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• Seventy-eight metabolites were annotated in two Ziziphus species collected from different localities by UPLC-MS/MS. • Samples' segregation in OPLS model was relied on their species type rather than their origin. • The Chinese Z. jujuba was more efficient than piroxicam in downregulating TNF-α levels. • OPLS coefficient plots resulted in identifying the anti-inflammatory biomarkers. Ziziphus is a cosmopolitan genus that has several traditional applications. One of them is alleviation of inflammation. However, Ziziphus mechanisms and exact biomarkers in charge of this effect are not extensively studied. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the phytochemical variability between the leaves' extracts of two Ziziphus species gathered from diverse geographic localities, scrutinizing their in vitro anti-inflammatory effects, identifying the mechanisms and exact biomarkers accountable for these effects utilizing UPLC-MS/MS along with an in vitro multivariate statistical approach. Seventy-eight metabolites were annotated by UPLC-MS/MS. These metabolites were found to belong to different chemical classes such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that samples' segregation was relied on their species type rather than their origin. Then, testing the effects of the studied extracts on the gene expression of four pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that Z. jujuba extract originating from China downregulated TNF-α to levels less than those caused by piroxicam, indicating its higher efficacy. The Orthogonal Projection to Latent Structures (OPLS) coefficient plots indicated that zizybeoside I, zizyphine G and lotusine G were among the most potential metabolites downregulating the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. However, ebelin lactone, oxyphylline B and zizyvoside I were from the more prominent biomarkers responsible for the downregulation of IL-1β. Furthermore, zizyphursolic acid, oxyphylline B and mauritine H, were strongly correlated with the downregulation of IFN-ɣ and IL-6. This study is the first attempt to decipher the anti-inflammatory metabolites from different Ziziphus species, valorizing their significance as a valuable traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oral acute and subchronic toxicities of Ziziphus jujuba were evaluated in rats. • No major signs of toxicity were observed in the liver and kidney. • Repeated oral administration is safe at up to 1000 mg kg-1 bw over a 28-day period. • Ziziphus jujuba bark is relatively safe at lower dose. Ziziphus jujuba is a medicinal botanical with various pharmacological properties against cardiovascular diseases, respiratory system diseases, gastrointestinal problems, dysentery, and diarrhea. Despite its exhaustive use for medicinal aims, no study has yet been directed to evaluate this plant's potentially toxic profile. The present work focused on the acute and subchronic toxicity of Z. jujuba bark extract. The acute oral toxicity was performed using the OECD guideline 425; Z. jujuba bark extract was administered to female rats at a single dose of 5000 mg kg-1 body weight. The subchronic acute oral toxicity was carried out according to OECD guidelines 407; Z. jujuba bark extract was administered to male and female rats at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg kg-1 bw; after 28 days of Z. jujuba bark extract daily administration, the animals were sacrificed. Hematological parameters, serum and urinary biochemical parameters, and histological sections of the liver and kidneys were assessed. Administration of the single-oral dose of Z. jujuba bark methanolic extract did not cause any death in rats, and the LD 50 was found to be greater than 5000 mg kg-1 bw. The repeated administration of Z. jujuba bark methanolic extract at 250, 500, and 1000 mg kg-1 bw did not induce any significant perturbation of the white blood cells, lymphocytes, red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets in rats as compared to the controls. For the lipid parameters, namely triglycerides and cholesterol, no significant difference was recorded between the profiles of the treated and untreated groups of animals. Likewise, we registered non-significant changes in renal parameters such as creatinine, urea, and proteins; this was confirmed by the histological sections, which showed a normal kidney structure. Besides, we did not observe any significant modification in the values of liver parameters, ALT and AST. This finding was further confirmed by the histological examination of the liver, which revealed the organ's normal structure. Finally, for single-oral administration, Z. jujuba bark extract is almost non-toxic. For repeated oral administration, Z. jujuba bark extract is safe at doses up to 1000 mg kg-1 bw over a 28-day period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a local Algerian agricultural waste biomass, Ziziphus jujuba, was valorized into a new low-cost biochar (JB). The biochar was produced by a simple pyrolysis at 700°C for 1 h under an inert atmosphere and was used as a low-cost adsorbent to remove Indigo carmine dye (IC) from aqueous solution. The JB biochar was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman, pHpzc, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller physico-chemical techniques. Adsorption studies were conducted using a batch process to study the effects of contact time, adsorbent amount, initial IC dye concentration, initial pH, ionic strength, and temperature. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were used to analyze equilibrium adsorption data, while the pseudo-firstorder, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze kinetic data. The equilibrium data was well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm with an R² value of 0.974. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 166.46 mg/g at 20°C according to the Langmuir model. The adsorption kinetic was found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption of IC onto JB biochar was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methanolic leaf extract of jujube is richer in phenolic compounds than that of moringa. • Twelve phenolic compounds were separated and quantified by RP-HPLC, and rutin was the major one in both plant species. • -Leaf extract of jujube was more active against free radicals, chelating/reducing of iron and cupric forms than that of moringa. • Positive correlation between individual phenolic compounds and different antioxidant activities. • Leaf extracts of both plant species displayed high anti-diabetic capacity through their high activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Medicinal plants constitute valuable sources of chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. In this study, phenolic pools have been extracted using MeOH from leaves of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) and twelve phenolic compounds have been identified. Invitro antioxidant activities (DPPH, NO•, ORAC, metal chelating, FRAP, and CUPRAC) and enzyme (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory effects of total phenolics have been evaluated. The amount of total phenolics was significantly higher in jujube (18.12±1.92 mg/g DW) than in moringa (3.09±0.25 mg/g DW).Separated compounds were also more abundant in jujube excepted for chlorogenic acid that was present at higher level (0.41±0.09 mg/g DW) in moringa than in jujube (0.03±0.00 mg/g DW). Among the major compounds, rutin was the most represented one in both species with 65% (11.80±1.43 mg/g DW) and 50% (1.56±0.11 mg/g DW) respectively in jujube and moringa. Concomitantly, methanolic extracts from jujube leaves displayed greater potential biological capacities against free radicals, chelating/reducing of iron or cupric forms and inhibitory enzymes as rescued by the lowest IC 50 and EC 50 values. The recorded data treated by PCA and Bi-plot analysis highlighted a positive correlation between phenolic pools and antioxidant activities particularly in jujube specie. Besides, statistic clustering of scored results on the inhibiton of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, showed a strong contribution of phenolic and flavonoid pools in anti-diabetic activity. All these data suggest the importance of Z. jujuba specie as a source of bioactive compounds, especially against diabetic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba ( Jujubae Fructus ) has been used as food and crude drug for thousands of years. Although several chemical and biological studies have revealed triterpenic acid as the main bioactive constituent of Jujubae Fructus responsible for immune-regulatory activity, only few pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted. To comprehend the kinetics of triterpenic acids and promote their curative application, a sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method (UPLC-MS/MS) was established. UPLC-MS/MS was applied for the simultaneous determination of ceanothic acid, epiceanothic acid, pomonic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, betulinic acid, and betulonic acid in normal and immunosuppressed rat plasma samples. After sample preparation, chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity UPLC BEH C 18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile: methanol (1:1, v/v) and 0.5% ammonium acetate in water as mobile phase. The established method was validated and found to be specific, accurate, and precise for the seven triterpenic acids, and was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of rat plasma samples. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters (C max , T max , AUC 0–t , AUC 0–∞, and CLz/F) in the plasma samples of immunosuppressed rats were significantly different from those in normal rats, and might provide an insight for the clinical usage of triterpenic acids from Jujubae Fructus . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ac-JP ameliorated blood routine in immunosuppressed mice. • Ac-JP could promote production of immune-related cytokines in serum in mice. • Ac-JP remarkably increased the beneficial gut microbiota of immunosuppressed mice. • Ac-JP remarkably reduced the harmful gut microbiota of immunosuppressed mice. This study aims to investigate the immune response and intestinal microbiota in immunosuppressed mice treated with acetylated jujube polysaccharide (Ac-JP), which exhibited superior water solubility compared to the original jujube polysaccharide (JP). Our study demonstrates that Ac-JP can enhance thymus and spleen indices, increase white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) levels in serum, as well as promote the production of immune-related cytokines (including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), immunoglobulin A (Ig-A), immunoglobulin G (Ig-G), and immunoglobulin M (Ig-M)) in the serum of cyclophosphamide (CTX)-treated mice. Notably, the administration of Ac-JP significantly increased the relative abundances of Alloprevotella and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 , as well as the concentration of acetic acid in the intestinal contents. Meanwhile, it led to a decrease in the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio. These findings indicate the potential of Ac-JP as a promising immunomodulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SQUAMOSA Promoter-Binding Protein-Likes (SPLs) are plant specific transcription factors playing important roles in plant growth and development. The SPL gene family has been studied in various plant species; however, there is no report about SPLs in Zizyphus jujuba . In this study, we identified 18 putative ZjSPL genes in Z. jujuba using a genome-wide analysis. Sequence features, gene structures, conserved domains and motifs were analyzed. The phylogenetic relationships of SPLs in Z. jujuba and A. thaliana were revealed. A total of 5 pairs of ZjSPLs were identified, suggesting the importance of gene duplication in SPL gene expansion in Z. jujuba . In addition, 11 of the 18 ZjSPLs, belonging to G1, G2 and G5 subgroups, were found to be targets of miR156, suggesting the conservation of miR156-mediated posttranscriptional regulation in plants. Expression analysis revealed that eight ZjSPL genes were responsive to the infection of witches'-broom phytoplasma. Our results provide a basis for the further elucidation of the biological function of ZjSPLs and their regulation in witches'-broom disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphus jujuba Mill., jujube, leaf infusions are popular bedtime beverages as they improve sleep by soothing the nerves. With the aim of providing further insights into the polyphenol content of jujube leaf infusion and their antioxidant activities, a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-guided purification of the aqueous extract of Z. jujuba Mill. leaves was conducted. Three major antioxidant polyphenols (i.e. quercitrin, catechin and gallocatechin) of the leaves were identified. In addition, a significant antibiofilm bioactivity against Streptococcus mutans , a causative agent of human dental caries, was detected for the aqueous leaf extract and its bio-guided separation resulted in the identification of the lupane triterpenoid alphitolic acid as the main antibiofilm metabolite. The results herein presented further promote the consumption of jujube leaf infusion as a healthy antioxidant bedtime beverage, and associate it to an unreported anti-caries activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of biofabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized by using the aqueous extract of Ziziphus jujuba leaves against a small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus. AgNPs characterization was done through UV–vis spectral analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction study, indicating synthesis of spherical and extremely small (28–44 nm) nanoparticles. In vitro anthelmintic assay was based on egg hatch assay (EHA) and adulticidal study. The highest concentration of AgNPs induced 91 ± 1.76 percent egg hatch inhibition. IC 50 and IC 90 values for EHA were 0.007 ppm and 7.71 ppm following AgNPs treatment and 301.83 ppm and 849.43 ppm with Z. jujuba aqueous leaf extract. In vitro adulticidal assay showed LC 50 and LC 90 values to be 15.29 ppm and 33.87 ppm with AgNPs while 942.68 ppm and 2047.50 ppm following exposure with Z. jujuba leaf extract. Distinct alterations were also noticed in egg morphology. Moreover, nutritional status of H. contortus was greatly influenced by AgNPs treatments as evident from significantly (P < 0.05) reduced levels of glycogen, lipid and proteins depicting 5.69–21.81% depletion in adult worms. To our knowledge these results depict for the first time that Z. Jujuba possesses anthelmintic as well as reducing properties for AgNPs synthesis which altered nutritional parameters thus could serve as a candidate anthelmintic agent for controlling life threatening H. contortus infections in small ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In deciduous fruit trees, the effect of chilling on flowering has mostly been investigated in the “indirect flowering” group, characterized by a period of rest between flower bud formation and blooming. In the present study, we explored the effects of chilling and chilling deprivation on the flowering of Ziziphus jujuba , a temperate deciduous fruit tree belonging to the “direct flowering” group, in which flower bud differentiation, blooming and fruit development occur after dormancy release, during a single growing season. Dormancy release, vegetative growth and flowering time in Z. jujuba cv. Ben-Li were assessed following several treatments of chilling. Chilling treatments quantitatively decreased the timing of vegetative bud dormancy release, thereby accelerating flowering, but had no effect on the time from dormancy release to flowering. Trees grown at a constant temperature of 25 °C, without chilling, broke dormancy and flowered, indicating the facultative character of chilling in this species. We measured the expression of Z. jujuba LFY and AP1 homologues ( ZjLFY and ZjAP1 ). Chilling decreased ZjLFY expression in dormant vegetative buds but had no effect on ZjAP1 expression, which reached peak expression before dormancy release and at anthesis. In conclusion, chilling is not obligatory for dormancy release of Z . jujuba cv. Ben-Li vegetative buds. However, the exposure to chilling during dormancy does accelerate vegetative bud dormancy release and flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • JPS was slightly digested during in vitro digestion. • JPS was degraded and consumed by gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation. • JPS modulated the gut microbiota composition, and promoted the production of SCFAs. • JPS increased the metabolic functions in gut microbiota. This study aimed to explore the dynamic changes of structural properties of polysaccharide from Ziziphus Jujuba cv. Pozao (JPS) during in vitro digestion and fermentation as well as its impacts on gut microbiota. Gastrointestinal digestion resulted a significant decrease in the reducing sugar content (C R), while a slight increase in the molecular weight. However, no free monosaccharide was detected. During the gut microbial fermentation, the C R showed a trend of increasing at first and then decreasing, while the carbohydrate residue decreased with the releases of monosaccharides. Meanwhile, pH decreased along with the production of short-chain fatty acids due to the utilization of JPS. Furthermore, JPS regulated the composition of gut microbiota, such as promoting Megasphaera and unclassified_f_Veillonellaceae , while inhibiting Bacteroides , Lachnoclostridium , Parabacteroides, Sutterella, Lachnospiraceae UCG-010, and Butyicimonas ; Sutterella , Megasphaera , and unclassified_f_Veillonellaceae might be the characteristic bacteria in JPS group compared to the Inulin Control group. It was also found that JPS significantly enriched the metabolic pathways of carbohydrate, energy and amino acid after fermentation. These results indicated that JPS was indigestible but played an essential role by regulating gut microbiota composition and metabolic functions, which provided a basis for the conclusion that JPS could protect intestinal barrier and enhance immunity in our previous study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five Ib-type cyclopeptide alkaloids, jubanines F–J ( 1 – 5 ), and three known compounds, nummularine B ( 6 ), daechuine-S3 ( 7 ), and mucronine K ( 8 ) were isolated from the roots of Ziziphus jujuba . Their structures were fully characterized by spectroscopic analyses in combination with chemical derivatization. Compounds 1 – 3 , and 6 were evaluated for their antiviral activity against the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Compounds 2 , 3 , and 6 showed potent inhibitory effects on PEDV replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our work is the development of a local agricultural waste biomass material, Ziziphus jujuba known as Nebka (NB), into activated carbons to remove humic acid (HA) from aqueous solutions. This was further treated with nitric acid solutions. The surface characteristics of the adsorbent were calculated using the standard Brunauer–Emmet–Teller method (BET). The microstructures of the samples were observed with scanning electron micrographs. Chemical characterization of the samples was carried out by selective titrations and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). On the basis of the BET results, we have obtained the best microporous activated carbon oxidized (surface area of 970 m 2 /g, microporous volume of 0.170 cm 3 /g and total pore volume of 0.326 cm 3 /g). Adsorption studies were conducted using a batch process, to study the effects of contact time, pH and temperature. The pH dependent sorption of HA was found maximum at pH range 4–6 for an initial concentration of 50 mg/L. The equilibrium adsorption data was analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and the kinetic data was analyzed using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. The equilibrium data were well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption reached equilibrium after 300 min and the maximum adsorption capacity was about 76.92 mg/g at 20 °C according to the Langmuir model. The adsorption kinetic was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption of HA onto oxidized activated carbons was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic at 20–40 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-drug interactions have become a serious problem in the clinic, since plant-based medicines are extensively used. The present study investigated the effects of Ziziphus jujuba fruit (ZJ) extract on the pharmacokinetics of phenacetin, a typical substrate of a cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP 1A2, in rats. The rats were pretreated with the water extract (1.0 g·kg −1 ) or the ethanolic extract (3.6 g·kg −1 ) of ZJ for 10 days, and the pharmacokinetics of phenacetin was investigated after intravenous administration. In an in vitro assay, acetaminophen formation in the hepatic microsomes of ZJ-treated rats was investigated to assess CYP1A2 activity. Our results demonstrated that the treatment with the water and ethanolic extracts of ZJ decreased the plasma concentration of phenacetin and increased the plasma concentration of acetaminophen, resulting in a 43.2% and 15.5% reduction in the AUC 0–120 of phenacetin, respectively, and a 53.2% and 64.9% increase in the AUC 0–120 of acetaminophen, respectively after intravenous administration. The water or ethanolic extract of ZJ significantly increased the clearance of phenacetin and acetaminophen formation in hepatic microsomes. In conclusion, ZJ extracts displayed effects on the pharmacokinetics of phenacetin and increased the CYP1A2 activity in rats. Therefore, precaution on drug-drug interactions should be taken when ZJ is co-administered with drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, which may result in decreased concentrations of these drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productions of cryptic metabolites including three undescribed drimane sesquiterpenoids, penicichrins A-C, and three known compounds from Penicillium chrysogenum were activated by the host Ziziphus jujuba medium. The structures were established by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data. The spiro β -lactone, and gem-dimethyl dihydroxylation in induced penicichrins A-C were rare in natural products. Cryptic metabolites, monaspurpurone was first found in Penicillium. 4-Methoxy-3-methylgoniothalamin, and 2-hydroxy-l-phenyl-l,4-pentanedione were second example of isolation. Penicichrin A, monaspurpurone, 4-methoxy-3-methylgoniothalamin, physcion, ergosterol, and ergosta-7,22-dien-3 β -ol had antifungal activities against phytopathogens, P. chrysogenum , Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus with MICs ≤2 μg/mL, and 2-hydroxy-l-phenyl-l,4-pentanedione had flowering activity. So the chemical constituents from Z. jujuba could induce the productions of cryptic metabolites with plant growth-promoting activity from endophyte P. chrysogenum. [Display omitted] • Cryptic metabolites including three undescribed ones were found from P. chrysogenum by host medium. • The spiro β -lactone, and gem-dimethyl dihydroxylation in penicichrins were rare in natural products. • The induced compounds indicated plant growth-promoting activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is a strategic plant that can be cultivated compatibly in many regions of Iran. Despite their long history in medicinal and nutritional applications, Iranian jujubes have been the subject of few studies so far. In the present study, we analyzed several physicochemical characteristics, nutritional values and antioxidant activity in eight Iranian jujube populations and in an imported jujube (known as the Belarusian jujube in Iran). The most important factors that were measured in the fruits included total flavonoid content, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and polyphenol compounds which were identified by HPLC. The compounds were, namely, catechin, gallic acid and vanillic acid, as well as protein content, along with several nutrient elements (i.e. P, K, Fe, Cu, Zn). The measurements also covered color index (L, a*, b*, Hue angle, Chroma) and physical properties. The results of the present study showed that most of the measured parameters varied significantly among the jujube populations. The highest flavonoid content (3.064 mg quercetin equivalent/g), total phenolic compounds (32.902 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and antioxidant activity (90.61%) were recorded in Abiz, an Iranian population. Esfeden and Abiz populations had the highest amounts of catechin (14.160 and 13.398 mg/g) and gallic acid (1.027 and 0.285 mg/g), respectively. The highest (3.38%) and lowest (2.31%) protein contents were recorded in Esfeden and Abiz populations, respectively. The imported types of jujube had the largest fruit diameter and length (25.74 and 34.83 mm, respectively). In sum, Abiz and Zirkuh populations had the best quality in terms of biochemical properties and, thus, they can be used potentially in industries or in plant breeding programs. [Display omitted] • Abiz population had better qualities in terms of several physico-chemical traits. • Imported jujube, known as Belarusian jujube in Iran, was superior to Iranian jujube in terms of fruit size and weight. • Maximum catechin and gallic acid contents (polyphenol compounds) were observed in Esfeden population. • In Iranian jujube accessions, the Abiz population had preferable genotypes for breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube ( Ziziphus jujuba ) fruit is widely consumed as food and traditional Chinese medicine in Asian countries due to its potential effects for human health. To facilitate selection of the maturity stage providing optimum health benefits, jujube fruits were analysed at six stages of growth (S1–6) for triterpenic acids, nucleosides, nucleobases, and sugars by UHPLC–MS/MS or HPLC–ELSD methods. The content levels of most triterpenic acids and sugars increased with ripening, and reached the highest at S5 and S6, respectively. The accumulation of the cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) was mainly in the later stage of ripening (S5–6). Therefore, if taking triterpenic acids as the major quality indicator, S5 should be the ideal time to harvest jujube fruit, and the full ripen stage (S6) maybe the best choice when taking sugars and cyclic nucleotides as the most important components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of diastereoisomers, the N -glycosylated derivatives of dioxindole-3-hydroxy-3-acetic acid 1 – 2 , and their conjugates with flavonoids 3 – 8 , was isolated from the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa . Their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configurations were determined by circular dichroism method. Compounds 3 – 10 were evaluated for the antioxidant capacity, using the radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Self-incompatibility and synchronous protandrous dichogamy have previously been reported in Ziziphus species. In this work, we conducted a comparative analysis of fluorescence microscopy observations of pollen tube growth following controlled cross pollinations of emasculated flowers and self-pollinations of non-emasculated flowers in three Ziziphus species, Z. jujuba, Z. mauritiana and Z. spina-christi, with the aim to determine the type of the self-incompatibility system of each species. In addition, to test whether autonomous self-pollination, parthenocarpy or agamospermy occurs, flowers were emasculated (or not) and covered. Fruit set and seed viability were monitored. The presence of binucleate pollen grains and the cessation of pollen tube growth in the style suggest that the self-incompatibility system operating in the studied Ziziphus species is gametophytically controlled. Controlled self-pollination in Z. mauritiana resulted in fruits that dropped off before maturation, whereas in Z. spina-christi the flowers dropped off one or two days after pollination. Following controlled self-pollination, small fruits lacking viable seeds were obtained in Z. jujuba, probably due to the stimulus provided by pollination (stimulative parthenocarpy). In the cultivar Tamar of Z. jujuba, the relatively high percentage of seedless fruits obtained in emasculated bagged flowers without hand pollination suggests that this cultivar can set seedless fruits without any pollination stimulus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The leaves of Ziziphus jujuba and Z. jujuba var. spinosa have been utilized as crude drugs for their health benefits in China for thousands of years. To control their quality, a reliable method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photo diode array and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry detection (HPLC–PDA–ESI-MS/MS) was developed for exploration of the chemical profiles of these jujube leaves. As the results, fourteen constituents including three flavonoids, two saponins and nine triterpenic acids were identified or tentatively characterized. Then, twelve of them such as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, zizyphus saponins I and II, ceanothic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, 2α-hydroxyursolic acid, zizyberanalic acid, epiceanothic acid, ceanothenic acid, betulinic acid, and oleanolic acid were selected as the chemical markers and were determined using an HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) method. The separation was carried out on a Waters Sunfire C18 column with 0.2% acetic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase under gradient elution. The operating conditions of ELSD were set as 80°C for drift tube temperature and 2.7l/min for nitrogen flow rate. The developed method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, repeatability as well as recovery, and subsequently applied to evaluate the quality of eight batches of Z. jujuba and Z. jujuba var. spinosa leaves from different collections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pyrolysis as an extraction method of phytochemicals from plant parts for medicinal applications is less explored. Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine use a process which is a crude equivalent of pyrolysis, to extract oily substances from stem parts of plants and use them in treatment of various ailments. In this study, a prototype pyrolyser is fabricated to simulate the traditional method and the stem part of Ziziphus jujuba is subjected to pyrolysis using the pyrolyser under controlled conditions. Based on the principle of applied pyrolysis, the engineering design is conceptualized and drawing for a prototype extractor is made. Material selection for the main reactor vessel and the heating system with controller is finalized. The prototype is fabricated. The oily extract obtained is compared with the extract from the traditional method for compositional identity and phyto chemistry to validate the process. The chemical similarities of the extracts from both methods establishes pyrolsis as the basic principle behind the traditional method and this validates the design of the pyrolyser. The FTIR and GC–MS analysis of the extracted oily substance from both methods reveals the presence of various cyclic, nitrogenous, long chain and heterocyclic compounds which are believed to be the pyrolysates of various cyclopeptide alkaloids reportedly present in the stem of Ziziphus jujuba. These phytochemicals have sedative property and are likely to be responsible for the curative nature of the oil used in the treatment of various human disorders and the research substantiates the stem''s historical use by traditional practitioners. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A simple and sensitive HPLC–DAD method has been developed for the first time to simultaneously determine 10 triterpenoid acids (ceanothic acid, alphitolic acid, zizyberanal acid, zizyberanalic acid, epiceanothic acid, ceanothenic acid, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursonic acid and zizyberenalic acid) in the dried fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (called Dazao) which has been widely used as one of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). This HPLC assay was performed on a reversed-phase C18 column (250mm×4.6mm, 5μm) with the column temperature at 35°C. The mobile phase was composed of A (acetonitrile) and B (0.05% aqueous phosphoric acid, v/v). The flow rate was 1.0ml/min and the detection wave length was set at 205nm for reference compounds 1–9 and 238nm for reference compound 10. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r 2 >0.9999) within the test range. The established method showed good precision and accuracy with overall intra-day and inter-day variations of 0.43–1.72% and 0.53–2.45%, respectively, and overall recoveries of 94.98–104.09% for the 10 compounds analyzed. The validated method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of the 10 triterpenoid acids in 42 batches of Dazao which contained 36 cultivars from 22 cultivation regions, and were investigated and authenticated as Z. jujuba. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were performed to differentiate and classify the samples based on the contents of the 10 triterpenoid acids. The presented HPLC–DAD method conjugated with chemometrics approach was demonstrated to be very helpful in using Dazao resources, and was possibly useful in chemotaxonomic characterization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Forty-three secreted proteins identified in jujube witches' broom phytoplasma genome. • Eight candidate effectors highly expressed in JWB phytoplasma-infected flower buds. • SJP3 overexpression in Arabidopsis altered floral organs into leaf-like structures. • Phyllody was associated with misexpression of floral organ identity genes. Jujube witches' broom (JWB), associated with ' Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi', is a devastating disease in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). One of the symptoms in plants infected with phytoplasmas is the change of floral organs into leaf-like structures, known as phyllody. Effector proteins secreted by phytoplasmas are key to inducing this and other witches' broom symptoms. However, the phytoplasma effector proteins that induce phyllody in jujube remain unknown. We identified 43 candidate secreted JWB phytoplasma proteins (SJPs) in the JWB phytoplasma genome. Eight of the predicted candidate effector genes exhibited high transcript levels in infected flower buds. Among the eight candidate effectors, SJP3 experimentally showed the potential to induce phyllody. SJP3 expression in infected jujube was at a high level in young leaves and flowers. Ectopic expression of SJP3 in Arabidopsis induced leaf-like flowers and extra secondary flowers and significantly changed the transcript levels of PISTILLATA (PI), SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP), AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AGL24) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1). The expression levels of these MADS-box homologous genes were also changed in infected jujube flower buds and all four whorls of the floral organs. The data showed that the effector SJP3 disrupts expression of several MADS-box genes associated with floral organ identity and flowering time and is likely key to inducing phyllody in phytoplasma-infected jujube. This study provides new insight into understanding the pathogenesis of JWB disease induced by phytoplasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A total of 55 NAC transcription factors were characterized in Ziziphus jujuba. • ZjNAC genes have the closest relationship with apple NAC genes. • ZjNAC genes are expressed in various tissues with different developmental stages. • ZjNAC genes response to tissue senescence and various abiotic stresses. Here, 55 genes encoding NAC were identified in the jujube genome. Based on gene structures, protein motifs, and phylogenetic relationships, the jujube NAC family was classified into five groups and 15 subgroups. All ZjNAC genes were distributed on 12 chromosomes and four tandem duplication events were detected. The publicly available RNA-Seq data revealed that ZjNAC genes were differentially expressed in various tissues, but a few genes were highly expressed in fruit. Target genes of NAC were predicted and these genes were enriched in stress responses, catabolism and hydrolysis process. Analyses of the cis -acting elements, homology relationship and genes expression levels under abiotic stresses showed that several genes, such as ZjNAC6 , ZjNAC35 , ZjNAC47 and ZjNAC55 , may be identified to be involved in responses to abscisic acid (ABA) and cold, drought, and salt stresses. Additionally, the differences in expression levels between the young and mature tissues imply ZjNAC genes may respond to tissue senescence. These results could lay a solid foundation for investigations of the biological roles of NAC, breeding improvement for stress resistance and retarding senescence in jujube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• · Biomod2 and MaxEnt models was tested, and the predictions of the two models were compared. • · The optimized model was used to predict and analyze the potential suitable habitat for Z. jujuba. • · Reconstruct the history of changes in the geographical distribution pattern of Z. jujuba. • · Establish a theoretical foundation for studies on the evolution of North China flora. Ziziphus jujuba has high ecological and economic value and is widely distributed in northern China. Reconstructing the historical geographic distribution patterns of Z. jujuba and determining the environmental distribution restrictions could provide a scientific basis for its germplasm conservation and management. Here, the R packages ENMeval and Biomod2 were used assess to 121 distribution records and 18 environmental variables and model and analyze the geographic distribution changes of Z. jujuba in different periods since the last interglacial period. Environmental anomalies and factors underlying the geographical distribution changes and migration trends in distribution areas under climate change were assessed. The optimized MaxEnt model generated the best predictions, and the modern highly suitable area was located in the Yellow and Haihe river basins. Climate anomalies in the historical periods ranged in decreasing order from the last interglacial > last glacial maximum > middle Holocene. The degree of climate anomalies under RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) 2.6-2050s was the lowest, and the degree of climate anomalies under RCP8.5-2070s was the highest. From the last interglacial period to the 2070s, the most dissimilar variable was initially precipitation but gradually changed to temperature with climate change, which was the key factor for the geographical distribution of Z. jujuba. Although extensive habitat expansion occurred during the last interglacial period, the area suitable for Z. jujuba retreated to higher latitudes during the last glacial maximum and middle Holocene. As climate warming intensifies, suitable habitats will shift to higher latitudes while habitats in lower latitudes will become scarcer. The whole suitable region in China will migrate to a higher latitude area, indicating that the Z. jujuba distribution shows a strong response to climate change. This study provides a theoretical basis for establishing conservation measures for Z. jujuba genetic resources and studying trends in plant formation and evolution in North China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A combination of transcriptome and genome re-sequencing was used to explore one of the main factors leading to fruit cracking in jujube, namely the difference in wax metabolism between jujube cultivars ('Linhuang No. 1' and 'Muzao') with different cracking sensitivity. • The wax form of the 'Muzao' fruit was fissured during the mature period. The fatty acid content of 'Linhuang No. 1' was always significantly greater than that of 'Muzao' under control (CK) or hormone treatments. The proportion of total fatty acids with fewer than 16 C atoms in 'Linhuang No. 1' was less than in 'Muzao'. All of these are due to the loss of 107 bases in the promoter region of the LOC107415896 in 'Muzao', which encodes the protein of biotin carboxyl carrier protein of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2, chloroplastic (BCCP2). • This research could be helpful in explaining divergence/similarity of wax metabolism-related genes between the two cultivars and their possible role in fruit cracking. The fruit pericarp wax of jujube accessions with different cracking resistance show differences in morphology and wax chemical content. In this study, transcriptome and genome re-sequencing were used to analyze the differences in wax metabolism between jujube cultivars with different cracking resistance characteristics. The results showed that 431 differentially expressed genes were identified through transcriptome screening between the cracking-resistant cultivar 'Linhuang No. 1' and the cracking-susceptible cultivar 'Muzao' during the mature stage of fruit development. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis annotated three wax metabolism pathways (involving eight wax metabolism-related genes). Information on gene sequence variation in the eight genes was obtained from genome resequencing, with sequence variation between the two cultivars found in the promoter region of the LOC107415896 gene, which encodes the biotin carboxyl carrier protein of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2, chloroplastic (BCCP2) protein, where 107 bases were inserted in 'Linhuang No.1'. As a result, the fatty acid concentration in the wax of 'Muzao' was lower than that of 'Linhuang No. 1', with the proportion of fatty acids with fewer than 16 C atoms in 'Muzao' accounting for a greater proportion of the total fatty acids. This indicated that the expression of the 'Muzao' LOC107415896 gene was affected. Our research has laid the foundation for further analysis of the function of jujube wax metabolism in the cracking-resistant fruit phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit cracking is a key problem restricting the development of the jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) industry, and is closely related to the distribution of the wax layer on the surface of the fruit. Three jujube cultivars with different levels of cracking resistance, namely 'Popozao', 'Banzao', and 'Hupingzao', were selected for comparison. Cracks on the cuticular membrane (CM) of 'Hupingzao' widened and deepened during the coloring period. The wax level of highly cracking-resistant 'Popozao' was significantly higher than that of 'Hupingzao' during the fruit coloring period. The fruit wax composition of the three jujube cultivars were quite similar, consisting mainly of alkanes, triterpenoids, aldehydes, amines, phenols, esters, ketones, fatty acids, primary alcohols, and other, unclassified compounds. Fatty acids, primary alcohols, and alkanes were the predominant fruit wax compounds of the three cultivars. We further analyzed the carbon chain length of aliphatic compounds and found that the concentration of fatty acids in 'Popozao' was significantly lower than that in 'Banzao' and 'Hupingzao' during the coloring period. Moreover, C28–30 were the most abundant primary alcohols during fruit development. Highly cracking-resistant cultivar 'Popozao' contains more very-long-chain alkanes and aldehydes (carbon atom >20) than 'Banzao' and 'Hupingzao' during the coloring period. In addition, we assessed the expression levels of 11 genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, elongation, and degradation, and in wax biosynthesis. Gene expression analysis indicated that KCS1 , CER1 , CYP86B1 , and CYP86A play crucial roles in wax formation on jujube fruit. In conclusion, fruit cracking was correlated with whether wax synthesis is coordinated with fruit enlargement and'Popozao' has a stronger ability to synthesize very-long-chain alkanes and aldehydes. Understanding the diff ;erences in the cuticular wax and the activities of the corresponding genes in jujube cultivars with different sensitivities to cracking will provide a specific way to prevent fruit cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ziziphus jujuba stones chemically modified with orthophosphoric acid (PZJS), then encapsulated with sodium alginate (BZJS1 and BZJS2) were used for organic dye adsorption. In this context, the basic dye methylene blue (MB) was chosen as a test molecule. The characteristics of the prepared beads were examined by different characterization techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET) with nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm at 77 °K. In a batch system, initial pH (2−12), temperature (10, 25, 30 and 40 °C), initial concentration (50–200 mg/L), contact time, salt and organic compound effects were studied. The obtained results showed that the maximum MB adsorption amounts were 737.13 mg/g and 660.12 mg/g onto BZJS1 and BZJS2 at ambient temperature respectively, showing that the prepared materials are more efficient than most of the other adsorbents. Moreover, experimental data modeling showed that the adsorption process followed the Redlich-Peterson model. Regarding kinetics modeling, pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order and Pseudo-nth order models were used to correlate experimental data, demonstrating that a mass transfer equation (PFO) could describe MB adsorption. Thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated, demonstrating that the MB adsorption process was achievable, spontaneous and exothermic. The regeneration study showed that both of the beads had excellent adsorption efficiency even at the sixth cycle for the two beads, 92.01 and 82.88 for BZJS1 and BZJS2, respectively. From this and in view of a future implementation at industrial scale, encapsulation by sodium alginate polymer can be therefore promisingly proposed as a solution to avoid the problems of conventional materials in powder form, such as the difficulty of regeneration, performances and mass loss during the recovery step of the powder from the medium. Unlabelled Image • The adsorptive performance was strongly affected by the encapsulation. • Experimental data were adequately described by Redlich-Peterson and PFO models. • The MB adsorption isotherm onto BZJS1 showed an efficiency of 73.71%. • The prepared beads can be reused even at the sixth cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sixteen ZjARF s were bioinformatically identified and grouped into three classes. • Expression of 7 ZjARF s decreased from flower buds to flowering in healthy plants. • JWB infection induced phyllody and decreased auxin content. • Five ZjARF s were differentially induced by JWB infection during floral development. • ZjARF4 was involved in regulating the phytoplasma-associated phyllody symptoms. Jujube witches' broom (JWB) disease, associated with the presence of phytoplasmas, induces huge crop losses in the woody perennial fruit tree Ziziphus jujuba. An imbalance in the phytohormone auxin is thought to be a key factor in the development of the witches' broom symptoms, and in the alteration of floral development into leafy structures, termed phyllody. The Auxin Response Factor (ARF) gene family controls auxin-responsive gene expression during plant growth and development. However, it remains unknown if the ARF genes are involved in the formation of leaf-like flowers. In the present study, sixteen jujube ARF genes were identified bioinformatically and annotated based on the Z. jujuba cv. Dongzao genome. The ZjARFs were homologous to 12 out of the 23 Arabidopsis ARFs and were distributed in 8 jujube chromosomes and 3 unmapped scaffolds. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the ZjARFs into three classes. Spatio-temporal expression analysis revealed that the ZjARF genes were differentially expressed among different tissues during normal development. The expression of seven ZjARF genes was significantly decreased from flower buds to flowering. JWB-infected jujube plants developed the typical phyllody symptoms and showed lower auxin accumulation during floral development. ZjARF1, ZjARF2, ZjARF3, ZjARF4 and ZjARF8 resulted differentially regulated after phytoplasma infection. ZjARF4 was down-regulated before and during floral development in phytoplasma-infected plants, but it was significantly up-regulated before flowering and down-regulated during flowering in the healthy plants. Target site analysis showed that miRNA167, miRNA529 and miRNA2950 could directly target ZjARF4. Together, the data showed that the auxin-controlled ARF4 gene is likely involved in the disruption of floral development in phytoplasma-infected jujube plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of metabolite profiles for two economically important plant species: Ziziphus jujuba and Ziziphus nummularia. • Qualitative and quantitative analysis of plant raw material and its herbal formulations using LC-QTOF-MS/MS and LC-IT-MS/MS. • Developed methods are useful for drug discovery, herbal drug standardization and authentication of plant raw material. Ziziphus jujuba and Ziziphus nummularia are two important species of the genus Ziziphus. Both plants offer great commercial value and are consumed as food around the world and used for their medicinal values such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Comprehensive chemical profiling of Z. jujuba and Z. nummularia was done through identification of major metabolites using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and quantification of eight analytes using HPLC-IonTrap-MS/MS analysis. A total of 53 compounds were identified from their high-resolution mass spectra in both positive and negative ionization modes. Among these, 52 compounds were found to be present in Z. jujuba , and 45 in Z. nummularia. Chemometric analysis was also performed to assess the distribution of identified compounds and to determine how the obtained data can be used to discriminate between the two species. Moreover, a method for the quantification of eight analytes including, 6″'-feruloylspinosin (1), apigenin (2), apigenin-7- O -glucoside (3), catechin (4), jujuboside A (5), jujuboside B (6), luteolin (7) and quercetin (8) was developed. The method expressed excellent accuracy with less than 3% error and good reproducibility with less than 4% RSD. The limit-of-detection (LOD) was also found to be very low ranging between 0.06 ng/mL to 4.10 ng/mL while limit-of-quantitation (LOQ) values were in the range of 0.17 ng/mL to 12.42 ng/mL. The analyte concentrations were found to be varying from 1.32 mg/kg to 645.76 mg/kg in both species. The developed method was used to identify and quantify marker compounds in fruit and whole plant samples of both species and in their herbal products as well. The present work is unprecedented, as there is no such extensive study targeting fruits, leaves and herbal formulations together using high-resolution techniques. The study will provide great utility in drug discovery, in taxonomical identification of these plants and to develop quality control protocols for their herbal formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]