Phytochemistry and pharmacologic properties of Ziziphus spina christi (L.) Willd.

Abstract

Ziziphus spina-christi known as Christ's Thorn Jujube, is a native plant that grows in tropical and subtropical regions especially in Middle East. Its extracts are important in drug development with pharmacological activities in the Middle East and South and East of Asia including Iran. For a long time, Z. spina-christi has been used in alternative medicine for the treatment of fever, pain, dandruff, wounds and ulcers, inflammatory conditions, asthma and to cure eye diseases. Z. spina-christi has recently been shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, and antinociceptive activities. Flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins are the main phytochemicals that are reported from this plant. Geranyl acetone, methyl hexadecanoate, methyl octadecanoate, farnesyl acetone C, hexadecanol and ethyl octadecanoate are characterized as the major components of the leaves' volatile oil. Due to the easy collection of the plant materials, its being cheap and widespread in many countries and also remarkable biological activities, this plant has become both medicine and food in some parts of the world, especially throughout the Middle East including Iran. This paper presents comprehensive analyzed information on the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of Z. spina-christi.

Neuroprotective effect of <i>Ziziphus spina-christi</i> on brain injury induced by transient global cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rat

“…The growing trend toward the anti-oxidants is due to their ability to protect the body against damages caused by reactive free radicals that are produced during various disorders. The main phytochemical constituents of this plant are including phenolic, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins (Asgarpanah and Haghighat, 2012). Abdel-Wahhab et al (2007) evaluated the anti-oxidant effect of methanolic Z. spina-christi leaf extract on the oxidative stress of aflatoxin in rats.…”

“…Traditionally, its leaves are used to treat sores, pneumonia, dysentery, ulcer and as an antiseptics. The leaves contain phytosterols such as β-sitosterol, glycoside, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and lactone (Asgarpanah and Haghighat, 2012). Hydroalcoholic extract of Ziziphus spina-christi was found to be effective against scopolamine-induced anxiety in rats (Setorki, 2016).…”

Novel Anti- tuberculosis Compound

“…The Ziziphusspina-Christi was known to be active against wide spectrum of bacteria due to presence of betulic and cyanotic acid, three cyclopeptide alkaloids as well as four saponim glycosides and several flavonoids [15].…”

Phenolic Compounds of Napek Leave (Zizyphus Spina-Christi L.) as Natural Antioxidants

“…A survey of the literature revealed that a number of cyclopeptide and isoquinoline alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and their glycosides have been found to occur in various amount in most Ziziphus species. The leaves of these plants contain betulinic and ceanothic acids, various flavonoids, saponins, erols tannins and triterpenes [22]. The aqeous extract of Z. spina Christi stem bark has shown significant antibacterial activity [23, 24 and 25], antifungal [26], antinociceptive effects [17], antioxidant activity [11and 27].…”