Herb's Introduction
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., commonly known as the Indian Jujube or Indian Plum, is a significant tropical fruit tree and medicinal plant belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. It is a highly valued species, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, India, and China, where it has been cultivated for centuries. The plant is considered one of the earliest domesticated fruit trees globally. While Ziziphus mauritiana is the currently accepted botanical name, historically and in many traditional publications, there has been considerable confusion and misapplication of the name Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn., which actually refers to the temperate Chinese Jujube. The tree is recognized for its nutritional fruits and a diverse range of pharmacological properties derived from its various parts (fruits, seeds, leaves, bark, and roots). In the context of "Medicinal Plants of Nepal," Ziziphus mauritiana is well-known and utilized by local communities for various traditional remedies.
Name in Different Countries
The plant is known by a multitude of common names across different regions, reflecting its widespread distribution and long history of use: Language Names Arabic Beri, Bor, Nabbak el fil., nabq, dum, tsal, sadr, zufzuuf Bambara Ntomono, Ntomoro Burmese Zee pen, Zizidaw Chinese Dian ci zao, Suan zao English Indian jujube, Indian plum, Sour jujube, Yunnan jujube, Yunnan spiny jujube French Jujubier de l'Inde German Filzblättrige Jujube Hausa Magaria Hindi बदर (badar), बेर (ber), कुबल (kubal), फेनिल (phenil), पिच्छल (picchal) Japanese Indo natsume Kannada Yalachi, Barihannu, Yalachi-hannu Khmer Putrea Laotian Than Malay Bidara, Dara, Epal siam, Jujub, Widara Marathi बोर (Bor), सौबरी (Saubari) Persian Zizafun, Zizfum, anab or annab Punjabi amlai, barari, simli, singli Sanskrit बदर (Badara), बद्री (Badri), बद्री फल (Badri phala), सौवीर (Sauvir) Spanish Azufaifo indio Tagalog Manzanitas Tamil எளந்தை (Elandhai) Telugu రేగు (Regu), Reni (రేణి) Thai Phutsaa Swahili Mkunazi Vietnamese Tao, Tao nhuc Other (African) Bagende (Moré), Bu sédem (Diola), Darey (Djerma), Deem (Wolof), Dim (Wolof), Gic (Serer), Ingic (Serer), Jaabé (Pulaar), Jaabi (Pulaar), Magunuga (Moré), Muegunga (Moré), Mufniga (Moré), Mugulanga (Moré), Nged (Serer), Ngic (Serer), Ngit (Serer), Sideem (Wolof), Sédeem (Wolof), Tôbôrô (Diola), Tôbôrô (Mandingue) Export to Sheets
Terminology
The accepted scientific name is Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. Synonym(S): Rhamnus jujuba L., Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn., nom. illeg. (Note the confusion with the temperate species). Family: Rhamnaceae (The Buckthorn family). Common Names: Indian Jujube, Indian Plum, Ber (Hindi), Badar (Sanskrit/Hindi), Reni (Telugu), Elandhai (Tamil). Key Components: The plant is rich in various phytochemicals, including alkaloids (like berberine), flavonoids (like quercetin and kaempferol), terpenoids, saponins, sterols (like sitosterol and stigmasterol), vitamins (especially Vitamin C), minerals, and dietary fiber.
Availability
Ziziphus mauritiana is a tropical fruit tree believed to have originated in the Indo-Malaysian region. It is now widely cultivated and naturalized throughout the Old World tropics. Global Distribution: It is found from Southern Africa through the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent (where it is abundant, including Nepal and India), China, Indomalaya, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands. It is an important commercial fruit crop in many of these areas. Availability in Nepal: As a component of the "Medicinal Plants of Nepal," Z. mauritiana is widely distributed, especially in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Its fruits (known as Bayar in Nepal) are a common wild and cultivated edible source, and the plant parts are readily available for traditional medicinal use by local communities.
External Look
Ziziphus mauritiana is typically a large, spiny shrub or a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, often reaching a height of 9 to 15 meters. Trunk and Bark: The tree has a rough, dark gray or brown bark. The wood is hard and durable. Branches and Thorns: The branches are often drooping and characterized by stipular spines (thorns), which can be solitary or in pairs, though some cultivated varieties are thornless. Leaves: The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptic, and have a distinctive look: glossy green on the upper surface and often covered with a dense, white, or rusty felt-like pubescence (hair) on the underside, giving it the common German name "Filzblättrige Jujube" (felt-leaved jujube). Flowers: The flowers are small, greenish-yellow, and inconspicuous, typically borne in small axillary cymes (clusters). Fruit: The fruit is a drupe, which is oval, round, or oblong, ranging from the size of a small berry to about 6 cm long in cultivated varieties. The skin is thin, and the pulp is white and crisp when unripe, turning yellowish to reddish-brown, soft, and somewhat mealy when ripe. The taste varies from sweet to subacid/sour. It contains a single, hard, stony seed (kernel).
Healing Properties
The diverse phytochemical composition of Z. mauritiana bestows it with a wide array of scientifically supported and traditional healing properties: Antioxidant: Rich in phenolic compounds and Vitamin C, which help combat oxidative stress. Anti-diabetic (Antihyperglycemic): Extracts have been shown to help manage blood sugar levels, comparable to standard antidiabetic drugs in some studies. Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic (Anodyne): Used traditionally to reduce pain and inflammation, such as in rheumatic inflammations and joint pain. Sedative and Hypnotic (Soporific): The kernels/seeds are known for their calming effects, traditionally used for insomnia and anxiety. Gastro-intestinal: Acts as an astringent (for diarrhea and dysentery), mild laxative (ripe fruit), stomachic (digestive aid), and antiemetic (prevents vomiting/nausea). Antimicrobial: Exhibits antibacterial and antifungal activities, useful for skin infections, wounds, and ulcers. Hepatoprotective: Potential to protect the liver. Immunomodulator: Helps regulate the immune system. Astringent and Styptic: Used externally to stop bleeding and internally for conditions like diarrhea (due to tannins in bark/leaves).
Advantages
The use of Ziziphus mauritiana offers several advantages, both medicinally and nutritionally: Nutritional Value: The fruits are highly nutritious, being a good source of Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, Vitamin A, and essential minerals like Iron (higher than in apples), Calcium, Zinc, and Phosphorus. Multipurpose Medicinal Use: Nearly every part of the plant (fruit, seed, kernel, leaf, bark, and root) is used in traditional medicine to treat a vast spectrum of ailments, minimizing waste. Accessibility and Availability: As a common and widely naturalized tree in tropical regions, including Nepal, it is a readily available, low-cost traditional remedy for local and rural populations. Traditional Validation: Its extensive and long-standing use in Ayurvedic and other traditional medical systems (like Unani, Chinese medicine, and African folk medicine) suggests efficacy and safety within traditional contexts. Supports Modern Formulations: The seed kernel oil has been explored as a base for pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products like antifungal soaps and shampoos, demonstrating modern applicability.
Uses
Different parts of the Ziziphus mauritiana tree are employed for specific medicinal and practical uses: Fruits (Wild/Unripe): Astringent, anodyne (pain-relieving), cooling, stomachic, styptic. Used for burning sensations and thirst. Fruits (Ripe and Dry/Cultivated): Mild laxative, expectorant, digestible, and tonic. Used for constipation, vomiting, nausea, and in Ayurveda for blood-borne diseases and as an aphrodisiac. Seeds/Kernels: Antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodic, sedative, hypnotic (for insomnia), and antiemetic. The kernel oil is used for eye inflammation and applied to treat rheumatic arthritis. Leaves: Astringent and diaphoretic (induces sweating). Used for treating asthma, liver troubles, stomatitis, leucorrhoea, and typhoid fever. Fresh leaves are applied to wounds, urinary infections, abscesses, boils, and carbuncles. Leaves are also used as nutritious fodder. Stem Bark: Astringent, used in treating chronic dysentery, diarrhea, and gingivitis. It is also a source of tannin and dyes. Root Bark: Juice acts as a purgative. Externally applied to rheumatic inflammations and gout. Roots are traditionally used for biliousness, cough, headaches, and fevers. Flowers: Used in the treatment of skin ulcers and eye diseases.
Using way
The methods of using Ziziphus mauritiana depend entirely on the part being utilized and the ailment being treated: For Digestive Ailments (Diarrhea/Dysentery): The stem bark or a decoction of the twigs is typically boiled in water and taken internally. The powdered seeds may also be ingested. For Constipation: The ripe and dry fruits are consumed directly, or as a mild laxative preparation. For Insomnia/Anxiety: The crushed kernels (seeds) are traditionally taken with buttermilk or prepared as a sedative extract. For Skin Conditions (Wounds, Boils, Abscesses): A paste made from the fresh leaves and twigs is pounded and applied topically to the affected area for its astringent and healing properties. For Rheumatic Pain/Gout: The root bark juice is traditionally applied externally to the inflamed joints. For Fever and Thirst: The fruits are consumed fresh or in a preparation for their cooling and tonic effects. As an Antifungal: The seed kernel oil can be formulated into products like soaps or applied as a base oil.
Conclusion
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., known by names like Ber, Badar, and Indian Jujube, stands as a prominent and versatile medicinal plant, particularly within the biodiversity of Nepal and the broader Indo-Malaysian region. The plant is a remarkable natural resource, offering high nutritional value in its fruit and a comprehensive pharmacy in its parts—from the sedative seeds and astringent bark to the anti-inflammatory leaves. Its rich composition of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, validates its traditional use for ailments ranging from chronic digestive disorders (diarrhea, constipation) and skin infections (boils, wounds) to more complex conditions like diabetes and insomnia. The acceptance of Z. mauritiana in traditional systems like Ayurveda and its ongoing investigation in modern pharmacological studies confirm its status not just as a fruit crop, but as an essential, accessible, and pharmacologically diverse contributor to global and local health. Further research to isolate and characterize its active compounds will continue to solidify its role in developing future cost-effective and natural pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products.
