Ziziphus jujubaMill., a plant used as medicinal food: a review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control and future research

Authors Liu, Shi-Jun; Lv, Yan-Ping; Tang, Zhi-Shu; Zhang, Yu; Xu, Hong-Bo; Zhang, Dong-Bo; Cui, Chun-Li; Liu, Hong-Bo; Sun, Huan-Huan; Song, Zhong-Xing; Wei, Si-Min

Journal PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS , JUN 2021,3:20

DOI 10.1007/s11101-020-09709-1

Abstract Jujubae Fructus (ZJF) [called Dazao ((sic)& x67a3;) in Chinese], the fruit ofZiziphus jujubaMill. (ZJ), is utilized as a food and traditional medicine in China. In TCM use,ZJFis traditionally used to treat and nourish the stomach, tonify the spleen, and nourish the blood, as well as for overall nourishing and strength. According to the available literature from 1974 to March 2019, more than 278 compounds have been isolated and identified fromZJ. Local books, papers and dissertations were also searched. The aim of this review was to examine this plant''s traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, quality control and economically important uses. In vivo and in vitro scientific investigations have initially confirmed its pharmacological potential by showing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, gastrointestinal protective, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-HIV, sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects. Bioactive metabolites belonging to different classes are responsible for these activities, including triterpenoid acids, saponins, cyclopeptide alkaloids, flavonoids and neo-lignans, which are considered the characteristic and active components ofZJ. The TCM use ofZJF, including tonifying and replenishing the middle Qi and nourishing the blood to tranquilize, is based on its gastrointestinal protective, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic properties. Its detoxification effects are attributed to its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial activities. Moreover, the TCM characteristics ofZJF(sweet flavour; warm nature; and spleen, stomach, and heart meridian effects) support its traditional uses and pharmacological effects. We encourage more studies to further clarify the relationship between modern applications and traditional uses in the future. Furthermore, no one has studiedZJblossoms, and researchers should allocate more time to the study ofZJblossoms. Additionally, unsolved problems include the scientific principle of the Chinese material medica processing [CMMP ((sic)& x836f;& x70ae;(sic)) in Chinese] ofZJF, the molecular mechanisms of the biological activity ofZJand its other medicinal parts, the overall pharmacokinetics rather than single molecule pharmacokinetics, the efficacy and the toxicology. All of the unsolved problems noted above require further study.