VEGETOS: Um Jornal Internacional de Pesquisa Vegetal

Ziziphus: A prospective multi application fruit tree

Mukesh Sharma, S K Bhatnagar, Kamini Parmar, Sonika Gupta and Prachi Goyal

Ziziphus: A prospective multi application fruit tree

This review paper focuses the current knowledge about the Ziziphus species in human health. Parts such as leaf, fruit, seed, bark and root of this species hold enormous position in the innovation of new therapeutic agents for drug development. There is an increasing commercial demand for Ziziphus due to their wide applicability in human health. Ziziphus is a genus in the family, Rhamnaceae and it comprises about 40 species of thorny small shrub or small tree with medicinal properties. It grows in great quantity in the arid and semi-arid areas of India. The plant of this species contains analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-aging, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties, and also contain several phytochemicals such as saponins, pectin, fatty acids, triterpenoic acids and cyclopeptide alkaloids. Ziziphus having a significant role in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and have also been used in folk medicine to treat jaundice, diarrhea, ulcers, and fevers. It also possesses capability to use as an immunomodulator. This is a remedy for hypertonias, anemia, nephritis and nervous diseases, Fruits and roots of Ziziphus is used to cure sun stroke, healing cuts, inhibiting gastrointestinal infections and removing stones. Other applications in cosmetic products, lac culture, wine production, food preservation due to the presence of antimicrobial compounds and in tonics to enhance the immune system and blood nourishment. Its oil also possesses hair growth promoting activity. Ziziphus species are promising plants for arid regions due to their drought resistance characteristics. .