Evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial potential, nutrition value and acute toxicity study of Libyan date palm pollen

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) belongs to the Arecaceae family and grows widely in many areas including the Middle East and North Africa. Date palm has nutritional, medicinal, economic and ecological benefits as it could be used as a treatment of various health diseases and disorders for its antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-toxicant, and anti-cancer properties as well as its hepato-protective activities. It is also considered as an enhancer of fertility in both males and females. This research aims to assess the phytochemical screening of the date palm cultivated in Libya, test its antioxidant and antibacterial effects, and perform acute toxicity tests. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were screened using DPPH assay. The results indicated that the water-extract of palm pollen grains showed the best DPPH scavenging activity (IC₅₀=0.0005). The DPPH scavenging activities recorded for date palm pollen grain (DPP) methanol extract were IC₅₀=0.233 mg mL^‑1 and IC₅₀=0.224 mg mL^‑1 at 70 and 45°C, respectively. The methanol extracts of palm pollen grain (at concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg mL^‑1) were tested against 5 different strains of standard bacteria (ATCC) by cup cut method. The result showed no remarkable inhibition of bacterial growth. The phytochemical screening of date palm pollen revealed the presence phytosterols, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, protein, a small amount of saponin, and fats. The proximate nutritional value of palm pollen grains was also analyzed. The results obtained showed that the pollen contained 18.19% moisture, 5.41% ash, 67% crude fiber, 7.32% crude fat, and 27.36% crude protein. The acute toxicity test of methanol extract showed neither mortality among the graded dose groups of animals nor behavioral changes at the highest dose of 5,000 mg kg^‑1.