Effects of different drying methods (freeze-, oven- and sun-drying) on physico-chemical properties of
date fibre concentrates (DFC) from three potential Tunisian cultivars were investigated. DFC had high
contents of dietary fibre (71.01–93.46% dry matter), with high proportions of insoluble dietary fibre.
Freeze dried DFC had the highest values of swelling, water holding and oil holding capacities. This drying
method gave also the lightest DFC colour. Kentichi fibre produced by freeze-drying had the highest viscosity
and the lowest bulkier particles. The present work assessed polyphenol content and antioxidant
activity of DFC using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The highest polyphenol content
was found for freeze dried DFC, contrary to radical scavenging activity which was not affected by drying
methods. Results suggest