Investigation of antioxidant and detoxifying capacities of some date cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.) irrigated with sewage water

Abstract

The objective of the study was to compare the effect of irrigation by municipal water (MW) and sewage water (SW) on antioxidant and detoxifying capacities of some commercial Saudi date cultivars, Agwa, Anbr and Safawi (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Higher amounts of phenolic and flavonoid were detected in date_SW compared with date_MW. The levels of accumulation of heavy metals in date_SW were higher than those of date_MW. The phenolic extracts of date_SW exhibited higher antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and the formation of phosphomolybdenum complex tests than those detected in date_MW. In the same manner, the activities of peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and glutathione-S-transferase of date_SW were higher than those exhibited in date_MW. The higher levels of all these examined parameters, induced by sewage wastewater contaminants, may be contribute to protecting date_SW from oxidative and toxicity stresses.