Date palm fruit, seeds and leaves as food and medicine
What it found
Date palm fruit, seeds and leaves contain fiber, minerals and plant compounds that showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in lab and animal studies.
Human evidence is limited.
What they found
Studies in people
Limited human evidence
A small number of human studies reported improvements in allergic rhinitis and changes in inflammatory markers in middle-aged women after consuming date seed. The authors say most evidence comes from lab and animal studies.
Animal and lab studies
Antioxidant activity in lab tests
Fruit and seed extracts showed free radical-scavenging activity in lab tests, varying by cultivar, origin, ripening stage and extraction method. These chemical tests do not necessarily reflect what happens in the body.
Anti-inflammatory effects in animals
Animal studies found that date fruit, seed and pulp extracts reduced swelling in several inflammation models. These effects were linked to changes in inflammatory markers and antioxidant defenses.
Cancer and antimicrobial effects
Lab studies found that date extracts slowed the growth of several cancer cell lines and killed or inhibited various bacteria and viruses. These were done in cells or test tubes, not in people.
Studies in people and animals
Blood sugar in people with diabetes
One human study found that moderate date consumption in people with type 2 diabetes did not significantly change HbA1c, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides or BMI. Animal studies found that seed and leaf extracts lowered blood glucose.
Other findings
Plant compounds present
Date palm fruits contain phenolic acids and flavonoids such as gallic acid, catechin, quercetin and ferulic acid. Date seeds, often thrown away, also contain high levels of these compounds.
What the authors conclude
- They say that most reported biological effects come from lab and animal studies, with limited and inconsistent evidence from people.
- They call for standardized extracts, dose-response and safety studies, and well-designed clinical trials to see whether date palm can become an evidence-based therapeutic or functional food.
- They also suggest exploring date seeds and other byproducts for use in medicine, nutrition and cosmetics to reduce waste.
How it was done
The authors wanted to pull together what is known about the makeup, nutritional value and possible health effects of date palm fruit, seeds and leaves, and to separate early lab findings from results that apply to people.
They searched major databases for studies on date palm published from 2004 onwards, plus older works for historical and botanical context. They included 145 sources and combined the findings on how extracts are made, what nutrients and plant compounds are present, and what health effects have been tested.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the studies were done in cells or animals, so they cannot show what happens in people.
- The human studies are few and varied, so they cannot show cause and effect or confirm long-term benefits.
- The extracts tested differ widely in how they were made, so results cannot be directly compared or used to set a dose.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
- Authors work at
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia; KPJ Healthcare University, Malaysia; Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
The paper
- Title
- Nutraceuticals of Phoenix dactylifera L .: Physicochemistry, Nutritional Value and Therapeutic Potential
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Lani MN, Fazel MF, Razali MR, et al (2026). Nutraceuticals of Phoenix dactylifera L .: Physicochemistry, Nutritional Value and Therapeutic Potential. Drug design, development and therapy. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S583862Free full textPubMed 42011224DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error