Abstract
BACKGROUND: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds are rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Despite their growing use in traditional medicine, their impact on intestinal health remains underexplored. AIM: This study aimed to examine the molecular and histopathological effects of Zuhdi date seed extract on the gastrointestinal tract of infected and healthy female rats. METHODS: One group of 20 rats was infected with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strain EDL933 through nasogastric gavage. Five rats from this infected group were sacrificed after 1 week for histological comparison. Another group of 15 healthy rats received date seed extract through oral gavage and dietary supplementation. A control group of five rats received saline only. The treatment period lasted for 30 days, during which the weights were recorded on days 1, 7, and 30. Each rat received the extract at a dose of approximately 500 mg/kg body weight per day, delivered by oral gavage. The seed powder was soaked in cold distilled water at 4°C for 48 hours, and the extract yield was calculated as 12.4%. This was followed by GC-MS analysis to identify active compounds. The major constituents included TMN, glyceraldehyde, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Histological samples were collected from the colon, cecum, and rectum 30 days after treatment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure MUC1 and MUC4 gene expression. RESULTS: Infected rats had downregulated MUC4 (~50%) and stable MUC1 expression, whereas healthy rats treated with date extract showed significant upregulation of MUC1 (~2.0 fold). Histopathological analysis confirmed inflammation, crypt damage, and lymphocytic infiltration in infected tissues, whereas restored mucosal architecture and reduced inflammatory signs were observed in treated tissues. ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in gene expression among groups. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that date seed extract supports gastrointestinal health by modulating mucin gene expression and improving tissue recovery after infection. These findings suggest the potential use of date seed supplements in managing gut inflammation and improving mucosal healing.