Nutritional composition, potential applications, and health benefits of doum palm fruit (Hyphaene thebaica): A review

Abstract

The doum palm fruit (DPF: Hyphaene thebaica ), a traditional crop in arid regions, is an underutilized resource with significant potential for the food and nutraceutical industries. DPF's transition from a local commodity to a global functional ingredient is hindered by fragmented scientific knowledge. This review critically consolidates and synthesizes the current scientific literature on the agronomy, nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, potential food applications, and health benefits of DPF. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of its value and identify the critical research gaps impeding its broader application. The fruit possesses a remarkable nutritional profile, being rich in essential macronutrients (up to 72.64% carbohydrates and 17.93% crude fiber) and minerals, particularly potassium (up to 3.366 g/100g) and calcium (up to 371.20 mg/100g). It is also a potent reservoir of bioactive compounds, including high total phenolic content (up to 561.1 mg/100g) and specific flavonoids like oleuropein (45.41 mg/g) and rosmarinic acid (40.12 mg/g). These constituents underpin their wide-ranging pharmacological properties, such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and hypolipidemic activities. However, a major critical finding is the pronounced inconsistency in reported data across studies, with values spanning multiple orders of magnitude. This severe variability is largely attributed to a lack of standardized methodologies for cultivation, processing, and analysis. This fragmentation represents the most significant barrier to its commercialization and to the clinical validation of its health benefits. Future research must prioritize the establishment of standardized analytical protocols and the execution of rigorous clinical trials. • Doum palm fruit (DPF) has rich nutritional profile and diverse bioactive compounds. • Synthesizes scattered literature on DPF's agronomy, nutrition & health benefits. • Data inconsistency from varied methods hinders DPF's commercialization. • Reviews DPF's potent bioactivity and its wide-ranging applications. • Calls for standard protocols and clinical trials to unlock DPF's potential.