Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 21, Issue 8, 2025

Date seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are commonly discarded as waste despite their rich nutritional and medicinal potential. These seeds are an abundant source of essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins, fats, and vital minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and iron. Moreover, date seeds contain bioactive compounds like phenolics and flavonoids, which contribute to their strong antioxidant properties. Recent research has shed light on their diverse pharmacological activities, which include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects.

The objective of this review is to explore the comprehensive nutritional and medicinal profile of date seeds, assess their bioactive compounds, and evaluate their therapeutic potential. Specifically, this study aims to highlight the possible applications of date seeds in food products, functional foods, and therapeutic formulations.

This review is based on an analysis of existing literature and scientific studies related to the composition, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological effects of date seeds. Various research papers, including experimental studies and clinical trials, were examined to assess the nutritional value and therapeutic benefits of date seeds.

The findings indicate that date seeds possess a wealth of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, and other antioxidants that contribute to their ability to combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, date seeds exhibit significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects. These seeds have been found to promote gut health, regulate blood sugar levels, and reduce inflammation, supporting their potential use in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Additionally, their antioxidant properties may help prevent degenerative diseases like cardiovascular disorders and diabetes.

Date seeds hold significant promise as a sustainable and valuable ingredient for both food products and therapeutic applications. Their rich nutritional profile and array of bioactive compounds suggest that they could play a pivotal role in promoting health and wellness. Incorporating date seeds into functional foods could contribute to dietary diversification, while their therapeutic benefits offer potential solutions for managing chronic diseases. Further research is needed to fully understand their biological activities and optimize their use in health-related applications.

Herbal therapies and application of medicinal plants have been applied for the prevention and treatment of skin conditions for decades in different parts of the world, especially in China. The most common groups for which medicinal herbs and plants are used are acne, psoriasis, dermatitis and wart.

This review aims to promote the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine for different skin diseases by considering the importance of medicinal plants according to their medicinal properties, lastly, future challenges and research directions are discussed. The most important chemical components for treatment of acne, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, wart, and hives are lupeol, artemetin, hydroquinone, hypericin, epicatechin, curcumin, schizandrin, lobelanidine, celacinnine, glycyrrhizin, licoflavanone, isoliquiritigenin, glabridin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhisoflavone, cyanidin, baicalin, cupressuflavone, paeonol, hinokiflavone, resveratrol, silibinin. Some of the most important medicinal plants used for wound healing are Acacia mellifera Benth., Acacia erioloba Edgew, Aloe arborescens Mill., Capparis tomentosa Lam., Barleria rigida Spreng., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Bridelia micrantha Baill., Datura stamonium L., Melianthus major L., Ficus natalensis Hochst., and Mentha longifolia L.

Traditional Chinese medicinal plants which have been used in treatment of acne are Scutellaria baicalensis, Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn, Arctium lappa, Polygonum cuspidatum, Epimedium brevicornum, Rosa damascene, Ilex paraguariensis, Glycyrrhiza spp., and Radix angelicae formosanae, while some prescriptions such as Sanhuang anti-itching lotion, Chushi decoction, Xiaofeng power, Xiao Feng Dan formular and Jianpi Chushi decoction should be considered for treatment of eczema. The extract of Helianthus annuus extract, Terminalia chebula extract, Olea europaea leaf extract, Spirodela polyrhiza extract, and Juniperus rigida fruit are also important for the treatment of eczema.

The authorization and validations only indicate the significance and importance of traditional Chinese medicine in treating skin diseases, but also clarify its uniqueness and importance.

Thai Coconut Pancake (Khanom Ba-bin) is a traditional Thai dessert made from glutinous rice flour, coconut, and sugar. It is gaining popularity, especially as a street food in night markets. However, its nutritional value is limited due to its main ingredients.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate Thai Coconut Pancake using various Thai pigmented rice flours as partial substitutes for white glutinous rice flour to enhance its nutritional value and antioxidant properties and determine consumer acceptance through sensory evaluation.

Four pigmented rice varieties (Sung Yod, Riceberry, Hom Nil, and black glutinous rice) were used to replace white glutinous rice flour at 10%, 20%, and 30% levels. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities (DPPH and ABTS assays) of the modified Thai Coconut Pancake samples were determined and compared. Sensory evaluation was conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale to assess consumer acceptance.

Incorporating pigmented rice flours significantly increased TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities compared to the control (100% white glutinous rice flour). Black glutinous rice flour substitution at 30% yielded the highest TPC (65.39 ± 0.32 μg GAE/g dw) and TFC (63.09 ± 0.56 μg QE/g dw). Hom Nil rice flour at 30% substitution exhibited the highest antioxidant activities in both DPPH (31.65 ± 0.43% inhibition) and ABTS (60.83 ± 0.45% inhibition) assays. A clear dose-response relationship was observed between substitution levels and the content in terms of bioactive compounds. Sensory evaluation revealed that a 20% substitution level was optimal, showing no significant differences in overall acceptability compared to the control, indicating the potential for product development.

This study demonstrates the potential of using Thai pigmented rice flours to enhance the nutritional value and antioxidant properties of traditional Thai desserts, with a 20% substitution level providing optimal balance between nutritional enhancement and sensory acceptance, offering a promising approach to developing healthier food products while preserving cultural authenticity.

In Chhattisgarh, Cissus quadrangularis (Family: Vitaceae) and Ginger officinalis (Family: Zingiberaceae) are frequently used as cooking items and in the native healthcare system for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Plants are a great option when it comes to identifying novel products with therapeutic value for drug development.

The current study was to prepare and assess transdermal patches containing extracts of Harbhanga (Cissus quadrangularis) and Ginger officinalis. The aqueous method was used to produce Cissus quadrangularis and ginger officinalis extracts.

Utilising various concentrations of polyvinylpyrrolidone, the transdermal patch was created with the solvent evaporation method. Diethyl phthalate was utilised to increase penetration and act as a plasticizer. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method.

Both extracts were rich sources of calcium, carotene, glycoside, and alkaloids and can be used as a nutritional food. Transdermal patch (T-9) showed good characteristics, such as moisture uptake, folding endurance, and pH. Hence, this formulation was chosen to determine drug content, in vitro drug release, and antimicrobial activity. The patch ranged in thickness from 1.025 + 0.214 to 1.201 + 0.214. The weight homogeneity was good and within range, and the folding endurance was discovered to be consistent. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar plate method with gram-positive and gram-negative strains.

The results showed that the transdermal patch prepared with well-diffusion and the pour-plate technique was the best for the TP-9 transdermal patch. The evaluations used physiochemical parameters, such as moisture content, thickness, weight consistency, and physical appearance.

Over the last decade, KD has gained popularity due to its positive health effects. For many years, research has associated the intake of saturated fats with the increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular illness. Recent research has found favorable positive effects of saturated fat consumption, stimulating this investigation into the community's adoption of KD.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, using an online survey disseminated through social media platforms from 1 February to 30 April 2023. Data was collected via Google Forms, analyzed using Microsoft Excel Version 2021, and then exported into SPSS, version 23.0.

Out of 1048 participants, 307 (29.29%) of the respondents reported following the KD. About half of the participants (50.81%) followed it to reduce weight, based on success stories of friends (43.64%) and utilizing social media as information. 31.92% of the participants experienced better physical health, and 76.87% incorporated regular exercise while following a ketogenic diet. It was found to be prevalent among participants in the age category of 31- 40 years. Two-thirds of the participants following the keto diet were university graduates; 44% were obese, one-fifth were diabetic, and one-fifth were hypertensive. However, very few (12.07%) consulted nutritionists to prepare meals.

Based on the present results, it is suggested that the keto diet is well adapted to the community of the Eastern province. Only one-fourth of the participants followed the keto diet under medical guidance, highlighting the importance of promoting professional guidance.

The habitual consumption of caffeine and soda drinks is very high among the global population and has increased substantially in Pakistan in the last few decades.

The effect of caffeine and soda drink consumption on the levels of various hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP) and serum electrolytes (calcium and phosphorus) was estimated in the healthy population of Punjab.

The cross-sectional analysis included 174 healthy caffeine and soda drink consumers, whose caffeine and soda consumption were determined using a food-frequency questionnaire. The serum levels of electrolytes (calcium and phosphorus) and hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) were assessed using kits. Regression analyses were performed to establish the effect of caffeine and sodas on serum parameters.

Serum phosphorus (3.24 mg/dl ± 1.193) and ALP (198.5 U/L ± 67.3) levels decreased with increased caffeine consumption, whereas higher soda intake elevated serum phosphorus (3.26 mg/dL ± 1.149) and ALP (198.9 U/L ± 67.7) levels. Serum calcium, AST and ALT activities were unaffected by the increased consumption of caffeine and sodas. However, the combined intake of soda and caffeine consumption showed a positive correlation (p<0.039) with the serum ALP activity.

The findings of the current study suggest that increased caffeine and soda consumption may impact metabolic pathways and may result in altered serum electrolytes or hepatic enzymes. However, cohort or longitudinal studies with large sample populations must be carried out for more precise conclusion that can be projected to dietary guidelines and can be used as a benchmark for public health policy.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a significant medicinal herb, well-known for its therapeutic properties as well as its role as a spice, flavoring agent, and enhancer of taste. Its majority of medicinal values are due to the presence of a number of S-containing compounds.

This short communication aimed to explore briefly the anticancer properties of garlic.

Based on the literature search, several recent research works were examined to assess and explore the potential of garlic as an anticancer agent.

It was observed that garlic and its constituents have noteworthy potential in the possible treatment of different types of cancer like breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the digestive system, prostate cancer, etc.

This short communication explores the anticancer potential of garlic and advocates for the inclusion of garlic, or its various forms, as an essential part of daily diet.