Date palm pits are highly available and inexpensive palm date by‐products, representing a valuable source of natural antioxidants, particularly phenolic compounds. Date palm pit extract (DPPE) was prepared from these waste products and characterized for its phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity. Profiling DPPE by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) showed the presence of dimers and trimers of (epi)catechin as the main constituents. Alginate‐based films with four increasing concentrations of DPPE (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% w/w) were prepared by the casting method. DPPE incorporation reduced solubility values of alginate films by 37%–64% and their surface wettability by 72%–111%. The incorporation of 10% DPPE improved water vapor barrier properties and increased tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (%E) of alginate films by more than 23%, 50%, and 45%, respectively. The film containing 40% DPPE showed the lowest loss of phenolic content (32%), DPPH (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity (38%), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (30%) after storage for 3 months.

The main objective of this research was to study the biological characteristics in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Ajuga iva and determine the best analytical and extraction methods applicable to this specie and studied compounds. A short screening of its nutritional value in terms of chemical composition is also included. A. iva leaves were analyzed for crude protein (CP), cell wall [neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL)], minerals, fatty acids, essential oils, and phenolic compounds. Mature aerial parts of A. iva were randomly collected during the Spring season from Mograne-Zaghouan, Tunisia. Leaves of A. iva contained 13.4 ± 0.4% CP, 26.3 ± 0.35% NDF, 20.2 ± 0.42% ADF, and 5.13 ± 0.21% ADL. Mineral content (13.0 ± 0.45%) was mainly composed of potassium (4.5% g DM) and magnesium (4.25% DM). Leaves of A. iva had linolenic (26.29 ± 0.760%) and linoleic (37.66 ± 2.35%) acids as the main components of the acid profile. Thymol was found to be the most dominant (23.43%) essential oil, followed by 4-vinylguaiacol (14.27%) and linalool (13.66%). HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis pointed out the presence of phytoecdysteroids. Phenolic acids and flavonoids, such as glycosylated derivatives of naringenin, eriodyctiol, and apigenin, were detected in the methanol extract of A. iva leaves. Our results underline the importance of choosing proper extraction methods and solvents to extract and characterize the described compounds profile of A. iva leaves. Results also show A. iva leaves as a potential source of functional ingredients with beneficial health-promoting properties. Overall, leaves of A. iva have low biological activities (antioxidant and antimicrobial activities) with a chemical composition suitable as a feed for ruminants in rangeland pasture. It also has low-grade antibacterial or medicinal characteristics when fed to ruminants.

This study aims to evaluate the interspecific variation in polyphenolic profiles and biological activities of acorn flours from three native Tunisian Quercus L. species (Q. ilex L., Q. suber L., and Q. canariensis Willd.). Q. canariensis extracts are the richest in total phenolic, flavonoid and hydrolysable tannin contents. Six phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD analysis. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant compound in Q. canariensis and Q. ilex acorns. Whereas in Q. suber, caffeic acid was the main component and, along with trans-ferulic acid, was exclusive to this species. Hyperoside was notably identified in Q. canariensis. The UHPLC-DAD-MS analysis of hydrolysable tannins revealed twelve compounds. Acorns of Q. canariensis and Q. suber were dominated by ellagitannins, whereas Q. ilex contained mainly gallotannins. To our knowledge, these compounds are identified for the first time in Tunisian acorns. Q. canariensis exhibited the strongest antioxidant potential with DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, as well as the highest antibiofilm and anti-α-amylase activities. All extracts inhibited ATCC pathogenic bacterial strains while largely sparing the beneficial probiotic Limosilactobacillus fermentum. This result indicates a selective antibacterial effect not previously reported for Quercus acorns. Q. canariensis may represent a potential source of functional food ingredient, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, which remains to be confirmed through in vivo investigations.