IBTIKAR USIM | DISEMBER 2018

Dates and goat milk has good iron bioavailability and is beneficial for erythropoiesis and energy metabolism in iron deficiency state. Iron bioavailability in Mariami and Ajwa dates was noted to be as good as iron tablet which is the standard treatment for anaemia. Commercial goat milk have a poor iron bioavailability. Milk obtained from goats that was fed with Ajwa dates pit showed a significant increased in iron bioavailability and improved when combined with Mariami dates. Iron deficient rats and human subjects treated with dates and goat milk (singly or in combination) showed improvement in erythropiesis evidenced by normalized red blood cell indices (heamoglobin, packed cell volume, reticulocyte) and iron store (serum iron, feritin). Iron deficient-induced rats was noted to have upregulated DMT1, TfR and Cytb genes and downregulation of genes for ferritin and hepcidin (proteins involved in iron absorption). The anthelmintic effect of both date and goat’s milk were studied in vitro and in vivo. Using larval and adult canine hookworms sourced from cultured dog faeces and culled dogs, we were able to demonstrate that date and goat’s milk significantly reduced worm motility resulting in death of worms in vitro. Aqueous extract and whole goats’ milk were most effective compared to other extracts and other milk components. Electron microscopy revealed erosive cuticular damage often leading to bursting of worm internal content different from the exfoliative changes seen in conventional anthelmintic like albendazole. Polyphenol based compound was confirmed to mediate anthelmintic effect in date while synergy between polyphenols, milk enzymes and lactoferrin may have mediated the anthelmintic .. mechanism in goat’s milk. Goat’s milk but not date was relatively effective in affecting hookworm fecundity in vivo. In vitro cell culture experiments indicated the presence of indirect athelmintic effect in both goats’ milk and dates. In vivo experiment in humans was also only relatively effective. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the significant anthelmintic effects of both date and goat’s milk in vitro but only relatively in vivo. The main mechanisms by which these foods exert their anthelmintic effects were also identified. The date pits were used as goat feed (as performed by the Prophet) and the quality and quantity of goats’ milk produced were evaluated. The milk production increased 59.2% and 28.4% with the supplementation of Ajwa (20g) and Piarom (30g) dates, respectively. The gene expression analysis to determine the quality of milk produced is on-going. Profiling of metabolites in human urine after the consumption of Ajwa dates revealed its ability to reduce stress since the level of biomarkers of depressive disorder; alanine, hippurate and citrate have been significantly decreased. Behavioural, cognitive, blood and electrophysiology data analysis in human showed that date and goat milk supplementation has the potential to improve stress-induced changes in regard to stress, mood, cognition and physiological stress markers. There was also no adverse effect showed on the subjects’ renal profile and coronary risk markers after 6 weeks of date fruits supplementation.