Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 3(2): 173-176, 2008 2008, INSInet Publication

Corresponding Author: Debmalya Barh, Center for IP and TK, IIOAB, Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, Wb721172, India.Email: b.debmalya@gmail.com Tel: +91-9449550032

173

Comparative Nutritive Values of Palm Saps Before and after Their PartialFermentation and Effective Use of Wild Date (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.)

Sap in Treatment of Anemia

Debmalya Barh and B.C. Mazumdar1 2

Center for IP and TK, IIOAB, Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, WB, India.1

Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Science, Calcutta University, 2

35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700 019. India.

Abstract: Palmyra (Borassus flabellifer L.), Wild date (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.) and Coconut(Cocos nucifera L.) sap were analyzed before and after 24 hrs partial natural fermentation. All these threespecies of palm saps showed high nutritive values. Total sugars, Ca Fe, Zn, Cu, P, niacin were highestin fresh Date sap followed by male Palmyra which was richest in vitamin-A and Coconut was richest inNa and K content. Thiamin, riboflavin and niacin showed dramatic increase in fermented Date and malePalmyra sap with no significant change in micronutrients. Here we first time demonstrated that balancedadministration of fresh and fermented wild date sap significantly improve condition of hemoglobindeficient male anemic patients.

Keywords: Anemia, Date palm, Nutritive value, Palm saps.

INTRODUCTION

Palmyra (Borassus flabellifer L.) and Wild date(Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.) grown in arid regions andCoconut (Cocos nucifera L.) grown in coastal Indiaholds a prominent importance in Indian economy .[1 ,2]

While Coconut palm is important for coir and oilproduction, Palmyra and wild date are important forgaggery and for local consumption of fermented[3]

products (Toddy, Nira, alcohol and vinegar) .[2 ,4 ,5 ,6 ,7]

Coconut is extensively used for production of Toddy[8 ,9]

in southern parts of India. Here we demonstrated thenutritive values of these three palm saps (both freshand partial fermented) and probably the first comereport on use of Date sap in treatment of anemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All experimental trees were about 15 to 20 yrs oldand first time used for tapping of sap. Eight plants ofeach of these three species were selected from ruralparts of Purba Medinipur District of West Bengal.Fresh sap exudation was collected at morning between4 to 6 am from inflorescence of Borassus flavbeliferand Cocos nucifera and from phloem cutting ofPhoenix sylvestris in a sterilized 250 ml conical[10]

flask. Collected sap were brought to laboratory inaseptic, sterile and air tight thermos and then filteredwith Watman filter paper. Analysis was performedwithin two hrs for fresh sap and after 24 hrs fermentedsap. The estimation of different components were

determined by volumetric and colorimetric methods[11]

and by standard conventional methods of analyticalchemistry. The pH of the extracts were measured bypH meter. Elementary compositions were determinedby procedures of Ecrement and Bruelli and by[12]

atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Sodium andPotassium was determined by flame photometricmethod and Phosphorus was measured by colorimetricmethod . Vitamin B complex content was determined[13]

according to Schiaffino et. al. . Total proteins were[14]

estimated by Lowry method using serum albumin as[15]

standard. Total sugars were measured by the method ofDubios et. al. . Vitamin A was assayed with a[16]

modified method of Strohocker and Henning .[1 7 ]

Ethanol estimation was done by slightly modifiedmethod of Davis and Chace . The bottles containing[18]

the sap were kept loosely tight for 24 hrs to allownatural fermentation in a chamber at 25C. After 24hrs the same parameters were estimated and theaverage results of all replication are presented inTable 1.

To study the effect of the Date sap on maleanemic subjects, a clinical study was conducted withhemoglobin deficient male anemic patients of agegroup between 21 and 31 and weights were between43 kg to 63 kg. The average values of hemoglobin,vitamin-B12, RBC count and reticulocyte count ofeight patients in each group before and after 20, 45,and 60 days of sap administration were given in Table2. All patients were given it general iron rich diet. Tocompare the effectiveness of sap component especially

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Table 1: 100ml. Sap contents before and after fermentation: (before/after)PARAM ETERS PLANT SPECIES

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Borassas flabllifer --------------------------------------------------- Cocos nucifera Phoenix sylvestrysFemale Male

1. PH 7.30/5.90 7.20/6.00 7.40/5.20 7.20/5.10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Total Sugars(g) 11.60/8.20 13.20/8.80 9.30/4.50 13.80/7.90----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Total Proteins (mg) 15.30/8.20 19.70/8.30 13.30/7.30 14.80/9.80----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Total lipids(g) 0.04/0.01 0.08/0.03 0.03/0.01 0.05/0.02----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Calcium (mg) 1.07/0.72 1.12/0.91 1.62/0.85 1.27/0.65----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6. M agnesium (mg) 5.12/5.10 5.61/5.0 2.15/1.95 3.03/2.90----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7. Iron (mg) 1.03/1.00 1.50/1.15 1.20/1.01 3.26/3.20----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8. Sodium (mg) 5.3 7/3.72 5.21/3.97 6.95/4.82 4.28/4.02----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9. Potassium (mg) 1.67/1.02 1.91/1.31 3.16/2.24 2.03/2.00----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10. Cu (mg) 0.04/0.03 0.06/0.04 0.03/0.02 0.12/0.12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11. Zinc(mg) 0.07/0.06 0.04/0.04 0.03/0.03 1.02/1.00----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12. P (mg) 1.71/1.12 1.85/1.20 1.55/1.07 2.38/1.46----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13. Niacin(mg) 0.41/0.63 0.48/1.06 0.02/0.03 1.03/1.92----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14. Thiamin (mg) 0.04/0.12 0.06/0.32 0.02/0.05 0.06/0.57----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15. Riboflavin(mg) 0.01/0.03 0.04/0.12 0.03/0.04 0.07/0.31----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16. Ascorbic acid (mg) 3.05/2.65 4.95/3.56 2.93/2.02 11.03/10.00----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17. Vitam in A (IU) 62.0/56.0 74.0/68.0 43.0/37.0 68.0/62.0----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18. Ethanol (%) V/V 0.0/2.10 0.0/2.80 0.0/3.40 0.0/2.50

vitamin-B complex and iron, we divided patients intothree groups where each of the groups consists of 8patients.

Group I: Iron rich diet + SAP + no vitamin B complexGroup II: Iron rich diet + SAP+ Cobadex (1 per day)+Globac-Z (2 tea spoons)Group III: Iron rich diet + NO SAP + Cobadex (1 perday) + Globac-Z (2 tea spoons)

Group IV was control with 8 patients those wereonly on iron rich diet. Patients were given a 250 ml.fresh sap at morning and 200 ml. partial fermented sapat evening for 60 days except patient groups III andIV. Hemoglobin, vitamin-B12, RBC count, andreticulocyte count were performed after 20, 45 and 60days interval. Estimation of serum hemoglobin andvitamin-B12 were done respectively by Cyanomithhemoglobinometey and Chemiluminescence assay, RBCand reticulocyte count were done by standardlaboratory method. Parameters are represented inTable-2.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results:Composition of Fresh Sap: Fresh Date sap containshighest total sugars (13.80g/100ml) followed byPalmyra male that also contains highest amount oftotal proteins (19.70mg/100ml.) followed by femalePalmyra and Date (14.80mg/100ml). Mg content washigh in both male and female Palmyra than that ofDate and Coconut. While Fe (3.26 mg/100ml), Zn, Cu,P were highest in Date, Coconut contains highestamount of Na (6.95mg/100ml), and K (3.16 mg/100ml)followed by Date and Palmyra. Among these foursaps under study, fresh Date sap contains highestamount of niacin (1.03 mg/100ml) followed by malePalmyra (0.48 mg/100ml) and significantly high levelof vitamin-C (11.03 mg/100ml). Male Palmyrashowed highest vitamin-A (74.0 IU/100ml) than thatof Date sap (68.0 IU/100ml). The fermentation capacityin term of alcohol production was highest inCoconut sap.

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Table 2: M ean values of different parameters before and after 60 days treatment, each group consists of 8 patients.Anemia patient groups Hemoglobin Vit-B12 RBC count Reticulocyte Count

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Normal range 13.8 -17.2 gm/dl 160-810 pg/ml 4.5-6.5x 10 /l 1-2%0

Group-I Initial: 8.5 220 2.8 3.5Age: 27, wt: 48 kg, 20 days: 9.1 280 3.2 2.9BP: 120/80, Iron rich 45 days: 10.3 330 3.8 2.0diet + Sap. 60 days: 12.2 400 4.2 1.5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group-II Initial: 8.6 250 2.9 3.5Age: 28, wt: 52 kg, 20 days: 9.4 320 3.2 2.7BP: 120/80, Iron rich 45 days: 10.6 380 3.9 2.0diet + SAP+ Cobadex 60 days: 13.0 460 4.4 1.3+ Globac-Z. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group-III Initial: 8.5 225 2.7 3.6Age: 27, wt: 50 kg, 20 days: 9.0 260 2.9 2.9BP: 120/80, Iron rich 45 days: 9.7 310 3.4 2.1diet + SAP+ Cobadex 60 days: 11.0 350 3.9 1.5+ Globac-Z, NO sap.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group-IV Initial: 9.2 230 3.0 3.1Age: 25, wt: 47 kg, 20 days: 9.6 140 3.2 2.8BP: 120/80, Only 45 days: 10.1 260 3.5 2.4iron rich diet. 60 days: 10.6 275 3.8 1.7

Composition of Fermented Sap: A significantdecrease in sugar, pH, Ca, P, vitamin-C content wasobserved in all saps with production of 2.1 to 3.4%alcohol after 24 hrs natural fermentation, but the Mg,Fe, Na, K, Cu content remained unchanged. Whilethiamin and riboflavin increased respectively 9 and 5fold in fermented Date and male Palmyra sap, niacinshowed around 2 fold increase in all saps. Ascorbicacid and vitaminA content though decreased ingene ra l , fe rmen ted D a te c o n ta ined h ighe s t(10mg/100ml) vitamin-C followed by male Palmyra(3.56mg/100ml). Palmyra also contains highest vitamin-A (68.01IU) followed by Date sap (62.0 IU). Coconutsap produced highest amount of alcohol (3.4%) amongthese four saps. The three months preserved saps at4C showed a dramatic result. Palmyra and Date sapwere with typical odor of bear and both were clear innature with 6% to 10% alcohol content, though werecontaminated.

Clinical Study: After finding the significant amount ofSugars, Fe, Ca, Zn, P and vitamin-C in fresh andvitamin-B complex in fermented Date sap withunchanged micronutrients, was conducted a clinical trialwith male anemic patients after taking their priorconcern. A promising result was obtained. Comparingpatient groups I and IV, it was observed that 60 dayssap administration eventually increased hemoglobin,vitamin-B12, RBC count and brought down reticulocytecount to normal range in all anemic patients.Comparing group I and III, it was evident that, alonesap was more effective to increase serum hemoglobin,Vitamen-B 12, RBC count than the Cobadex + Globac-

Z. Considering group I, II and III it was observed thatsap intake along with Cobadex and Globac-Z hadsynergetic effect on improvement of all parameters thanthat of sap or Cobadex + Globac-Z alone.

Discussions: Sugars from Phoenix sylvestris (Datepalm of India) and Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra orToddy palm) of Indonesia and India are more[19]

nutritious than cane sugar . Fresh sap of Borassus[20 ,21]

flabellife is good source of vitamin-B complex ,[21]

ascorbic acid and sugar has medicinal values .[21] [20]

Cocos nucifera sap is used to cure nephritis andbladder infections in Madagascar . Fresh sap of[23]

Phoenix sylvestris is highly rich in vitamin-C . Fruits[10]

of Phoenix dactylifera are used as a detersive andastringent in intestinal troubles, treatment for sorethroat, colds, bronchial catarrh, to relieve fever,cystisis, gonorrhea, edema, liver and abdominal troublesand to counteract alcohol intoxication . Volatile[24]

substances from fresh and fermented Coconut sap hadbeen recently characterized . We analyzed and[25]

reported here both fresh and partial fermented sap ofBorassus flabellifer, Phoenix sylvestris, and Cocosnucifera. All saps have high nutritive value in term ofmicronutrients and vitamins. Fresh and fermented Datesaps were especially rich in respectively iron andvitamin-B complex. Balanced administration of freshand fermented Date sap alone can be used for thetreatment of hemoglobin deficient anemic patients andto improve vitamin-B12 level. The sap along withvitamin-B complex + iron tonic would improvecondition of the patients better than either the sap orvitamin-B complex + iron tonic.

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