cosmetics Review Date Fruit and Seed in Nutricosmetics Khlood Lafi Alharbi 1,†, Jegadeesh Raman 2,† and Hyun-Jae Shin 1,2,* 1 Department of Beauty and Cosmetology, Graduate School of Industrial Technology Startup, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; [email protected] 2 Department of Biochemical and Polymer Engineering, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] † Contributed equally. Abstract: Many recent studies in the field of cosmetics have focused on organically sourced sub- stances. Products made from organic materials are safe, high quality, cruelty-free, and more effective than those made from synthetic materials. Many organic compounds are known to be physiologically active in humans and have an extended storage capacity and long-lasting environmental effects. Agro-industrial waste has recently increased substantially, and the disposal of date palm waste, often performed in primitive ways such as burning, is harmful to the environment. Fruit processing industries generate over 10% of the total date seed waste daily, which could be converted into useful food products. Date fruit and seed are rich in sugar, vitamins, fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that significantly promote human and animal health. This waste is rich in bioactive compounds and essential oils used in many kinds of food, medicine, and cosmetics. Most active cosmetic ingredients come from natural sources such as fruit, fish, and dairy, and recent research shows that date extract and seed oil help to reduce melanin, eczema, acne, and dry patches, while increasing skin moisture and elasticity. This review details the bioactive compounds and nutraceutical properties of date fruit and seed, and their use as cosmetic ingredients. Citation: Alharbi, K.L.; Raman, J.; Shin, H.-J. Date Fruit and Seed in Keywords: date palm; natural by-products; date fruit; date seed; nutricosmetic Nutricosmetics. Cosmetics 2021, 8, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/ cosmetics8030059 1. Introduction Academic Editor: Christophe Hano The palm tree is a basic food source in the Arabian Peninsula and has been recognized Received: 25 May 2021 as a significant economic crop for the last 7000 years [1]. Globally, 2000 varieties have been Accepted: 12 June 2021 cultivated, and 10% of them have been described according to the fruit characteristics [2]. Published: 24 June 2021 Saudi Arabia is a major producer of date palm. Exports registered a 27% rise in the middle of 2019 [3], and the demand and production rate have been increasing rapidly. Date fruits Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral are affordable and rich in fiber and energy and are considered as a staple food along with with regard to jurisdictional claims in grains, potatoes, and rice. The developmental stages of dates have internationally adopted published maps and institutional affil- Arabic names according to their stages of maturity, such as Hababauk, Kimry, Khalal, iations. Rutab, and Tamar (Table1). The stage of maturity, yield, physical condition, flavor, texture, and nutritive value is affected by agricultural practices and climatic conditions. Moreover, date seeds, leaves, pollen, fruits, and trunks are used to treat a variety of ailments [4]. The fruit comprises a fleshy pericarp and one seed, which constitutes 10–15% of its weight [5]. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Date seeds can stay dormant for many years and grow when favorable circumstances Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. resume [6]. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). Cosmetics 2021, 8, 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics8030059 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cosmetics Cosmetics 2021, 8, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 18 Cosmetics 2021, 8, 59 2 of 18 TableTable 1. GrowthGrowth stages stages of of Phoenix dactylifera (Medjool)(Medjool) Al Al-hajjaj-hajjaj and Ayad, 2018 [[7]7].. ArabicArabic Name Name Stages (Weeks) Stages (Weeks)Fruit Maturity Fruit Maturity Characters Characters Hababauk 1 to 5 The first stage of development after pollination. Hababauk 1 to 5 The first stage of development after pollination. Fruit is small, green, and the moisture content is 85%. The weight and Kimry 6 to 16 Fruit is small, green, and the moisture content is 85%. The Kimry 6 to 16 the concentrationweight of tannins and the is concentration high. of tannins is high. Fruit reaches maximum weight, starts to become yellow or red, and Khalal 17 to 20 Fruit reaches maximum weight, starts to become yellow or red, Khalal 17 to 20 becomes rich inand sucrose. becomes rich in sucrose. Water content is gradually reduced, and the fruit becomes soft, sweet, Water content is gradually reduced, and the fruit becomes soft, RutabRutab 21 to 24 21 to 24and dark. Sucrosesweet, is converted and dark. Sucrose into reduced is converted sugars, into and reduced the pro sugars,tein, and ash, and fat contentthe protein, is decreased. ash, and fat content is decreased. TamarTamar 25 to 27 25 to 27Final stage of maturity;Final stage the of maturity;fruit is sweet, the fruit dark is sweet, brown dark and brown wavy. and wavy. The date palm, Phoenix roebelenii, is native to southeastern Asia and grows in tropical The date palm, Phoenix roebelenii, is native to southeastern Asia and grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It is the main crop of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the and subtropical regions. It is the main crop of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Middle East, and across Southwest Asia [8]. The total area under date palm cultivation Middle East, and across Southwest Asia [8]. The total area under date palm cultivation across the world is 1,092,104 ha, with a total production of 9,075,446 t [9]. The lead pro- across the world is 1,092,104 ha, with a total production of 9,075,446 t [9]. The lead ducers of date palm are Asia and Africa, with a total production share of 57% and 42.2%, producers of date palm are Asia and Africa, with a total production share of 57% and 42.2%, respectively [9]. The top 10 date-producing countries are illustrated in Figure 1. Saudi respectively [9]. The top 10 date-producing countries are illustrated in Figure1. Saudi Arabia was the second largest date producer from 2018–2019, with a total production of Arabia was the second largest date producer from 2018–2019, with a total production of 1,483,6311,483,631 t t [9]. [9]. The The wi wildld Indian Indian date date palm palm ( (P.P. sylvestris sylvestris),), which which is is e exploitedxploited for the sugar sugar in in itsits sap, sap, resembles resembles P.P. dactylifera ((Ajwa)Ajwa) and and is is cultivated cultivated commercially. commercially. The Ajwa var varietyiety is describeddescribed as as “super “super date” date” and and is is considered considered to to be be highly highly nutritional nutritional and and therapeutic therapeutic [10]. [10]. DatesDates are are an an indispensable indispensable source source of of dietary dietary metals metals and and free free amino acids acids,, and have been usedused to to treat treat chronic chronic illnesses and and di diseasesseases since ancient times [11]. [11]. They They have have also also been foundfound to to reduce reduce high high blood blood pressure pressure and and oxidative oxidative stress, stress, and and have have been been used used to to treat treat diabetes,diabetes, cancer, cancer, and and atherosclerosis, and and to stimulate immunity [12]. [12]. In In addition, addition, they they havehave a a higher higher antioxidant antioxidant activity activity than than culinary culinary fruits fruits [13] [13] and contain several bioactive compoundscompounds,, suchsuch asas coumaric coumaric acids, acids, ferulic ferulic acid, acid, cinnamic cinnamic acid, acid, flavonoids, flavonoids, procyanidins, procya- nidins,phenolic phenolic compounds, compounds, and water-soluble and water vitamins-soluble [vitamins14]. These [14]. compounds These compounds can strengthen can strengthenbones, promote bones, uterine promote contractions uterine contractions in pregnant in women pregnant during women childbirth, during and chi preventldbirth, andanemia prevent [15]. anemia Additionally, [15]. Additionally, Ajwa and other Ajwa date and varieties other date can preventvarieties cancer, can pr cardiacevent cancer, arrest, cardiacand neuron arrest, damage, and neuron and can damage also increase, and can fertility also increase [5,16]. fertility [5,16]. Figure 1. Top 10 date-producing countries (FAOSTAT, 2018 and 2019). Figure 1. Top 10 date-producing countries (FAOSTAT, 2018 and 2019). Cosmetics 2021, 8, 59 3 of 18 The cosmetics industry has been one of the fastest growing industries and is flourish- ing globally. Using the inedible extracts of fruits and vegetables, instead of disposing them by burning, prevents a severe threat to the environment [17]. Date seeds are a rich source of bioactive compounds and are important ingredients within the cosmetics industry, also serving as food additives [18]. A recent study showed the importance of recycling date waste and that date pit powder can be used as a cosmetic product (eyeliner), which does not exert toxic effects on the eye [19]. Extraction of waxes from date palm leaves could be carried out to obtain compounds of potential value from the biomass of this waste. This could provide new possibilities for natural wax production. The demand for natural waxes is steadily increasing due to customers’ preferences for green, sustainable, and natural cosmetic products [20]. Date fruits and seeds have been reported to possess antiaging properties and overcome wrinkling of the skin in women. Date waste is believed to contain many essential components that strengthen the hair and skin, prevent early graying of hair, stop wrinkle development, and give the skin a fresh look [21].