*2.1.1.2 Diabetes*

Low glycemic index (GI) diets have been proven to be effective in the treatment of diabetes. Dates can be classed as a low GI superfood because of their high fructose content, which is sweeter and less diabetogenic than glucose [23]. *P. dactylifera* fruit based-diets have alleviated hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [24].

#### **Figure 1.**

*Chemical structure of principal bioactive components found in date palm (*Phoenix dactylifera *L.) fruits.*

A previous study has revealed significant anti-hyperglycemic effects of dates fruits in diabetes management of hyperglycemic Sprague-Dawley rats [25] and diosmetin glycosides isolated from the epicarp of date fruits have significantly alleviated the biochemical profile of alloxan diabetic male rats [26].
