Effect of in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of Phoenix loureirii on polyphenolics, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities

• Phoenix loureirii is a potent agent to prevent the oxidative stress related disorders.
• Peduncle and fruit is well-endowed with dietary phenolic compounds.
• Dietary antioxidants are easily bioaccessible in the intestine.
• Nutraceuticals from this plant can be used as a food supplement in the human diet.

Phoenix loureirii is a dwarf date palm belongs to the family Arecaceae. Regular consumption of peduncle and fruit of this plant helps to improve our health system. The present study aims to investigate the stability of polyphenolics, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities of peduncle and fruit by in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion method. The fruit methanol extract showed higher total phenolic (46.17 g GAE/100 g extract), flavonoid (79.25 g RE/100 g extract) and pro-anthocyanidin (0.24 g CE/100 g extract) contents than peduncle. In vitro digestion method proved that most of the polyphenolic compounds (gallic acid, catechin, rutin and quercetin) are easily bioaccessible in the fruit than peduncle. The stability of antioxidants (DPPH, ABTS+, phosphomolybdenum and FRAP) and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were found maximum after gastric digestion than pancreatic digestion. In conclusion, polyphenolic compounds are not completely degraded and made easily accessible to exert their biological effects in the gastro-intestinal tract.