB Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taleb
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, CF5 2YB Wales, UK. Electronic address: smaddocks@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Maddocks
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, CF5 2YB Wales, UK.
authors.forename: R Keith
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare and Food, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, CF5 2YB Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Ara D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kanekanian
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D065749:Phoeniceae / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Date fruit; Phoenix dactylifera; Polyphenols