See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/282001594

A PLANT REVIEW ON ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA

Article · March 2012

CITATIONS READS
15 15,206

4 authors, including:

Carol Macwan Anar Patel

Dharmsinh Desai University SAL Institute of Technology & Engineering Research
13 PUBLICATIONS 136 CITATIONS 16 PUBLICATIONS 194 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Mayuree Patel
Dharmsinh Desai University
7 PUBLICATIONS 35 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Carol Macwan on 22 September 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

International Journal of Universal Pharmacy and Life Sciences 2(2): March-April 2012

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UNIVERSAL

PHARMACY AND LIFE SCIENCES
Pharmaceutical Sciences Review Article……!!!

Received: 23-03-2012; Accepted: 31-03-2012

A PLANT REVIEW ON ZIZIPHUS MAURITIANA
Carol J. Palejkar*, Jignesh H. Palejkar, Anar J. Patel, Mayuree A. Patel
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad-387001,
Gujarat, India
Keywords: ABSTRACT
Ziziphus mauritiana, The plant kingdom still holds many species of plants
Jujube, Bor containing substances of medicinal value which have yet to
be discovered. Large numbers of plants are constantly being
For Correspondence:
screened for their possible pharmacological value. The
Carol J. Palejkar common name of Ziziphus mauritiana is bor, belongs to
Department of family Rhamnaceae. Ziziphus mauritiana is a spiny,
Pharmacognosy, Faculty of evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 m high, with trunk 40
Pharmacy, Dharmsinh cm or more in diameter; spreading crown; stipular spines and
many drooping branches. Fresh Fruits contains Protein, Fat,
Desai University, Nadiad-
Fiber, Carbohydrates, Reducing Sugars and Non-Reducing
387001, Gujarat, India Sugars. Major characteristic constituents are triterpenes and
E-mail: triterpene saponins. The dried fruits are used as anodyne,
carolmac85@yahoo.in anticancer, pectoral, refrigerant, sedative, stomachache,
styptic and tonic. They are considered to purify the blood and
aid digestion. The root is used in the treatment of dyspepsia.
A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of
fevers.

202 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

INTRODUCTION1,2,3
Ziziphus mauritiana is cultivated to some extent throughout its natural range but mostly in
India where it is grown commercially and has received much horticultural attention and
refinement despite the fact that it frequently escapes and becomes a pest. It was introduced into
Guam about 1850 but is not often planted there or in Hawaii except as an ornamental.
Specimens are scattered about the drier parts of the West Indies, the Bahamas, Colombia and
Venezuela, Guatemala, Belize, and southern Florida.
In Barbados, Jamaica and Puerto Rico the tree is naturalized and forms thickets in uncultivated
areas. In 1939, 6 trees from Malaysia were introduced into Israel and flourished there. They
bore very light crops of fruit heavily infested with fruit flies and were therefore destroyed to
protect other fruit trees. Badari in Sanskrit, many Hindu epic stories e.g Ramayana, tree fails to
secure the dress of Sita and after confessing to Rama droops in shame.
Biological Source: It consists of dried ripe fruits, leaves, roots and seeds of Ziziphus
mauritiana. Family: Rhamnaceae.
Introduction to family Rhamnaceae3, 4:
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs
and some vines.
The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a
worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions. The
earliest fossil evidence of Rhamnaceae is from the Eocene.
The simple leaves can be either alternate and spiraling, or opposite. Stipules are present. These
leaves are modified into spines in many genera, in some (e.g. Paliurus spina-christi and
Colletia cruciata) spectacularly so. Colletia stands out by having two axillary buds instead of
one, one developing into a thorn, the other one into a shoot.
The flowers are radially symmetrical. There are 5 (sometimes 4) separate sepals and 5
(sometimes 4 or none) separate petals. The 5 or 4 stamens are isomerous with the petals (i.e.
one stamen opposite each petal). The ovary is superior, with 2 or 3 ovules (or one by abortion).
The fruits are mostly berries, fleshy drupes or nuts. Some are adapted to wind carriage, but
most are dispersed by mammals and birds. Chinese jujube is the fruit of the jujube tree
(Ziziphus zizyphus) and is a major fruit in China.

203 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

Economic uses of the Rhamnaceae are chiefly as ornamental plants and as the source of many
brilliant green and yellow dyes. The wood of Rhamnus was also the most favoured species to
make charcoal for use in gunpowder before the development of modern propellants.
The family includes Adolphia, Berchemiella, Ceanothus, Colletia, Discaria, Frangula, Hovenia,
Reissekia, Rhamnus, Scutia, Spyridium, Trymalium, Ziziphus .The American genus
Ceanothus, which has several showy ornamental species, has nitrogen-fixing root nodules.
Introduction to genus Ziziphus: 5,6,7
Ziziphus is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family,
Rhamnaceae, distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world.
The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and 2–7 cm (0.79–2.8 in)
long; some species are deciduous, others evergreen. The flowers are small, inconspicuous
yellow-green.
The fruit is an edible drupe, yellow-brown, red, or black, globose or oblong, 1–5 cm (0.39–2.0
in) long, often very sweet and sugary, reminiscent of a date in texture and flavour.
Introduction to species: 7 to 10
Ziziphus mauritiana also known as Narkeli kul, Ber, Dongs, Boroi, Bor, Beri, Indian plum is a
tropical fruit tree species, belonging to the family Rhamnaceae.
Ziziphus mauritiana is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 m high, with trunk 40 cm
or more in diameter; spreading crown; stipular spines and many drooping branches. The fruit is
of variable shape and size. It oval, obovate, oblong or round, and that can be 1-2.5 in (2.5-6.25
cm) long, depending on the variety. The flesh is white and crisp. When slightly underipe, this
fruit is a bit juicy and has a pleasant aroma. The fruit's skin is smooth, glossy, thin but tight. It
is the most commonly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Selected species of genus Ziziphus11, 12:-
Ziziphus angolito Standl. Ziziphus apetala Hook.f. ex
Ziziphus attopensis Pierre Ziziphus celata
Ziziphus cotinifolia Reissek Ziziphus fungii Merr.
Ziziphus funiculosa Buch.-Ham. ex Ziziphus guaranitica Malme
Ziziphus havanensis Kunth Ziziphus horrida Roth

204 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

Ziziphus hutchinsonii Ziziphus incurva Roxb.

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. Ziziphus laui Merr.
Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. Ziziphus mairei Dode
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Ziziphus mexicana Rose
Ziziphus mistol Griseb. Ziziphus montana W.W.Smith
Ziziphus mucronata Willd. – Ziziphus platyphylla Reissek
BuffaloThorn
Ziziphus robertsoniana Ziziphus rugosa
Ziziphus saeri Pittier Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.
Distribution13 to 16
Ziziphus mauritiana is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 m high, with trunk 40 cm
or more in diameter; spreading crown; stipular spines and many drooping branches.
The fruit is of variable shape and size. It is oval, obovate, oblong or round, and that can be 2.5-
6.25 cm long, depending on the variety. The flesh is white and crisp. When slightly underipe,
this fruit is a bit juicy and has a pleasant aroma. The fruit's skin is smooth, glossy, thin but
tight. It is the most commonly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Originally native
to India it is now widely naturalized in tropical region from Africa to Afghanistan and China,
and also through Malaysia and into Australia and in some Pacific regions. It can form dense
stands and become invasive in some areas, including Fiji and Australia and has become a
serious environmental weed in Northern Australia. It is a fast growing tree with a medium
lifespan, that can quickly reach up to 10–40 ft tall.
Photographs4,5

FLOWERS LEAVES FRUITS

205 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

Scientific classification4,5:
Kingdom Plant
Division Magnoliophyta
Subdivision Angiosprm
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Rosales
Family Rhamnaceae
Tribe Paliureae
Genus Ziziphus
Species Mauritiana
Vernacular Names4,5:
Language Vernacular Name
(No. of Names)
Arabic (6) Beri, Bor, Nabbak El Fil, Nabbak-El-Fil, Nobig, Sidr
English(38) Aprin, Baer, Baher, Bahir, Ber, Beri, Bor, Chinee Apple,
Chinese Apple, Chinese Date, Chinese-Date, Coolie Plum,
Cottony Jujube, Crabapple, Indian Cherry, Indian Jujube,
Indian Plum, Indian-Cherry, Indian-Plum, Jujube, Ma-Tan,
Malay-Jujube, Mangustine, Manzana (Apple), Manzanas,
Manzanita, Perita Haitiana, Phutsa, Ponsigne, Putrea, Sour
Jujube, Tao, Tao Nhuc, Widara, Yunnan Jujube, Yunnan
Spiny Jujube, Yuyubi, Yuyubo
Tamil (1) Elandhai
Hindi (1) Ber
Sanskrit (3) Ajapriya, Badara, Karkandhu
Gujarati(1) Bordi
Chemical Constituents11,12,13:
Plant contains crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium,
sodium, chlorine, Sulphur, They also contain ceryl alcohol and the alkaloids, protopine and
berberine, quercetin, kaempferol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, diosgenin.

206 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

The leaves contain flavonoids, tannins, oses and holosides, mucilages, sterol, triterpenoids,
cardiotonic glucosides, and leucoanthocyanes. Fresh fruits contains Protein, Fat, Fiber,
Carbohydrates, Reducing Sugars, Non-Reducing Sugars, Ash, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron,
Carotene, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Fluoride, Pectin. The
fresh fruits also contain some malic and oxalic acid and quercetin. Dried Fruits contains
Moisture, Protein, Fat, Carbohydrates ,Sugar, Fiber. Major characteristic constituents are
triterpenes and triterpene saponins, including alphitolic, betulinic, maslinic, oleanolic, ursolic,
3-O-trans-alphitolic, 3-O-cis-p-alphitolic, 3-O-cis-p-coumaroylalphitolic, 3-O-trans-p-
coumarylalphitolic acids; and zizyphus saponins I, II, III, jujuboside B, spinosin and swertisin.
Uses4 to 7:
Jujube is both a delicious fruit and an effective herbal remedy. It aids weight gain, improves
muscular strength and increases stamina. In Chinese medicine, it is prescribed as a tonic to
strengthen liver function. It functions as antidote, diuretic, emollient and expectorant. The
leaves are astringent and febrifuge. Also, said to promote hair growth. The dried fruits are
anodyne, anticancer, pectoral, refrigerant, sedative, stomachache, styptic and tonic. They are
considered to purify the blood and aid digestion. They are used internally in the treatment of
chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, anemia, irritability and hysteria. The seed is
hypnotic, narcotic, sedative, stomachache and tonic. It is used internally in the treatment of
palpitations, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, night sweats and excessive perspiration. The root is
used in the treatment of dyspepsia. A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of
fevers. The root is made into a powder and applied to old wounds and ulcers. The plant is a
folk remedy for anemia, hypertonia, nephritis and nervous diseases. The fruits are applied on
cuts and ulcers and also employed in pulmonary ailments and fevers. The leaves are applied as
poultices and are helpful in liver troubles, asthma and fever.
Pharmacological activity17 to 21:
Anti-Tumor Activity:
Ziziphus mauritiana followed Tinospora cordifolia in efficacy. A review of literature shows
that ZM is rich in biologically active compounds such as triterpenes, cyclopeptide alkaloids
and flavonoids that have been shown to exhibit inhibitory effects on histamine release, COX-
1&2, activation activity of choline acetyl transeferase, cytotoxic activity and immunological

207 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

adjuvant activity (Lee et al., 2004). As a component of the -saiko-to (TJ-9), a Kampo herbal
formula, ZM showed a chemopreventive potential in a large series of patients with cirrhosis of
liver where it prevented liver cancer and enhanced the activity of natural killer cells, hence
may be called an immunopotentiator.ZM is reported to have very low toxicity when taken
orally, in mice and rats; a huge single dose of 50g/kg-bw produced no toxic symptoms and a
daily dose of 20g/kg-bw for 30 days did not produced toxic reactions. No side effects were
reported.
Antifungal activity:
The methanol extracts of Cassia occidentalis Linn., C. singuena (Del.) Lack, C. tora Linn.,
Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr., Ziziphus abyssinica (Hochst ex A. Rich) Fiori, Z.
mauritiana Lam., Z. mucronata Willd. and Z. spina-christi Willd. found in Bauchi State,
Nigeria, showed antifungal activity when tested by the agar diffusion method against
dermatophytes, viz.Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagaphytes, Microsporum canis and
Aspergillus fumigatus.
Antidiabetic activity:
Various extracts, petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone, ethanol, aqueous, and crude aqueous,
of fruits of Zizyphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) and the fractions of petroleum ether and
aqueous extracts were tested for antihyperglycemic activity in glucose overloaded
hyperglycemic rats. The effective antihyperglycemic extracts and fraction were tested for their
hypoglycemic activity at two dose levels, 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. To confirm their
utility in a higher model, the effective extracts and fraction of Z. mauritiana were also
subjected to an antidiabetic study in the alloxan-induced diabetic model at two dose levels, 200
and 400 mg/kg. The aqueous extract and the non-polysaccharide fraction of the aqueous extract
of Z. mauritiana were found to exhibit significant antihyperglycemic and hypoglycemic
activities. The petroleum ether extract was found to exhibit only an antihyperglycemic effect.
Treatment of diabetic rats with petroleum ether extract, aqueous extract, and non-
polysaccharide fraction of this plant restored the elevated biochemical parameters, glucose,
urea, creatinine, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, HDL, LDL, hemoglobin, and
glycosylated hemoglobin significantly to the near normal level. Comparatively, the non-
polysaccharide fraction of the aqueous extract was found to be more effective, followed by the

208 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

aqueous extract, and the petroleum ether extract. The activity of the non-polysaccharide
fraction as comparable to that of the standard drug gliben clamide.
In traditonal medicine, several plants were used in diabetes treatment. Among them, the
aqueous extract from the leaves of Zizyphus mauritiana Lam was studied. The extract was
administrated per os to Wistar rats made diabetics either temporarily by oral glucose tolerance
test (first case) or definitely by subcutaneous injection of alloxan (second case).
It was observed a striking decrease of the hyperglycemic arrow (p < 0.05) in the first case, with
300 mg/kg administrated 90 minutes before starting the test. In the second case, the results
obtained with a dose of 300 mg/kg once or twice a day were identical as those with
glibenclamide at 0.2 mg/kg per day. So, the antidiabetic activity was experimentally born out
but it has to be standardized for common use.
Antidiarrhoeal activity:
Preliminary phytochemical screening of the root extract of Ziziphus mauritiana check for this
species in other resources revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins
and volatile oil. Intraperitoneal LD50 of the extract was found to be 447.21 ± 20 mg/kg (bw) in
mice. The Antidiarrhoeal effect of the methanolic extract as evaluated exhibited a
concentration dependent inhibition of the spontaneous pendular movement of the isolated
rabbit jejunum and inhibited acetylcholine induced contraction of rat ileum.
Ayurvedic Properties:
Rasa : Kashaya, Madhura, Amla
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Seeta
Vipaka : Madhura
The leaves are bitter, cooling; cure" kapha ", biliousness, diarrhoea; antipyretic; reduce obesity.
The berries are considered to purify the blood and to assist digestion.
Fruits: (wild variety) anodyne, astringent, cooling stomachic, styptic and tonic; (cultivated
variety when ripe and dry) expectorant and mild laxative
Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, kapha, obesity, fever, burning sensations, cough, wound, skin
disease, ulcers, stomatitis, diarrhea, sexual weakness, and general debility.

209 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

Ayurvedic formulations:
Badaradi churna, Badaradi kwatha, Badri phalasav, Badri patrasava, kumar kalian ghrita,
Badaradi pak, Laksha kalka.
REFERENCES
1. Chopra RN, Chopra IC. A review of work on Indian medicinal plants. Indian Council of
Medical Research, Special Report Series No. 1, 1959; 99-107.
2. Pareek OP. Fruits for the Future 2: Ber, International Centre for Underutilized Crop.
Redwood Books, Wiltshire, 2001, 38, 15, 20, 34, 45, 52–58.
3. Patel BH, Upadhyay VR, Muralidharan CM, Judal GS, Effect of various insecticides on
honey bee, Apis florea Fabricius in 'ber' (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk). Current Science,
1988; vol. 57(21):1199-1200.
4. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziziphus_mauritiana.
5. Kanitkar, U.K. et al : J. Res. Ind. Med. 3:2, 1969
6. Devi KR, Atluri JB, Reddi CS,Pollination ecology of Zizyphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae).
Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Plant Sciences, 1989; 99(3):223-239.
7. Azam-Ali S, Bonkoungou E, Bowe C, deKock C, Godara A, Williams JT. Ber and other
jujubes, Ziziphus species. Fruits for Gupta et al., IJPSR, 2012; Vol. 3(3): 818-821 ISSN:
0975-8232 Available online on www.ijpsr.com 821.
8. Singh SP, Wasteland Development. India, (1989), 227 pp.
9. Hocking D, Trees for Drylands. New Delhi, India: Oxford & IBH Publishing (1993).
10. Srivastava S.K. and Srivastava S.D.Structure of Zizogenin, a new sapogenin from Ziziphus
mauritiana. Phytochemistry. 1979; 18(10): 1758-1759.
11. http://ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com/plants/101.html
12. Gong Cheng, Yanjing Bai, Yuying Zhao, Jing Tao, Yi Liu, Guangzhong Tu, Libin Ma,
Ning Liao and Xiaojie Xu. Flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinasa.
Tetrahedron. 2000; 56: 8915-8920.
13. Kundu A.D., Barik B.R., Mandal D.N., Dey A.K., Banerji A. Zizybernalic acid, a penta
cyclic triterpenoid of Ziziphus jujuba. Phytochemistry. 1989, 28 (11): 3155-3158.
14. Pawlowska A.M., Camangi F., Bader A. and Braca A., Flavonoids of Zizyphus jujuba and
Zizyphus spina-christi (L) Wild (Rhamnaceae) fruits. Food Chemistry 2000; 112: 858-862.

210 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

 International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-6793

15. Sarfaraz A., Ansari S. H. and Porchezhian E., Antifungal activity of alcoholic extracts of
Ziziphus vulgaris and Acacia concinna. Hamdard Medicus. Bait al-Hikmah, Karachi,
Pakistan. 2002; 14/15: 42-45.
16. Shiv K., Ganachari M.S. and Banappa Nagoor V.S., Anti-inflammatory activity of Ziziphus
jujuba Lamk. Leaves extract in rats. Journal of Natural Remedies. 2004; 4: 183-185.
17. Ganachari M.S. and Shiv K., Anti-ulcer properties of Ziziphus jujube Lam leaves extract in
rats. Journal of Natural Remedies 2004; 4: 103-108.
18. Pisha E., Chai H., Lee I., Chagwedera T., Farnsworth N., Cordell G., Beecher C., Fong H.,
Kinghorn A., and Brown D., Discovery of betulinic acid as a selective inhibitor of human
melanoma that functions by induction of apoptosis. Nat Med. 1995;10: 1046-1051.
19. FukuyamaY., Mizuta K., Nakagawa K., A new neo-lignan, a prostaglandin I2 inducer from
the leaves of Ziziphus jujube, Planta Medica. 1986; 6: 501-502.
20. Indian Pharmacopoeia, 3rd Edn., Controller of Publication, Govt. of India, New Delhi,
1985; Vol. II, A, 88-A90.
21. Indian Pharmacopoeia, 4th Edition, Controller of Publications, Government of India, New
Delhi, 1996, Vol.-II, A-47.
22. The herbs of Ayurveda, 1st edition, published by Ashok k. sheth, Bhavnagar,Gujarat, 2005,
Vol. IV, 1196.

211 Full Text Available On www.ijupls.com

View publication stats