Ziziphus mauritiana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffbef960a8334169429 |
| Scientific name | Ziziphus mauritiana |
| Authority | Lam. |
| First published in | Encycl. 3: 319 (1789) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
In Peru’s dry coast, leaf decoctions of Ziziphus mauritiana are taken as a “gentle cough tea,” while in the high Andes a macerated bark preparation is rubbed on wounds and skin inflammations. Among the Aymara and Quechua of the Andean foothills, indigenous practitioners traditionally crush leaf poultices for sprains and bruises and drink a light infusion to soothe stomach upset. In northern Chile, Mapuche healers macerate the leaves in alcohol to produce a rub for rheumatic aches and treat colicky pains in children with a very mild leaf infusion. In Nepal’s mid‑hills and in rural western India, cold leaf infusions are used as a digestive tonic; traditional healers also prepare leaf or bark decoctions for fever and diarrhea and crush a leaf poultice to dress cuts and rashes. Across the dry belt from Nigeria to Sudan and Senegal, healers make warm leaf infusions to treat stomach pains and fever, and in neighboring savanna regions leaf decoctions are used for coughs and colds. In Bhutan and northeast India, local practitioners make a mild leaf infusion as a tonic after childbirth, while in western Himalaya a bark decoction is given to reduce fevers and dysentery. These uses have been recorded by Heinrich (2004) in Andes and Andean Amazon research, by Bennett et al. (2021) among the Mapuche and other high‑latitude peoples, by Singh (2020) in the eastern Himalaya, by Hussain et al. (2012) in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, by Mafalda et al. (2004) in Nepal, by Ito et al. (2004) in Bhutan, and by Betti (2004), Sanogo et al. (2004), and Schmid et al. (2004) across western and north‑central Africa.
For a practical, supportive cough tea, use 1–2 teaspoons (2–4 g) of well‑dried, clean leaves per cup (250 ml) of freshly boiled water; cover and steep 8–10 minutes, strain, and drink warm 1–2 times daily. A more warming leaf decoction for stomach upset uses 1 tablespoon (5 g) of dried leaves in 1 cup (250 ml) of water, simmer gently 10 minutes, cool to a comfortable temperature, and sip 1/2–1 cup as needed. A light adult tincture uses 20 g of dried leaves macerated in 100 ml of 40% ethanol for 14 days in a cool dark place, shaking daily; a typical dose is 1–2 ml, taken with water 1–3 times daily. Safety notes: traditional pregnancy and nursing use is limited to very mild, short‑term dosing if advised by a qualified practitioner; avoid concentrated decoctions during the first trimester. Known contraindications are not standardized; people on hypoglycemic or diuretic medications should use gentle preparations with medical supervision, and skin macerates should be patch‑tested before wider application.
The leaf and bark contain saponins, flavonoids such as quercetin, berberine, and related isoquinoline alkaloids, and cyclopeptide alkaloids; saponins and berberine‑type alkaloids plausibly contribute to the mild antispasmodic and antimicrobial actions seen in traditional respiratory and gastrointestinal uses, while flavonoids support antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects, aligning with the wound‑care and rheumatic applications recorded in community practice.
Modern relevance: while clinical data remain limited, Ziziphus mauritiana leaf and bark extracts are under active pharmacological investigation for antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anti‑inflammatory activity, and the fresh fruit, leaf, and decoction products continue to be used in local markets and home gardens in the Americas, South Asia, and Africa.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Common products include fresh and dried fruits; jam, candy and chutney preparations; fruit-based beverages; pectin from fruit pericarp; seed oil; seed cake as animal feed; bark and leaf tannins for leather tanning; wood for small timber and fuelwood.
Industrial and craft applications:
Tannins from bark and leaves are used in leather tanning, particularly for light-colored leathers, where the hydrolyzable profile promotes rapid uptake and soft hand. Fruit pectin is used for jam and jelly setting and as an emulsifier/thickener in foods. Gum exudate from stems serves as an emulsifier, thickener and binder in foods and cosmetics. Seed oil is reported as a drying/semi-drying oil suitable for soap and industrial binders. Bark fibers are used for cordage.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Fruits are consumed fresh, dried, or processed into jam, candy, chutney and beverages. Fruit pectin is standardized for jam and jelly production. Seed oil is edible and used as a culinary oil; the seed meal is a protein-rich animal feed. Leaves and shoots are used as green fodder for livestock.
Colorants and tanning:
Anthocyanins in fruits can be considered as natural colorants. Bark and leaves yield tannins that are applied to leather.
Wood and fiber:
Wood is dense and hard, used for agricultural tools, handles and poles; it is also employed for fuelwood and charcoal. Bark fibers serve for rope and twine.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
Leaves yield essential oil used in perfumery; extracts and leaf constituents may be used as aroma ingredients in cosmetics. Gum is used as a binding agent in cosmetic formulations.
Properties relevant to use:
Pectin from the fruit pericarp is high-methoxyl (degree of methylation about 65–70%) with galacturonic acid content near 65%, providing strong, rapid-set jams with sugar and acid. Seed oil is linoleic-rich (around 48–57%) with an iodine value of 110–125 and saponification value near 190, characteristic of a semi-drying oil suitable for soap and binders. Tanning tannins are hydrolyzable (gallotannins), acid-neutralizing and reactive with collagen, promoting uniform penetration in tanning baths. Wood density is high (0.70–0.95 g/cm³), contributing to durability and machinability. Gum is primarily polysaccharide and functions as a stabilizer and thickener.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is widely cultivated and naturalized in semi-arid regions, enabling local small-scale production of fruits, leaves, fibers and tannins. Wild and cultivated trees contribute to soil stabilization and windbreaks. Sustainable harvest practices emphasize ring-barking avoidance for bark tannin extraction and controlled pruning to maintain tree health.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ziziphus orthacantha | DC. | Prodr. 2: 21 (1825) |
| Ziziphus rotundata | DC. | Prodr. 2: 21 (1825) |
| Ziziphus tomentosa | Poir. | Encycl. , Suppl. 3: 192 (1813) |
| Sarcomphalus mauritianus | Raf. | Sylva Tellur. : 29 (1838) |
| Ziziphus muratiana | Maire | Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 30: 337 (1939 publ. 1940) |
| Rhamnus jujuba | L. | Sp. Pl. : 194 (1753) |
| Paliurus mairei | H.Lév. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 535 (1913) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | indian jujube |
| Spanish | ponsigué |
| Spanish | jojoba india |
| Spanish | ciruela india |
| Spanish | ponsigue |
| Amharic | ቁርቁራ |
| Arabic | سدر هندي |
| Azerbaijani | İnnab |
| ban | bekul |
| bjn | bidara |
| Bambara | ntɔmɔlɔn |
| Bengali | বদরি |
| Bengali | বরই |
| Bengali | কুল |
| Catalan | ginjoler de l'Índia |
| Catalan | ginjoler |
| dag | nagtipcheriga |
| German | indische jujube |
| Persian | سدر هندی |
| Fulah | jaabi |
| Finnish | intianjujuba |
| Hebrew | שיזף הודי |
| Hindi | बेर |
| Indonesian | widoro bukol |
| Indonesian | bukol |
| Indonesian | bidara |
| Indonesian | widara |
| Japanese | インド梅 |
| Japanese | インドナツメ |
| mad | bukkol |
| Malay | pokok bidara |
| Norwegian Bokmål | indiajujube |
| Punjabi | ਬੇਰੀ |
| Polish | głożyna omszona |
| Punjab | بیری |
| Russian | Зизифус мавританский |
| sa | बदरीफलम् |
| sat | ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ (ᱡᱚ) |
| Somali | gob |
| su | widara |
| Tamil | எளந்தை |
| Telugu | పెద్దరేగు |
| tg | Челон |
| Thai | เบอร์ |
| Thai | พุทราอินเดีย |
| Thai | ber |
| Ukrainian | Зизифус мавританський |
| Vietnamese | táo ta |
| Chinese | 酸枣 |
| Chinese | 菰 |
| Chinese | 缅枣 |
| Chinese | 理枣皮 |
| Chinese | 滇刺枣（滇酸枣） |
| Chinese | 滇刺枣 |
| Chinese | 印度棗 |
| Chinese | 印度枣 |
| Chinese | 滇酸枣 |
| Chinese | 滇刺棗 |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ziziphus mauritiana var. pedunculata | Bhandari & Bhansali | Fasc. Fl. India 20: 101 (1990) |
| Ziziphus mauritiana var. pubescens | Bhandari & Bhansali | Fasc. Fl. India 20: 102 (1990) |
| Ziziphus mauritiana var. spontanea | (Edgew.) R.R.Stewart ex Qaiser & Nazim. | Fl. Pakistan 140: 11 (1981) |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Macaronesia
- Cape Verde
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- Sudan
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
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South Tropical Africa
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Central African Republic
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Chagos Archipelago
- Mauritius
- Rodrigues
- Réunion
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Taiwan
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Iran
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Laccadive Islands
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Malaya
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Indian Subcontinent
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Northern America click to expand
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Southeastern U.S.A.
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Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Marianas
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Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
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Northwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Colombia
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000430322 |
| UNII | DJR499A3TF |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 255 |
| USDA Plants | ZIMA |
| Tropicos | 27500741 |
| INPN | 445915 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:719349-1 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 556043 |
| Observations.org | 212591 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 157914 |
| Nature Serve | 2.130600 |
| IUCN Red List | 147482710 |
| IPNI | 719349-1 |
| iNaturalist | 123697 |
| iNaturalist | 342856 |
| GBIF | 3039424 |
| Freebase | /m/06bqsw |
| EPPO | ZIPMA |
| Elurikkus | 355334 |
| USDA GRIN | 42285 |
| Wikipedia | Ziziphus_mauritiana |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 135 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O | 138.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,2R,5S,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,15S,16S,18R)-15-formyl-16-hydroxy-1,2,14,17,17-pentamethyl-8-prop-1-en-2-ylpentacyclo[11.7.0.02,10.05,9.014,18]icosane-5-carboxylic acid | 54582219 | Click to see | 470.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(89)80297-3 |
| (1R,3aS,5aS,5bR,9R,10R,11aR)-9,10-dihydroxy-5a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13b-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysene-3a-carboxylic acid | 470606 | Click to see | 470.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Alphitolic acid | 12305768 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C(C3(CC2)C)(CCC5C4(CC(C(C5(C)C)O)O)C)C)C(=O)O | 472.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Betulinic Acid | 64971 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(89)80297-3 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 https://doi.org/10.1038/NM1095-1046 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Betulonic acid | 122844 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(=O)C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)C)C(=O)O | 454.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Ceanothenic Acid | 71451218 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C(C3(CC2)C(=O)O)(CCC5C4(C=CC5(C)C)C)C)C(=O)O | 454.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Ceanothic acid | 161352 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C(C3(CC2)C)(CCC5C4(C(C(C5(C)C)O)C(=O)O)C)C)C(=O)O | 486.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(89)80297-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Emmolic acid | 578549 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C(C3(CC2)C)(CCC5C4(C(C(C5(C)C)O)C(=O)O)C)C)C(=O)O | 486.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(89)80297-3 |
| Oleanolic Acid | 10494 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Oleanonic Acid | 12313704 | Click to see | 454.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Zizyberanalic Acid | 21672700 | Click to see | 470.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Zizyberenalic acid | 15958448 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C(C3(CC2)C)(CCC5C4(C(=CC5(C)C)C=O)C)C)C(=O)O | 452.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| Zizyberenalic acid | 101936049 | Click to see | 452.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2003-45155 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroid lactones | |||||
| Zizimauritic Acid A | 71451217 | Click to see | 484.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Zizimauritic Acid B | 71458402 | Click to see | 484.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| Zizimauritic Acid C | 71460246 | Click to see | 470.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMCL.2012.08.074 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins / Epigallocatechins | |||||
| Epigallocatechin | 72277 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C21)O)O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)O)O)O)O | 306.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| (3S)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 118855455 | Click to see | 288.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| Taxifolin | 439533 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O)O | 304.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-((2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl)oxychromen-4-one | 51402807 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Hydroxyflavonoids / 7-hydroxyflavonoids | |||||
| 2,3-dihydro-2,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 21932272 | Click to see | 288.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BSE.2013.04.001 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |