Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. |
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Botanical Name |
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Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. |
English
Name |
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Jujube, Christ's thorn, Jerusalem thorn, Syrian Christ-thorn |
Synonym(s) |
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Paliurus spina-christi Miller, Rhamnus spina-christi L., Paliurus aculeatus Lam., Paliurus australis Gaertn., Paliurus virgatus D.Don. |
Family |
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Rhamnaceae |
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General Info
| Description |
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A spiny shrub or tree up to 10m in height. On wet sites it is an evergreen but it looses all it leaves during the dry season. The bark is grey-brown, when cut at the edge it is reddish, matured bark is grooved and cracking. The paired spines are ‘thump pointer’, the straight thorns long and thin. Its branches are intertwined and yellow-white in colour and form an impenetrable thicket. Flowers are small, 10-25 in number besides leaves, yellow-green in colour, stalks and calyx hairy white. Fruits are yellow and ~2cm in diameter, when dried the colour turns reddish. |
| Herb Effects |
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Antihelminthic and anti-diarrheic (boiled leaves); narcotic, tranquilliser, sedative, emollient and astringent (fruits) |
Chemistry
| Active Ingredients |
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Ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin (fruit); beta-sitosterol (plant); betulinic acid (leaves); amphibine (bark) |
| Chemistry
of Active Ingredients |
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Name |
CAS# |
IUPAC Name |
Formula |
Structure |
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| Ascorbic acid |
Not Available |
2-(1,2-dihydroxyethy
l)-4,5-dihydroxy-fur
an-3-one |
C6H8O6 |
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| Niacin |
99148-57-9 |
Pyridine-3-carboxyli
c acid |
C6H5NO2 |
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| Riboflavin |
Not Available |
Not Available |
C17H21N4O9P |
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| Thiamin |
59-43-8 |
2-[3-[(4-amino-2-met
hyl-pyrimidin-5-yl)m
ethyl]-4-methyl-1-th
ia-3-azoni
acyclope
nta-2,4-dien-5-yl]et
hanol |
C12H17N4OS+ |
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| beta-Sitosterol |
5779-62-4 |
17-(5-ethyl-6-methyl
-heptan-2-yl)-10,13-
dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9
,11,12,14,
15,16,17
-dodecahydro-1H-cycl
openta[a]phenanthren
-3-ol |
C29H50O |
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| Betulinic acid |
4481-62-3 |
Not Available |
C30H46O3 |
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| Amphibine |
36535-97-4 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
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Pharmacology
| Medicinal Use |
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The roots are used to treat headaches, while the spines or ashes of this species are applied to snake bites. Boiled leaves are applied to various surface wounds. A cataplasm of young leaves is also used to reduce eye inflammations. The fruits are used to reduce abscesses and boils. |
Dealers
Products
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Health Remedies 
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