2972

12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3

Ziziphus Miller

Gard. dict., abr. ed. 4 (1754).

RHAMNACEAE

x = 12

Ziziphus comprises about 100 species and has a pantropical distribution, the two main centres being tropical America and South-East Asia. It extends into temperate and even arid regions. About 25 species occur within Malesia.

Ziziphus is only little used in South-East Asian folk medicine, e.g. the root bark in preparations for contraconception and to treat fever. In Peninsular Malaysia a decoction of the leaves or roots of possibly Ziziphus kunstleri King was used as a post-partum medicine. The bark of Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Miller, occasionally used for tanning in India, has several medicinal uses, common for plants containing tannin; it is used for healing wounds and to treat stomach-ache. The roots serve as a remedy against hyperacidity and Ascaris infection. The roots, bark, leaves, seeds and fruits of Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk are all applied medicinally, in particular to aid digestion and to poultice wounds. Ziziphus mauritiana is a well-known firewood in semi-arid regions.
Some Ziziphus species are more widely used medicinally in temperate East Asia. Ziziphus jujuba Miller (synonym: Ziziphus vulgaris Lamk) is well known in Chinese medicine, all parts being used for a wide range of afflictions; the fruits are also well known as an adjuvant. Several species, notably Ziziphus jujuba and Ziziphus mauritiana, are widely cultivated for their edible fruits. In Indonesia young leaves of Ziziphus mauritiana are cooked as a vegetable and also serve as fodder.

The bark of several Ziziphus species is rich in cyclopeptide alkaloids. Ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Ziziphus oenoplia exhibit hypotensive effect and also low diuretic activity. Betulinic acid appears to be responsible for some of the medicinal properties of its root bark.
In order to support its use in traditional medicine for the treatment of nephritis, Ziziphus jujuba was subjected to both in-vitro and in-vivo testing. Intraperitoneal injection in rats and in-vitro tests with endothelial cells and kidney homogenates revealed stimulatory effects on nitric oxide release. This may well contribute to the hypotensive effect and antinephretic action, possibly by increasing renal bloodflow. In a behavioural evaluation test with mice, an orally administered ethanol extract of Ziziphus jujuba seeds revealed an anxiolytic effect at lower dose and a sedative effect at higher dose. A decoction of dried Ziziphus jujuba leaves showed antihyperglycaemic activity in rats.

Deciduous or evergreen lianas, shrubs or small to medium-sized trees. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or serrate to crenate, generally 3-veined from the base; stipules caducous or transformed into spines. Inflorescence a small axillary fascicle or umbel-like cyme, rarely an axillary or terminal thyrse. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous; calyx shortly funnel-shaped, often deeply cleft; petals free, small, rarely absent, hooded, shortly clawed, yellowish to greenish; disk fleshy, 5—10-lobed; stamens before the petals; ovary semi-inferior, 2—3(—4)-celled, styles 2—4. Fruit a fleshy to almost dry, 1-seeded drupe. Seed nearly plano-convex. Seedling with epigeal germination; cotyledons fleshy; hypocotyl elongated; first leaves opposite or whorled, subsequent ones alternate, conduplicate.
The nectar produced by the disk and the fragrance of the flowers attract insects. Flowers are protandrous. The fruits are dispersed by mammals and birds.

Ziziphus is generally found at low elevations, up to 1000 m altitude, in primary as well as secondary forest.

Ziziphus can be propagated by seed and by transplanting root suckers; propagation by cuttings failed. Grafting is used for cultivars of Ziziphus mauritiana for fruit production.

Ziziphus species such as Ziziphus angustifolia are relatively widespread, and are usually common and cannot be considered threatened. However, some species are restricted in their distribution, and may be threatened with continued habitat degradation.

Little is known on the pharmacological properties of Ziziphus. Further research is needed to corroborate its traditional uses, such as in poulticing and to aid digestion.

[181]Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948—1976. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials & industrial products. 11 volumes. Publications and Information Directorate, New Delhi, India.
[477]Kim, H.Y. & Han, S.W., 1996. Zizyphus jujuba and Codonopsis pilosula stimulate nitric oxide release in cultured endothelial cells and kidney tissues. Asia Pacific Journal of Pharmacology 11(3/4): 121—128.
[671]Nguyen Van Duong, 1993. Medicinal plants of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Mekong Printing, Santa Ana, California, United States. 528 pp.
[726]Peng, W.H., Hsieh, M.T., Lee, Y.S., Lin, Y.C. & Liao, J., 2000. Anxiolytic effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 72(3): 435—441.
[883]Sosef, M.S.M., Hong, L.T. & Prawirohatmodjo, S. (Editors), 1998. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 5(3). Timber trees: Lesser-known timbers. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, the Netherlands. 859 pp.
[967]Verheij, E.W.M. & Coronel, R.E. (Editors), 1991. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 2. Edible fruits and nuts. Pudoc, Wageningen, the Netherlands. 446 pp.

Titi Juhaeti

Ziziphus angustifolia
Ziziphus elegans

Juhaeti, T., 2003. Ziziphus Miller. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea

The following species in this genus are important in this commodity group and are treated separatedly in this database:
Ziziphus angustifolia
Ziziphus elegans