Cardio protective effects of dates

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit is promising and significant source of high nutritional value compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fibers, minerals, and vitamins as well as also enrich by anthocyanins, isoquercetrin, quercetin, quercetrin, procyanidins, apigenin, luteolin, and rutin, respectively. Due to the presence of phytochemicals, date palm causes significant reduction in low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins cholesterol and enhancement in high density lipoprotein They also increase the antioxidant enzymes such as paraoxonase 1 arylesterase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in serum that block free radicals production. Phytochemicals from date fruit lowered the creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase activities and levels of cardiac malondialdehyde. Moreover, phytosterols inhibit cholesterol absorption in small intestine by preventing the attachment of cholesterol with micellar bindings. Besides, these bioactive compounds also inhibit the bio synthesis of cholesterol by restricting gene expression of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. The current review highlight the preventive role of phytochemicals from date fruit against cardiovascular abnormalities via controlling lipid profile, preventing free radicals production, maintaining sodium metabolism and improving cardiac muscles contraction.