Elma S. N., Badarusham K., Rosli D., Salvamani S., Hassan M. S., Hashim R., 2018, Solvents Extraction Effects on Bioactive Compounds of Ajwa Date (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Flesh using Mixture Design, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 63, 817-822.
Date fruits (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) are considered as an ideal food because it consists of high nutrients and provide beneficial effect to human health. Bioactive compounds in Ajwa dates have different polarities thus require different polarities of solvents for the extraction. In this study, we investigated the effects of selective extracting solvents and their combination on extraction of bioactive compounds in Ajwa flesh using mixture design. Methanol, chloroform and hexane were used in the design. Identification of bioactive compounds using GCMS shows Ajwa date flesh contain antioxidants, antifungal, anticholesterol, antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory. Most bioactive compounds were identified in methanolic extract (D1) except ß- Sitosterol and Vitamin E were identified in hexane extract (D3). Meanwhile, Longifolenaldehyde and Nonadecyl pentafluoropropionate were identified in hexane layer (D5H) from the combination of methanol: hexane (1:1).
