Ziziphus oenoplia Mill.: A Systematic Review on Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of an Important Traditional Medicinal Plant.

BACKGROUND

Ziziphus oenoplia Mill. (Family- Rhamnaceae) an important shrub, often found throughout the hot regions of tropical Asia and northern Australia, is commonly well known as Jackal jujube in English. It is a folk herbal medicine used as an abdominal pain killer and antidiarrhoeal agent.

OBJECTIVE

The review aims to provide up-to-date information on the vernacular information, botanical characterization, distribution, ethnopharmacological uses, pharmacological activities, and chemical constituents of Z. oenoplia for possible exploitation of treatment for various diseases and to suggest future investigations.

METHODS

This review was performed by studying online resources relating to Z. oenoplia and diverse resources, including scientific journals, books, and worldwide accepted databases from which information was assembled to accumulate significant information and relevant data in one place.

RESULTS

Investigations on Z. oenoplia have been focused on its pharmacological activities, including its antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, antiulcer, antiplasmodial, anticancer, wound healing, anthelmintic, antioxidant, analgesic and antinociceptive, hypolipidemic activity, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antidiarrheal activities. Phytochemical studies resulted in the isolation of fatty acids, flavonoids, phenols, pentacyclic triterpenes, hydroxycarboxylic acids, aliphatic hydroxy ether, and cyclopeptide alkaloids.

CONCLUSION

Most of the ethnopharmacological relevance of Z. oenoplia is justified, but more studies are needed. Further investigations are necessary to fully understand the mode of action of the active constituents and to exploit its preventive and therapeutic potentials.