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The present work reported the bioinspired synthesis of Bi2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) using Ziziphus mauritiana leaves aqueous extract at four annealing temperatures (300, 400, 500, and 600C°) and examined annealing temperatures effect of on various physicochemical characteristics and photocatalytic activities of NPs. The XRD and Raman results reveal the existence of α and β polymorphs of Bi2O3 in all samples but with increase of calcination temperature the extent of α-phase, particle size, and crystallinity were increased while band gap value decreased. The BET results confirmed the mesoporous structure of all samples. Further, decolorization experiments conducted with crystal violet (CV) dye showed an observable effect of annealing temperature on the adsorption and photocatalytic efficacy of the prepared samples, and the utmost (99.88 %) removal of CV dye was computed with the Bi2O3 nanoparticles calcined at 300oC (B-300). The main active species involved in the photo-mineralization of dye was h+ followed by •OH.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian jujube displays genetic diversity and does not prominently display minute morphometric variations, and this makes correct identification a difficult and long-term task. However, little work has been conducted to bring jujube cultivars into domestication. So, the present study aimed to evaluate eleven cultivars of Indian jujube in terms of the fruit's morphometric characteristics, as well as molecular marker studies by plastidial megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase (matK) barcoding and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers for species differentiation, identification, and relationships among Indian jujube cultivars. The results of the morphometric characteristics showed that the mean geometric diameter, surface area, sphericity, sphericity ratio, shape index, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, and seed weight varied among cultivars. The results also showed that the color values of L*, a*, and b* for fruits differed in different cultivars. In addition, the results showed a discrepancy in the genetic diversity parameters related to the matK barcoding, ISSR markers, and relationships among Indian jujube cultivars. Substantially, hierarchical clustering by heatmap revealed that 'Zytoni' and 'Um-Sulaem' with spines seem to be mono-clades distinct from other cultivars, which related to variations in the expression levels of genes. Therefore, they should be relied upon together to distinguish and identify cultivars in order to maximize the effectiveness of local germplasm conservation and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant species Ziziphus mauritiana, recognized by its common name Indian jujube, is classified within the Rhamnaceae family. It has been widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties, including the treatment of asthma, anxiety, depression, fever, inflammation, and ulcers. Z. mauritiana parts, such as leaves and fruits, have been traditionally used to treat diarrhea, wounds, abscesses, swelling, gonorrhea, liver diseases, and asthma. Z. mauritiana fruits are widely recognized and valued for their nutritional and nutraceutical properties and are consumed in various forms such as dried, candied, pickled, and juice. The plant exhibits antioxidant activity, and extracts from its fruits, leaves, and seeds have shown promising results in terms of their antioxidant and anticancer activities. Phytochemical studies have identified various compounds in Z. mauritiana, including cyclopeptide alkaloids and lupane and ceanothane triterpenes. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the ethnobotanical uses, traditional medicinal uses, and phytochemical profile of Z. mauritiana, highlighting its potential as a valuable medicinal plant. Further research is warranted to explore its therapeutic potential and develop new pharmaceutical applications based on its bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Ziziphus mauritiana due to having a significant amount of protein and energy has been introduced as a part of fodder for light livestock, especially in conditions of food restrictions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Indian Ziziphus (Ziziphus mauritiana) leaves feeding on growth performance, hematology and blood biochemical parameters of Adani fattening goat kids. Materials and Methods: In this study, 16 Adani male goat kids with an average age of 180 ± 11 days and an average weight of 17.28 ± 1.32 kg were used in a completely randomized design using 2 treatments and 8 replications. At first, based on regular random method, samples were taken from Ziziphus mauritiana leaves. In order to mix Ziziphus mauritiana leaves with other components of the ration, after drying in the sun, Ziziphus mauritiana leaves were cut into small pieces (2-3 cm). Experimental treatments include: 1) basal diet without Ziziphus mauritiana leaves (control diet), 2) basal diet with 20% Ziziphus mauritiana leaves (based on the percentage of dry matter of the ration). In the experimental diet, Ziziphus mauritiana leaves replaced with 20% of alfalfa in the control diet. In order to acclimatize the animals, a period of 15 days was considered. Goats were kept in individual stalls and fed experimental diets for 75 days. During the experiment, the feed consumed two times a day according to appetite and water was freely available to the Goats. Weighing of the goat kids was done weekly and before the morning feed, and the amount of feed given and remaining was weighed daily. On days 0, 35 and 75, blood samples were taken from the the jugular vein of goats kids and the blood parameters included RBC, WBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HGB, platelet, total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, LDL, HDL., urea, glucose, calcium and phosphorus were measured. Results: Investigating the growth performance did not show a significant effect between the final weight, daily weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of the experimental treatments (P<0.05). The results of investigation of haematological parameters showed significant changes in the average concentration of white blood cells (WBC), the average volume of red blood cells (MCV) and platelets at the 35th day, as well as the average concentration of white blood cells and platelets at the 75th day of the experiment (P<0.05). The interaction effect of the feeding level of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves and the sampling time on the blood parameters of Adani fattening goat kids had only a significant effect on the average concentration of white blood cells (P<0.05). Investigation of blood biochemical parameters only showed that feeding of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves had significant effect on the average concentration of calcium at the 35th day and the average concentration of protein at the 75th day of the experiment (P<0.05). The interaction effect of the feeding level the Ziziphus mauritiana leaves and sampling time on the blood biochemical parameters of Adani goat kids had significant effect only on the average concentration of protein of the treatments (P<0.05). Conclusion: Finally, the results of this study showed that Ziziphus mauritiana leaves can be used up to 20% of the forage consumption of Adni fattening goat kids without negative effect on haematological and blood biochemical parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different plants may contain varying amounts of phytochemicals and also different degrees of toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals present in the most active column fraction of ethanol leaf extract of the Ziziphus mauritiana plant and their toxic effects using brine shrimp lethality assay and animal model. Crude ethanol extract was obtained by maceration while fraction was achieved using a column chromatography experiment. Toxicity was evaluated with brine shrimp lethality assay and albino rat’s models while characterization was achieved with liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry. Ziziphus mauritiana leaves revealed 42 fractions pooled into seven fractions. Fraction three (3) was the most toxic with the brine shrimp lethality assay of (31.48ug/ml) and its toxicological evaluation revealed an adverse effect on the hematological parameter, biochemical indices, and histo-architecture of the liver and kidney of the experimental model studied. LCMS analysis of the most toxic fraction revealed the presence of Antirrhinoside, Lucidumol A, Apigenin 7-glucuronide-4'-(6''-malonylglucoside), Dioscoreside C, Camellioside D, and others which have been reported for various pharmacological effects including adverse effects, The mode of toxicity may be synergistic, individual, or antagonistic which may explain the moderate toxicity observed in animal model. Administration of these fractions may lead to toxicity despite their potential.

Injury to the liver is a significant public health issue that affects people all over the world, which necessitates the creation of innovative treatments that are both effective and safe. Due to the antioxidant activity that it possesses, Ziziphus mauritiana (Z. mauritiana) has traditionally been considered to have therapeutic potential against many organ toxicity disorders. In the current work, the objective was to assess the antioxidant activities in vitro and the potential hepatoprotective effects of hydroethanolic extracts from Z. mauritiana seeds (ZMSE) against 2-nitropropane (2-NP) produced liver damage (Fibrosis) in rats. Additionally, the phytochemical contents of the extracts were to be identified. Through in vitro testing, the extract demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, as well as a high quantity of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds respectively. By activating the hepatic antioxidant defense mechanisms, modulating hepatic functions, and decreasing the production of lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory mediators, and collagen content, oral administration of ZMSE (especially high dose) significantly suppressed the incidence and severity of 2-NP-induced liver toxicity. However, the degree of suppression varied depending on the dose. There is a possibility that the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and diterpenoids is responsible for these activities. These findings demonstrate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ZMSE when administered in varying doses (200, 400, or 800 mg/kg body weight), demonstrate the protective and beneficial effects of the seed against 2-NP-induced hepatic toxicity in rats, and provide support for its consumption, traditional uses, and the promotion of its valorization as a nutraceutical product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), also known as Ziziphus jujuba Mill is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat pain, vertigo, amnesia, and sleeplessness. The objective of this research was to examine the anxiolytic properties of the ethanolic extract of Ziziphus mauritiana (EEZM) in several behavioral paradigms using Swiss albino mice as experimental subjects. Methodology: after an oral acute toxicity investigation, adult mice were administered EEZM at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, orally, and/or diazepam at a dose of 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. Subsequently, the mice were exposed to several behavioral assessments. The open-field test included recording the number of square fields crossed while in the light/dark test, the time spent in the light area was calculated and in the Elevated Plus Maze test, the time spent in both the open and closed arms, as well as the number of entries into the open arm were calculated. Furthermore, a comprehensive examination of phytochemicals was conducted. Results: The anti-anxiety efficacy of the ethanol extract of Z. mauritiana was shown to be statistically significant (p

Ziziphus mauritiana is widely found in Sumbawa arid and semi-arid area. It is a drought tolerant plant which grows in areas with extreme conditions. While information of the utilisation of Bidara seeds as activated carbon is available, there are limited resources that use Bidara woods. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the activated charcoal derived from Z. mauritiana wood which was activated using 25%, 30% and 35% of H2SO4 and NaOH. The moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and iodine absorption capacity were investigated and compared to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI. 06-3730-1995). The result showed that NaOH activated charcoal obtained higher quality compared to the H2SO4 activated charcoal. The best activated charcoal was obtained from 35% of NaOH which has 1.19% moisture content, 13.21% ash content, 1.42% volatile matter, 84.73% fixed carbon, and 1892.40 mg/g iodine number. This study concludes that the characteristics of Z. mauritiana activated charcoal (except the ash content) comply with Indonesian National Standard and potentially can be developed as an adsorbent.

Carbon dots (CDs) derived from biological entities significantly play a major part in environmental and biomedical applications, comprising electrocatalytic oxidations, antibiotics detection, biosensing, and bioimaging. In the present work, facile green synthesis of blue-emitting CDs has been done using one-step hydrothermal treatment of pulp extract of Ziziphus mauritiana, acting as a natural source of carbon for optical determination of ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotics. The process is easy, safe for the environment, and doesn't require any specialized equipment or chemicals. The structural and optical characteristics of the synthesized CDs are done using XRD, FTIR, UV–visible spectroscopies, SEM-EDX, PL, and TEM. CDs were found to have a quasi-spherical shape with an average size of 2.54 nm. Nitrogen (1.2 wt.%), oxygen (41.8 wt.%), and carbon (40.7 wt.%) are the main component found in CDs, as observed by EDX. These CDs showed blue emission under UV light, excitation-dependent emission, and wide excitation-emission spectra. These prepared CDs were used to selectively detect CIP and exhibit a high quantum yield of 30% at the excitation wavelength of 340 nm. After the optimal parameters, the sensor gave the linear detection range from 10 to 100 µM along with a detection limit of 0.56 µM. Moreover, the practical applicability of the developed sensor was confirmed in real milk samples to test the consistency and accuracy of the sensor. In conclusion, the proposed method is a green, rapid, highly sensitive, and selective method for the detection of CIP in real milk samples, demonstrating the potential application of CDs in food detection.

Objective to investigate the efficacy of the 96% ethanol extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves on hemostasis activity in animal model study (Sprague-Dawley rats). A laboratory experimental in vitro and in vivo study were conducted with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with randomized controlled design with a posttest-only control group design. Fifteen animals were used as research material, divided into 5 groups, negative control group (NCG), positive control group with golden standard hemostatic agent tranexamic acid 5% (TXA), 25% concentration of Z. mauritiana leaves extract (ZM25), 50% concentration (ZM50), and 100% concentration (ZM100). The bleeding time and the amount of bleeding were calculated by cutting the tip of the tails of the SD rats. PT, aPTT and TT were measured by taking blood samples from the SD rats. The data analysed using the Shapiro Wilk normality test, normally distributed data followed by a one-way ANOVA test with a significance level (p<0.05), continued with the Post-Hoc test. The ZM100 group shows a significant difference with NCG, TXA and ZM25 groups in bleeding time. The NCG group shows a significant differences with all samples in the amount of bleeding. The ZM100 group shows a significant difference with all test groups in PT, aPTT and TT test. The ethanol extract of Z. mauritiana leaves can accelerate bleeding time and the amount of bleeding, the extract can also stimulate the acceleration of PT, aPTT and TT factor in the bleeding cascade at high concentrations (100%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) (Chinee Apple, Indian Jujube, or Ber) is a significant woody weed in the drier tropics of northern Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Throughout these regions, its densely formed thickets influence the structure, function, and composition of rangeland ecosystems by outcompeting native pasture species. Despite this, the recent literature is heavily focused on the horticultural value of domesticated Ziziphus species in South Asia (China, India, and Pakistan), particularly its potential for poverty alleviation in arid or semi-arid areas. In fact, there has been comparatively little research undertaken on its invasiveness or associated ecological factors in pastoral contexts. Currently, the management of Z. mauritiana is limited to the application of synthetic herbicides or mechanical clearing operations. There is also considerable interest in the exploitation of host-specific, natural enemies (biological control agents, herbivorous insects, fungi, bacteria, or viruses) for limiting the vigour, competitiveness, or reproductive capacity of Z. mauritiana in northern Australia. The development of a "bioherbicide" in lieu of synthetic counterparts may foster a more resilient coexistence between agricultural systems and the natural environment owing to its reduced environmental persistence and increased target specificity. This review summarises the current literature on the weediness, ecological impacts, and current management of this problematic weed, thereby identifying (i) opportunities for further research and (ii) recommendations for improved management within its invasive range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Controlled mycorrhization and rock phosphate fertilization were two important tools to domesticate indigenous fruit trees with an emphasis on Z. mauritiana. • Controlled mycorrhization and rock phosphate fertilization improved growth and nutrition of indigenous fruit trees in nursery. • Increasing of survival and fruit production of jujube trees in orchards was due to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation • Persistence of the introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus with little disturbance in native ones on roots of jujube trees. Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. also named Indian jujube is an important indigenous fruit tree (IFT) to rural people as a source of food and income, whereas it is neglected and underutilized in the West African agroforestry systems. Domestication of Z. mauritiana can help to preserve its genetic resources, to cultivate its germplasm and to improve its fruit production in orchards. Controlled mycorrhization and rock phosphate (RP) fertilization are two approaches to domesticate Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. by improving its growth, nutritional status and fruit production in the P-deficient soils. Here, we review the following (i) relative mycorrhizal dependency (RMD) of Z. mauritiana compared to six Ziziphus spp. [ Z. lotus (L.) Lam., Z. spina-christi (L.) Desf., Z. mucronata Willd., Z. amphibia A. Chev., Z. abyssinica A. Rich. and Z. sphaerocarpa Tul.] and eleven ITFs [ Adansonia digitata L, Aphania senegalensis Radlk, Anacardium occidentale L., Cordyla pinnata (Lepr. ex A. Rich.) Milne-Redhead, Dialium guineensis Wild., Landolphia heudelottii A.DC., Sclerocarya birrea (A. Roch.) Hochst., Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.), Tamarindus indica L.], (ii) response to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation and RP fertilization on Z. mauritiana growth and nutrition in nursery, (iii) impact of an introducing exotic AM fungus on already existing AM fungal assemblages in roots of jujube trees after planting, (iv) role of AM fungi and RP fertilizer on growth and fruit production of two Z. mauritiana cultivars (Gola from India and Tasset from Senegal) after planting in arid and semi-arid regions of Senegal. Z. mauritiana provenances and cultivars (Gola and Tasset) appeared to be higher depend on AM fungi than Ziziphus spp. and IFTs. In AM Z. mauritiana seedlings inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis IR 27, the highest phosphorus dose of RP applied (250 kg P per ha) produced the best plant growth regardless of the sources of the phosphorus applied. The growth-promoting effects of pre-inoculated jujube with the exotic strain R. irregularis IR 27 in nursery was still maintained 18 months after planting, with significant higher rates of survival and an increase of fruit production for inoculated jujube cultivars without disturbance of native AM fungal communities. Inoculated Tasset cultivar gave the highest mean number of fruits (c.a. 300 and per tree), twice the amount of that obtained for Gola, whereas highest mean fresh weight of fruits was obtained for inoculated Gola cultivar (c.a. 670 g per tree). Success and sustained positive effects of pre-inoculation with R. irregularis IR27 hold promise for the role that AM fungal inoculum could play within fruit production of other fruit trees cultivated in West African orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian jujube displays genetic diversity and does not prominently display minute morphometric variations, and this makes correct identification a difficult and long-term task. However, little work has been conducted to bring jujube cultivars into domestication. So, the present study aimed to evaluate eleven cultivars of Indian jujube in terms of the fruit’s morphometric characteristics, as well as molecular marker studies by plastidial megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase (matK) barcoding and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers for species differentiation, identification, and relationships among Indian jujube cultivars. The results of the morphometric characteristics showed that the mean geometric diameter, surface area, sphericity, sphericity ratio, shape index, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, and seed weight varied among cultivars. The results also showed that the color values of L*, a*, and b* for fruits differed in different cultivars. In addition, the results showed a discrepancy in the genetic diversity parameters related to the matK barcoding, ISSR markers, and relationships among Indian jujube cultivars. Substantially, hierarchical clustering by heatmap revealed that ‘Zytoni’ and ‘Um-Sulaem’ with spines seem to be mono-clades distinct from other cultivars, which related to variations in the expression levels of genes. Therefore, they should be relied upon together to distinguish and identify cultivars in order to maximize the effectiveness of local germplasm conservation and exploitation.

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) is a large spiny shrub or small tree, native to the Indian subcontinent that can reach a maximum height of 9–15 m. This plant stands as a renowned tropical fruit variety, commonly recognized as the Indian plum, Desert apple, or Indian Jujube. The objective of this study was to examine the standard physicochemical parameters of Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil and to formulate the ketoconazole soap (2 % w/w), using the obtained oil, as a base. The oil was obtained through hexane extraction from the seed kernels. To formulate pharmaceutical ketoconazole soap, Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil was subjected to a basic saponification reaction using potassium hydroxide. All the examined physicochemical parameters, namely acid value (4.71 mg KOH/g), saponification value (229.18 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (4.15 milliequivalents KOH/g), ester value (224.47 mg KOH/g), iodine value (11.19 mg KOH/g), refractive index (1.448), pH (5.93), viscosity (89 cP), and specific gravity (0.912 g/mL) were within the acceptable range for industrial purposes. The examination of quality control parameters, namely drug content (99.49 %), total fatty matter (71.13 %), foam retention time (17.21 min), foam height (18.56 cm), moisture content (9.14 %), and pH (7.16) indicated that the newly formulated ketoconazole soap complied with the acceptable limits. In summary, our research demonstrated the excellent physicochemical stability of Z. mauritiana seed kernel oil and its suitability as a soap base, supporting its promising prospects for cost-effective production of cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos in the pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries, reducing reliance on synthetic bases.

In the course of the screening of plants from Niger for antiprotozoal activity, the methanol extract of Cassia sieberiana, and the dichloromethane extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana and Sesamun alatum were found to be active against protozoan parasites, namely Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and/or Plasmodium falciparum. Myricitrin (1), quercitrin (2) and 1-palmitoyl-lysolecithin (3) were isolated from C. sieberiana. From Z. mauritiana, the three triterpene derivatives 13, 15, and 16 are described here for the first time. Their chemical structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, UV, IR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations were assigned via comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. In addition, eight known cyclopeptide alkaloids (4, 5, 7–12), and five known triterpenoids (6, 14, 17–19) were isolated. The antiprotozoal activity of the isolated compounds, as well as of eleven quinone derivatives (20–30) previously isolated from S. alatum was determined in vitro. The cytotoxicity in L6 rat myoblast cells was also evaluated. Compound 18 showed the highest antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.2 µm) and compound 24 inhibited T. b. rhodesiense with an IC50 value of 0.007 µM. However, it also displayed significant cytotoxicity in L6 cells (IC50 = 0.4 µm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ber is an antioxidant‐rich fruit from Asia and has recently been cultured in Central America. The antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity of Z. mauritiana cultured of bers from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, were evaluated. Two farm locations and two cultivars were evaluated. Total polyphenolic compounds (TPC), proanthocyanidin compounds (PAC), and ascorbic acid were spectrophotometrically quantified. Antioxidant activity has been analyzed using the DPPH method. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Kirby‐Bauer disk diffusion method. Ber samples contained 11–44 mg GAE/g TPC. Green fruits and leaves had the highest concentrations. The ascorbic acid concentration in ber fruits was determined between 251 and 466 mg/100 g. Ber vitamin C content is higher than most common fruits. Proanthocyanidin compounds were determined between 1.8 and 9.9 mg 4‐MCG/g, and the highest concentration was observed in the leaves. Our samples showed the antioxidant activity of 90–387 μmol TE/g, which was moderate activity. The nutritional quality of ber fruits was related to maturity conditions. The ber fruits, a crop from Asia previously adapted to live in Costa Rica, are rich in vitamin C and TPC, and the concentration of those metabolites was even higher than the concentration reported in bers grown in other countries. The TPC and PACs had an interestingly wide antimicrobial spectrum. Cultivars and farm locations have a significant effect on metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The crude ethyl acetate Trichoderma viride extract obtained from Ziziphus mauritiana was initially analyzed by HPLC for identification of major bioactive compounds, and then, it was subjected for in vivo acute and sub-acute toxicity, cervical cancer studies using Wistar albino rats. Result During acute toxicity studies, animal groups treated with distinct dosage of 2000 mg/kg restrained toxicity signs in tested groups compared to controls for 14 days which established to be secure and non-toxic even at high dose. However, in terms of sub-acute toxicity studies, animals were given with repeated amount of (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) for a period of 28 days along with control group. Upon investigations of hematological, biochemical and histopathological studies repeated dose of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of T. viride extract found to be normal and no other major changes observed among treated groups. During in vivo studies, after treatment of T. viride extract (40 mg/kg) effectively inhibited the cervical cancer cell growth in DES-treated groups. Through HPLC analysis the major compound ursolic acid and 2,5-piperazinedione were mainly identified. Conclusion The secondary metabolites of endophytes have been used substantially for the sustainable production of therapeutically important compounds. The limited availability of bioactive principles in plant sources could be surpassed by exploiting the chemical entities in the endophytes. In the present investigation, it has been accomplished that ethyl acetate extract of T. viride was safe at higher and lower dosage could be considered for pharmacological studies from plant may provide an excellent avenue for the discovery of drug candidates against deadly cancer diseases.

Abstract Background Ziziphus species particularly Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus nummularia constitute an important part of genetic resources in India. They contribute economically as a fruit crop with lots of morphological and pomological variability. In current study, 48 accessions belonging to two wild Ziziphus species, i.e., Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia, were characterized using SSR markers. In addition, external features were also examined using stereomicroscope. Results Present investigation was done to explore the genetic structure of North Indian jujube. In total, 23 SSR markers detected 57 SSR alleles with an average of 2.47 alleles. Highest number of alleles (4) were detected by three primers, namely BFU1178, BFU479, and ZCMS14, while lowest number of alleles (2) were detected by fifteen primers. Highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was 0.500 and shown by two primers, namely BFU528 and BFU1248, while lowest PIC (0.041) was observed in primers BFU286 with mean value of 0.443. Similarly, highest value of marker index (MI) was detected by primer BFU1178 i.e. 1.969, and lowest value of marker index was observed in primer BFU286 i.e. 0.021. Dendrogram generated using SSR markers data and principal component analysis showed two major groups of the analyzed germplasm with intermixing. STRUCTURE analysis also clustered all the accessions into two groups. We did not found correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Conclusions The preliminary results suggest that there is high level of gene pool mixing in these species which can be attributed to their cross-pollination habit. However, more such studies with large numbers of samples are required in future to gain concrete insights of the genetic structure in these species.

In the course of the screening of plants from Niger for antiprotozoal activity, the methanol extract of Cassia sieberiana, and the dichloromethane extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana and Sesamun alatum were found to be active against protozoan parasites, namely Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani and/or Plasmodium falciparum. Myricitrin (1), quercitrin (2) and 1-palmitoyl-lysolecithin (3) were isolated from C. sieberiana. From Z. mauritiana, the three triterpene derivatives 13, 15, and 16 are described here for the first time. Their chemical structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, UV, IR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations were assigned via comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. In addition, eight known cyclopeptide alkaloids (4, 5, 7–12), and five known triterpenoids (6, 14, 17–19) were isolated. The antiprotozoal activity of the isolated compounds, as well as of eleven quinone derivatives (20–30) previously isolated from S. alatum was determined in vitro. The cytotoxicity in L6 rat myoblast cells was also evaluated. Compound 18 showed the highest antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.2 µm) and compound 24 inhibited T. b. rhodesiense with an IC50 value of 0.007 µM. However, it also displayed significant cytotoxicity in L6 cells (IC50 = 0.4 µm).

Ziziphus mauritiana is used as food and medicine. It is very nutritive and contains high amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. To choose an appropriate technique for fruit preservation, this study evaluated the effect of temperature and time on the nutritional and anti-nutritional qualities of Ziziphus mauritiana fruit harvested from Kobo Woreda in North-Eastern Ethiopia. This study assessed the impact of preservation parameters on the nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of Ziziphus mauritiana fruit, such as storage temperature and preservation day (time). Ziziphus mauritiana fruit was also analyzed to evaluate storage temperature and preservation day on its nutritional and antinutritional composition and found moisture content (5.25–10.99%), ash content (4.74–10.70%), crude fiber (3.81–17.88), fat (0.49–2.16), nitrogen content (1.01–1.8%), protein content (6.33–11.27), phytate content (67.27–659.33 mg/100 g m), and tannin content (3842.46–16577.80 mg/100 g m). The findings revealed that both individual and interaction effects were highly significant differences (p-value, 0.0001) in each nutritional and antinutritional content of the fruit. The results of this study showed that it was possible to store Ziziphus mauritiana fruit using plastic bags (High-Density Polyethylene Bags), and further deep-freezing the fruit had the best effect on preserving it in its fresh state (without damage) for up to 45 days.

Ziziphus mauritiana methanol crude extract was evaluated for its insecticidal properties against Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae. Bioassays against larvae mosquitoes were done following World Health Organization’s guidelines. Late third and/or early fourth instar of mosquito larva were assayed for five different concentrations viz. 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mg ml–1 of Z. mauritiana crude extracts. From the results obtained, Aedes aegypti was the most susceptible to Z. mauritiana crude extracts. The percentage of mortality exhibited above 50% of 200, 250, and 300 mg ml–1 in 24, 48, and 72 hr exposure. Thus, it gives the lowest LC50 within 24 hr of exposure (121.98 mg L–1), followed by Ae. albopictus (189.89 mg L–1) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (246.22 mg L–1). Observation of the morphology effect of the dead larvae shows Ae. aegypti was the most affected, followed by Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. A ruptured midgut was observed in 100 and 200 mg ml–1 concentrations. In contrast, in higher concentrations of 300 mg ml–1, the abdominal segments were indistinguishable, and the head and thorax regions were severely damaged. This study suggested that Z. mauritiana methanolic crude extracts were potent against Ae. aegypti larvae mosquitoes and have the potential to be used as an alternative larvicide in population control. However, further studies are required to establish the potential of Z. mauritiana larvicidal effects in the field setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the effects of guar gum (GGM) based edible coatings containing citric acid (CA) as antibrowning agents and 0, 3, 5, and 10% of mint leaves extract (ME). The fabricated active film was characterized by measuring its physical and mechanical properties, barrier, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Storage tests at 23 °C for 15 days were performed for uncoated ber fruit, neat guar gum-citric acid, and guar gum-citric acid with mint leaves extract. Physicochemical and sensory parameters of coated ber fruit were measured. FTIR confirmed physical interactions between GGM and CA. A film with 10% of ME showed 1.81 ± 0.87 antimicrobial activities and 91.22 ± 024% antioxidant capacity. It displayed reduced respiration rate, TSS, weight loss, and was firmer than the non-coated ber at the storage end. The results designated that the film with 10% ME coating indicated a high perspective to prolong the storability of ber, and sensory aspects of 5 and 10% ME containing film increased, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ziziphus species particularly Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus nummularia constitute an important part of genetic resources in India. They contribute economically as a fruit crop with lots of morphological and pomological variability. In current study, 48 accessions belonging to two wild Ziziphus species, i.e., Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia, were characterized using SSR markers. In addition, external features were also examined using stereomicroscope. Results: Present investigation was done to explore the genetic structure of North Indian jujube. In total, 23 SSR markers detected 57 SSR alleles with an average of 2.47 alleles. Highest number of alleles (4) were detected by three primers, namely BFU1178, BFU479, and ZCMS14, while lowest number of alleles (2) were detected by fifteen primers. Highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was 0.500 and shown by two primers, namely BFU528 and BFU1248, while lowest PIC (0.041) was observed in primers BFU286 with mean value of 0.443. Similarly, highest value of marker index (MI) was detected by primer BFU1178 i.e. 1.969, and lowest value of marker index was observed in primer BFU286 i.e. 0.021. Dendrogram generated using SSR markers data and principal component analysis showed two major groups of the analyzed germplasm with intermixing. STRUCTURE analysis also clustered all the accessions into two groups. We did not found correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Conclusions: The preliminary results suggest that there is high level of gene pool mixing in these species which can be attributed to their cross-pollination habit. However, more such studies with large numbers of samples are required in future to gain concrete insights of the genetic structure in these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, microencapsulation has become a viable method of nutrient delivery for the food industry. This work microencapsulated the bioactive compounds extracted from two neglected species (Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana) by freeze-drying. A combination of wall materials (whey protein and pectin; soy protein and maltodextrin) was chosen to prepare the microcapsules. The phytochemical and physicochemical characterization of the microcapsules was then carried out. The encapsulation yield ranged from 82.77% to 96.05% for Balanites and Ziziphus, respectively, whereas the efficiency was 76.18 ± 1.39% and 80.93 ± 1.71%. The stimulated in vitro gastrointestinal test showed that encapsulation increased the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds. The total carotenoids were the most bioavailable compounds with 85.89 ± 0.06% for Ziziphus and 70.46 ± 1.10% for Balanites, followed by total flavonoids for Zizyphus with 63.27 ± 1.56%. Furthermore, regardless of species or wavelengths, the HPLC analysis resulted in the identification of 17 bioactive metabolites. The predominant one was epicatechin, whose level ranged from 231.52 ± 5.06 to 250.99 ± 3.72 mg/100 g DW in Ziziphus and 91.80 ± 3.85 to 116.40 ± 4.09 mg/100 g DW in Balanites. In estimating the enzyme inhibition and antioxidant power, both studied fruits showed antidiabetic, inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. These findings suggest that natural bioactive compounds are abundant in the fruits of Z. mauritiana and B. aegyptiaca and could be a valuable source for the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ziziphus fruits are recognized as a rich source of biologically active compounds, such as polysaccharides, phenolics, triterpenes, saponins, etc. related to both nutritional and nutraceutical importance. In order to explore more about the phytochemical potential and health benefits of these wild fruits, these have been analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Betulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic lupane-type triterpenoid distributed widely throughout the plant kingdom. It exhibits a number of biomedical activities like retarding the progression of HIV1 (human immunodeficiency virus 1) infection, selectively killing human melanoma cells while leaving healthy cells alive, anti-inflammatory activity, antibacterial, and anthelmintic properties. The present study was aimed to quantify BA from the methanolic extracts of the wild fruits of two Ziziphus species (Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia) collected from different parts of Northwest India. The HPTLC‒densitometric determination of BA was performed using the optimized mobile phase of petroleum ether‒ethyl acetate‒toluene (7:2:1, V/V). Post-chromatographic derivatization was done by using anisaldehyde‒sulphuric acid reagent. For densitometry measurements, the plates were scanned at 580 nm absorbance/reflectance wavelength. The amount of compound (% w/w) was observed to be maximum in ZM-10 (0.922 ± 0.006) collected from Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), ZN-3 (0.335 ± 0.004) from Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and minimum in ZM-4 (0.042 ± 0.002) from Ponta Sahib (Himachal Pradesh), ZN-1 (0.016 ± 0.003) from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh). The results of the study revealed that the wild fruits of Ziziphus species are rich sources of triterpenoids besides minerals and vitamins and can be further used in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, both species can be further explored for the development of potential therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) (Chinee Apple, Indian Jujube, or Ber) is a significant woody weed in the drier tropics of northern Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. Throughout these regions, its densely formed thickets influence the structure, function, and composition of rangeland ecosystems by outcompeting native pasture species. Despite this, the recent literature is heavily focused on the horticultural value of domesticated Ziziphus species in South Asia (China, India, and Pakistan), particularly its potential for poverty alleviation in arid or semi-arid areas. In fact, there has been comparatively little research undertaken on its invasiveness or associated ecological factors in pastoral contexts. Currently, the management of Z. mauritiana is limited to the application of synthetic herbicides or mechanical clearing operations. There is also considerable interest in the exploitation of host-specific, natural enemies (biological control agents, herbivorous insects, fungi, bacteria, or viruses) for limiting the vigour, competitiveness, or reproductive capacity of Z. mauritiana in northern Australia. The development of a “bioherbicide” in lieu of synthetic counterparts may foster a more resilient coexistence between agricultural systems and the natural environment owing to its reduced environmental persistence and increased target specificity. This review summarises the current literature on the weediness, ecological impacts, and current management of this problematic weed, thereby identifying (i) opportunities for further research and (ii) recommendations for improved management within its invasive range.

The study is based on secondary data on lac production during the XI (2007-08 to 2011-12) and XII plans (2012-13 to 2016-17). Some econometric parameters, viz. Minimum, maximum, mean production, growth rate, percentage changes in mean during the XII plan over the XI plan period, and instability were rated. The state of Chhattisgarh, which contributed 30.21 per cent of national production during the XI plan period, decreased during the XII plan to 16.03%. During the XII plan, there is a 39.49 per cent reduction in the mean value. The negative growth rate recorded during the XI plan of 25.17 per cent decreased to 4.32 per cent during XII plan. The district-related percentage change in the mean from the XI to the XII plan showed that only the Bastar district recorded an increase of 39.18 per cent. The mean value decreased in the rest of the districts. Highest decline was recorded in Rajnandgaon (-72.23 %) followed by Raipur (-57.06%), Korba (-46.55%), Dhamtari (-41.97%), Bilaspur (-40.06%), Bastar (-39.18%), Durg (-34.05%), Kanker (-28.89 %), Janjgir-Champa (-22.44 %), Mahasamund (-17.61%), and Surguja district (-7.65%). In respect of instability in production during the XII plan, only Bastar and Janjgir districts recorded lower instability than states record of 14.85 per cent. Crop wise lac production data for different lac growing districts were also analyzed to assess major suffered districts during XI and XII plan periods in Chhattisgarh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) holds a prominent position in the global fruit and pharmaceutical markets. Here, we report the assemblies of haplotype-resolved, telomere-to-telomere genomes of autotetraploid wild and cultivated Indian jujube plants using a two-stage assembly strategy. The generation of these genomes permitted in-depth investigations into the divergence and evolutionary history of this important fruit crop. Using a graph-based pan-genome constructed from eight monoploid genomes, we identified structural variation (SV)-FST hotspots and SV hotspots. Gap-free genomes provide a means to obtain a global view of centromere structures. We identified presence-absence variation-related genes in four monoploid genomes (cI, cIII, wI, and wIII) and resequencing populations. We also present the population structure and domestication trajectory of the Indian jujube based on the resequencing of 73 wild and cultivated accessions. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of mature fruits of wild and cultivated accessions unveiled the genetic basis underlying loss of fruit astringency during domestication of Indian jujube. This study reveals mechanisms underlying the divergence, evolution, and domestication of the autotetraploid Indian jujube and provides rich and reliable genetic resources for future research., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Phenolic compounds and flavonoids have several biological properties, such as antioxidant properties, trapping free radicals, and anti-inflammatory properties. Different solvents have different capabilities in extracting phenolic materials and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate and compare the different plants in the south of Iran regarding phenolic content and antioxidant properties; moreover, it was attempted to evaluate the effect of the solvent type on the mentioned issues. Material & Methods: A total of 15 genotypes of medicinal plants (Ficus religiosa L, Terminalia catappa, Ficus carica, Cordia myxa, Black mulberry, Grewia asiatica, Psidium guajava, Mangifera 1, Mangifera 2, Eucalypteae, Syzygium cumini, Ziziphus 1, Citrullus colocynthis, Ziziphus 2, Punica granatum) were obtained from Roodān region (Hormozgan Province in Iran) and were also evaluated based on two types of methanolic and acetone extracts in terms of antioxidant properties, as well as phenolic and flavonoid substances in a factorial design in a completely randomized format with three replications. Data were analyzed using Statistic software (version 10), and the means were compared using the least significant difference at a 1% probability level. Findings: The results of the analysis of variance showed that the mutual effect of the plant and antioxidant properties (based on the DPPH) for acetone and methanolic extracts was significant at a 1% probability level. In the use of acetone solvent, the highest amount of phenol was in eucalyptus (7.43 mg/gFW), followed by Syzygium cumini (Java Plum) (6.52 mg/gFW). Furthermore, the highest amount of flavonoids was in mango 1 (23.21 mg/gFW), followed by Terminalia catappa (Indian-almond) (18.75 mg/gFW) and eucalyptus (15.36 mg/gFW). The most antioxidant properties were in Psidium guajava (Guava) (85.24%), followed by Ziziphus mauritiana 1 (Jujube 1) (82.68%) and Terminalia catappa (Indian-almond) (82.31%). In the use of methanol solvent, the highest amount of phenol was in Syzygium cumini (Java Plum) (7.82 mg/gFW), followed by eucalyptus (7.34 mg/gFW). In addition, the highest amount of flavonoids was in Terminalia catappa (Indian-almond) (mangroves) and mango 1 (24.46 mg/gFW and 25.06 mg/gFW, respectively) and then Grewia asiatica (Phalsa) (16.07 mg/gFW) and Ziziphus mauritiana 1(Jujube 1) (13.51 mg/gFW). The highest antioxidant properties were obtained from Terminalia catappa (Indian-almond) (82.07%), pomegranate (78.97%), and Ziziphus mauritiana 1(Jujube 1) (78.16%). Discussion & Conclusion: The most critical solvent for the extraction of phenol and Flavonoid substances with high oxidative properties is acetone. The most useful plants in terms of the presence of materials and antioxidant properties were Terminalia catappa (Indian-almond) and Ziziphus mauritiana (Jujube).

Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), commonly known as Ziziphus jujuba Mill, is in traditional Chinese medicine enriched with high medicinal values. In Indian and Chinese traditional medicine, a decoction of Ziziphus mauritiana leaves was used to cure insomnia, amnesia, pain, and vertigo. The study aims to determine the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam leaves to establish a rationale for their use. We studied analgesic activity by writhing and the hot plate methods in mice, whereas mechanical allodynia in rats. Also, rats were used in carrageenan anti-inflammatory and brewer's yeast-caused pyrexia. MEZ were tested at 250 and 500 mg/kg orally. Molecular docking studies between 3 inflammatory pathway proteins and natural molecules are planned and carried out. CHARMm was used for docking, and the smart minimizer algorithm was used to reduce energy. Acute toxicity testing up to 5000 mg/kg showed no deaths. Both UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis and phytochemical analysis supported the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins. At a dose of 500 mg/kg, MEZ significantly (p

Ziziphus mauritiana is an edible fruiting plant commonly found in Asia. In Indonesia, this plant grows wild and thrives on the islands of Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa. Although it is edible and has good potential as food and medicinal ingredient, in Indonesia, the fruits of Z. mauritiana are underutilized and have almost no economic value. Information about the bioactivity and chemical content of the fruit is limited. To evaluate its possibility of being developed as functional food, a GC-MS and LC-MS/MS analysis was carried out to identify the phytochemical content of the fruit juice. From the GC-MS chromatogram, four compounds were identified with a quality match of 85% and above. The compounds were 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde (43.45%), 5, 5'-(oxybis(methylene)) bis-2-furancarbox-aldehyde (25.99%), 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (6.05%), and hexadecanoic acid (2.16%). The result of the LC-MS/MS analysis showed 42 peaks of different chemical compounds and included several groups of compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, and organic acids. From these results, it can be concluded that Ziziphus mauritiana fruit juice contains various chemical compounds that are likely to have medicinal activity and therefore has good potential to be used and developed as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is based on secondary data on lac production during the XI (2007-08 to 2011-12) and XII plans (2012-13 to 2016-17). Some econometric parameters, viz. Minimum, maximum, mean production, growth rate, percentage changes in mean during the XII plan over the XI plan period, and instability were rated. The state of Chhattisgarh, which contributed 30.21 per cent of national production during the XI plan period, decreased during the XII plan to 16.03%. During the XII plan, there is a 39.49 per cent reduction in the mean value. The negative growth rate recorded during the XI plan of 25.17 per cent decreased to 4.32 per cent during XII plan. The district-related percentage change in the mean from the XI to the XII plan showed that only the Bastar district recorded an increase of 39.18 per cent. The mean value decreased in the rest of the districts. Highest decline was recorded in Rajnandgaon (-72.23 %) followed by Raipur (-57.06%), Korba (-46.55%), Dhamtari (-41.97%), Bilaspur (-40.06%), Bastar (-39.18%), Durg (-34.05%), Kanker (-28.89 %), Janjgir- Champa (-22.44 %), Mahasamund (-17.61%), and Surguja district (-7.65%). In respect of instability in production during the XII plan, only Bastar and Janjgir districts recorded lower instability than states record of 14.85 per cent. Crop wise lac production data for different lac growing districts were also analyzed to assess major suffered districts during XI and XII plan periods in Chhattisgarh.

Ziziphus mauritiana commonly called jujube in English is known to be used in traditional medicine to cure various diseases such as fever, abdominal pain, nausea, wound healing, diarrhea, antiseptic, to mention few. Thus, toxicity studies are necessary to establish the safety of the plant. The present study aimed at determining the oral sub-chronic toxic effect of methanolic root extract of Z. mauritiana plant. Adult laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used for the study. Three different concentrations were administered orally for duration of 28 days. Food and water consumption, toxicity signs and mortality were observed daily and the mortality recorded. The body weight of each animal was monitored on weekly basis. Biochemical parameters and histopathological changes were analyzed to evaluate the liver and kidney functions. There is significant change in the average weight of the animals over the period of time at P-value <0.05. Death was recorded at higher (1000mg/kg) and medium (500mg/kg) concentrations only, with LD50 of 375mg/kg. There was no significant alteration in the biochemical parameters, however, there were slight abnormalities including slight vacuolation and hepatic necrosis, and slight tubular necrosis and hyperplasia of inflammatory cells in the histopathology of both liver and kidney respectively, for medium and higher treated group compared to control group. This indicated that daily repeated exposure to Ziziphus mauritiana root extract may be safer only at lower doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Storage Technologies, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, University of Basra during the growing season 2020-2021 on Sider fruits of red Malasi variety, which was brought from one of the private orchards in Al-Houta area of Shatt Al-Arab district in Basra Governorate. To improve the storage capacity of Sidr fruits and study some physical and chemical properties in them, the experiment was carried out according to a Complete randomized design (CRD), with three replications and three factors. The results showed that the treatment with chitosan coating at a concentration of 2% led to an improvement in the storage capacity of Sidr fruits by reducing the percentage of total spoilage, weight loss, and the percentage of total soluble solids (15.9, 3.78, 6.33%), respectively, and an increase in the water content and vitamin C, which amounted to (177.60, 66.86%), respectively and packing with polyethene bags succeeded in reducing the percentage of total spoilage, weight loss and total soluble solids, which were recorded (14.19, 4.56, 8.06%), respectively and the storage period of 8 weeks recorded the lowest percentage of water content, total acidity and vitamin C, which amounted to (146.0, 0.61, 62.18%), respectively. The difference between the averages was tested with the LSD test using the statistical program GenStat 2007 to analyze the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that Ziziphus mauritiana is ethnomedicinally beneficial against various diseases, however the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of this plant have not been well investigated. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of four different solvents extracts of Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam) leaf at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/L) using Allium cepa model. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity parameters evaluated were mitotic index, root tip growth length and chromosomal aberration respectively. The result revealed a decrease in mitotic index percentage (%MI) and a dose dependent decrease in root tip length with increase in extracts concentration for all the extracts studied - with the ethanol extract showing the most significant effect in mitotic index. Furthermore, the effective concentrations (EC50) obtained were 81.30, 52.01, 90.68 and 112.30 mg/l for aqueous, ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extract respectively. Finally chromosomal aberrations such as vagrant chromosome, c-mitosis, bridged anaphase, sticky telophase were also observed in all four extracts and the percentage chromosomal aberration were observed to decrease with increased concentrations of extracts. Therefore based on the result obtained in this study it may be concluded that the plant (Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam)) extracts are cytotoxic and genotoxic in nature and the observed decrease in percentage chromosomal aberration may be as a result of antimutagenic bioactive principles present in the plant extracts. Hence care must be taken in its consumption and use in folk medicine.

Currently, microencapsulation has become a viable method of nutrient delivery for the food industry. This work microencapsulated the bioactive compounds extracted from two neglected species (Balanites aegyptiaca and Ziziphus mauritiana) by freeze-drying. A combination of wall materials (whey protein and pectin; soy protein and maltodextrin) was chosen to prepare the microcapsules. The phytochemical and physicochemical characterization of the microcapsules was then carried out. The encapsulation yield ranged from 82.77% to 96.05% for Balanites and Ziziphus, respectively, whereas the efficiency was 76.18 ± 1.39% and 80.93 ± 1.71%. The stimulated in vitro gastrointestinal test showed that encapsulation increased the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds. The total carotenoids were the most bioavailable compounds with 85.89 ± 0.06% for Ziziphus and 70.46 ± 1.10% for Balanites, followed by total flavonoids for Zizyphus with 63.27 ± 1.56%. Furthermore, regardless of species or wavelengths, the HPLC analysis resulted in the identification of 17 bioactive metabolites. The predominant one was epicatechin, whose level ranged from 231.52 ± 5.06 to 250.99 ± 3.72 mg/100 g DW in Ziziphus and 91.80 ± 3.85 to 116.40 ± 4.09 mg/100 g DW in Balanites. In estimating the enzyme inhibition and antioxidant power, both studied fruits showed antidiabetic, inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. These findings suggest that natural bioactive compounds are abundant in the fruits of Z. mauritiana and B. aegyptiaca and could be a valuable source for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Present study was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan to evaluate eight Ber varieties viz Pak-White, Umran, Anokhi, Sufan, Bahawal-Seedless, Yazman, Aakash and Moon under Cholistan climatic conditions during 2017-19. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications (2 plants of each variety planted at plant to plant and row to distance of 25 feet in square system during 2010 and nourished with same cultural practices). Data were recorded on tree height, stem girth, leaf length, leaf width, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, stone weight, pulp ratio, total soluble solids, vitamin-C and yield per plant. From averages of 3 years, maximum tree height (7.8m), stem girth (1.9m), stone weight (2.3g), Vitamin-C (121mg/100g pulp) and yield were obtained by Pak White variety. Maximum leaf length (9 cm) and fruit diameter (3.7cm) was attained by Yazman variety. Maximum leaf width (6.1cm), pulp ratio (99%) alongwith minimum stone weight (0.1g), total soluble solids (12oBrix), Vitamin-C (98mg/100g pulp) and maximum yield (108kg/plant) were recorded by Bahawal Seedless. Umran had maximum fruit length (5.2cm) and Anokhi led in TSS (19oBrix). All varieties performed well under Cholistan condition and showed potential to be grown on marginal land for better economic return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop a method for identifying different cultivars of Indian jujube fruits (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) based on a single Indian jujube fruit color and morphological attributes using an artificial neural network (ANN) classifier. Eleven Indian jujube fruit cultivars were collected during winter of season 2020 from a local orchard located at Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia to measure their lengths, major diameters, and minor diameters. Different morphological descriptors were calculated, including the arithmetic mean diameter, the sphericity percent, and the surface area. Moreover, the color values of L*, a*, and b* of the skin of fruits were recorded. The ANN classifier was used to identify the appropriate class of Indian jujube fruit by using a combination of morphological and color descriptors. The proposed method achieved an overall identification rate of 98.39% and 97.56% in training and testing phases, respectively. In addition to color and morphological features, ANN classifier is a useful tool for identifying Indian jujube fruit cultivars and circumventing the difficulties met during fruit grading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plant species have seeds embedded in their fleshy pulp to attract frugivores, which enhances the chance of seed dispersal. However, some tropical plants are evolved with sharp spines to avoid herbivores and/or to prevent water loss, which makes foraging by frugivores difficult. Such plants receive frugivores' attention, either because of resource scarcity or adaptive behavioural plasticity. We have a limited understanding of how fruit-eating animals access fruits protected by spines. In this 1-year study, we describe bat foraging on a spiny tropical shrub, Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae) whose dried branches are often used by the local people to capture bats in caves that inevitably damage their wing membranes. The greater short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx was the only visitor to this spiny plant during its fruiting season and predominantly extracted fruits using a hovering tactic (on 81% observations) without damaging wing membranes. The hovering enabled them to extract fruits quicker than when alighting on the tree. Bats carried all the fruits away from the parent tree to feeding roosts for consumption. Bat foraging has thus effectuated short-distance seed dispersal (range 11–70 m radii) in which most seeds (30.73%) were found at the distance of 31–40 m in our search up to 150 m. Although bats extracted both ripe and unripe fruits, ripe-fruit extraction was 4.5 × higher than the unripe fruits. This study shows the tradeoff between getting a good meal and contending with spines in a resource-scarce habitat. Besides, this study describes the adaptive foraging tactics of greater short-nosed fruit bats that facilitate short-distance seed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]