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Zizyphus jujuba
Natural Encyclopaedia

Jujube

FAMILY: Ramnaceae

HABITAT: originating in Asia. Also very common in Algeria, this thorny sapling is typical of the Mediterranean region. It has brown bark and yellow flowers. It is cultivated as a fruit plant, but also grows in uncultivated areas in the wild (2).

PART USED: Jujube fruits are also used for phytotherapeutic purposes. They use the drupe, called jujube, which is about the size of an olive, reddish on the outside, and whose yellow, spongy flesh has a sweet, mucilaginous taste. A woody core occupies its centre. After harvesting in September - October, the jujubes are dried (3).

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: the jujube plant contains triterpene saponins (jujubosides), isoquinoline (zizifusine) and cyclopeptide alkaloids (daehucycloptide-I), flavonoids, mucilage tannins, triterpenes (oleanolic, ferulic, betulinic acid), vitamins (A, B2, C), calcium, phosphorus, iron, sugars (sucrose, glucose, galactose, fructose) and amino acids.

MAIN ACTIVITIES: emollient and bechic; sedative (4).

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Available scientific studies suggest that the mechanism of action of jujubosides is to cause an inhibition of the activity of the monoaminergic system with a consequent decrease in the levels of central amine neurotransmitters (5). This action proves useful in rebalancing excitatory states where stimulation of monoamine receptors leads to overexcitation of the central nervous system, resulting in hyperactivity, agitation, insomnia and anxiety disorders.

The most frequently found action concerns the modulation of the serotonin system (6). The plant's phytochemical profile is only partially known today, with isolation and chemical and biological characterisation of several bioactive ingredients. Responsible for the effects observed at the central level are mainly saponins, together with certain alkaloids and glycosidic flavones.

Other molecules have been identified in the seeds, such as betulic acid and oleanolic acid, which are structurally related to the active constituents isolated in Panax Ginseng, a plant traditionally used as a tonic and anxiolytic. In addition, jujubosides showed inhibitory capacity for histamine release.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE ON THE MECHANISM OF ACTION:

The anxiolytic and hypnoinductive action of jujube is linked to modulation of the serotonin system with main action on the 5-HT receptor (1a) and a more modest action on 5-HT (1b).

•             Study 1

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jul 30;124(3):421-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.05.040. Epub 2009 Jun 6.

Interactions of Magnolia and Ziziphus extracts with selected central nervous system receptors.

Koetter U1, Barrett M, Lacher S, Abdelrahman A, Dolnick D.

In order to identify the pharmacological targets of Ziziphus spinosa (ZE) as well, affinity tests were performed on central nervous system receptors related to sleep and relaxation. Binding affinity analyses were carried out on adenosine A (1), dopamine (t, D (1), D (2S), D (3), D (4.4) and D (5)), serotonin (, 5-HT (1A), 5-HT (1B), 5-HT (4e), 5-HT (6) and 5-HT (7)) and the GABA receptor for benzodiazepines.

  • Antagonistic action of jujube on the 5-HT receptor (1a)
  • Modest antagonistic action of jujube on the 5-HT receptor (1b)

•             Study 2

Phytomedicine. 2010 May;17(6):404-9. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2010.01.014. Epub 2010 Feb 20.

Potentiating effect of spinosin, a C-glycoside flavonoid of Semen Ziziphi spinosae, on pentobarbital-induced sleep may be related to postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors.

Wang LE1, Cui XY, Cui SY, Cao JX, Zhang J, Zhang YH, Zhang QY, Bai YJ, Zhao YY.

Preliminary results on rats have shown that certain molecules contained in the jujube phytocomplex are able to enhance the hypnoinductive action of pentobarbital through modulation of the serotonin system. The results showed that this action is motivated by the spinosin antagonist activity of jujube on 5-HT1 receptors. The antagonistic action on serotoninergic receptors is exerted by improving sleep latency time, REM sleep, NON-REM sleep and increasing total hours slept.

•            Study 3

J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jul 6;130(1):163-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.03.023. Epub 2010 Mar 27.

Hypnotic effect of jujubosides from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.

Cao JX1, Zhang QY, Cui SY, Cui XY, Zhang J, Zhang YH, Bai YJ, Zhao YY.

Evaluate the hypnoinductive effect of jujubosides during both day and night hours.

Administration of jujubosides 9 mg/kg once daily for 3 days in two groups of rats: normal rats and rats treated with pentobartbital. The parameters evaluated were EEG (electroencephalography) and EMG (electromyography).

  • During the day (09:00-15:00), jujubosides significantly increased REM sleep in normal rats without interfering with N-REM sleep.
  • During the night (21:00 -03:00) jujubosides significantly increased, on normal rats, total sleep, N-REM sleep without interfering with REM sleep and slow wave sleep (SWS).
  • In rats treated with pentobarbital, the addition of jujubosides enhanced the drug's action.

TOXICITY AND SECONDARY EFFECTS: The literature does not report secondary and toxic effects at therapeutic doses, unless there is a particular individual sensitivity.

CURIOSITY: It was introduced in Italy in the last years of Augustus' reign and it was Galen who first reported it to 'decrease the heat of the blood'. In the Middle Ages, it was recognised as having bechic properties. This use lasted until the beginning of the 19th century, then fell into oblivion.

Zizyphus comes from Zizouf, the plant's Arabic name (4).

It can be found in vagonotte®  vagonotte® MEL

Bibliography:

1 were identified. Ziziphus Jujube, in Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN);
2. Gerard Debuigne, Encyclopaedia of Health Plants, Gremese Editore, Rome, 2004;
3. Christian Valnet, the herbalist - herbs and medicinal plants, Edizioni Rei, August, 2016;
4. Enrica Campanini, Dictionary of Phytotherapy and Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edition, Tecniche Nuove, Milan, 2006;
5. Cao JX et al. Hypnotic effect of jujubosides from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;
6. Wamg LE, Bai YJ, Shi XR, Cui XY, Cui SY, Zhang F, Zhang QY, Zhao YY, Zhang YH. Spinosin, a C-glycoside flavonoid from SEMEN Zizhiphi Spinozae, potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep via the serotonergic system. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 were identified.