ZIZYPHUS

OTHER NAME(S):

Anèbe, Annab, Azufaifo, Badar, Ber, Black Date, Black Jujube, Chinese Date, Chinese Jujube, Da Zao, Date Seed, Datte Chinoise, Datte Noire, Fructus Jujubae, Fructus Ju Jubae, Hei Zao, Hong Zao, Jujube, Jujube Chinois, Jujube Plum, Jujube Noir, Jujube Rouge, Jujubi, Jujubier, Red Date, Red Jujube Date, Rhamnus zizyphus, Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, Sour Chinese Date, Sour Date, Suan Zao Ren, Zao, Zefzouf, Ziziphi Spinosae, Ziziphus jujuba, synonyms Ziziphus sativa, Ziziphus spinosa, Ziziphus vulgaris, Ziziphus zizyphus, Zizyphi Fructus, Zizyphus, Zizyphus jujuba, Zyzyphus jujube.

Overview

Overview Information

Zizyphus is a shrub or small tree. The fruit is used as food and to make medicine.

Zizyphus is used for improving muscular strength and weight, for preventing liver and bladder diseases and stress ulcers, and as a sedative. It is also used to reduce constipation and to reduce symptoms of some medications. Zizyphus Jujube is also used for various skin conditions including dry and itchy skin, purpura, wounds, and ulcers; digestive problems including lack of appetite and diarrhea; and circulatory problems including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and anemia. Other uses are for diabetes, fatigue, hysteria, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, fever, obesity, cancer, inflammation, asthma and other lung disorders, and eye diseases. In newborns, it is used for jaundice (yellowing of the skin).

In foods, zizyphus is used in a variety of recipes.

In manufacturing, zizyphus extracts are used in skin care products to reduce redness and swelling, wrinkles and dryness; and for relief from sunburn.

How does it work?

Zizyphus contains chemicals that might act like antioxidants and reduce swelling (inflammation). This might help protect the body against certain types of damage to the liver and other organs.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Constipation. Early research shows that taking zizyphus reduces symptoms of constipation such as bloating, stomach pain, and difficulty having a bowel movement in adults with constipation.
  • High cholesterol. Early research shows that taking zizyphus can lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol in teens with high cholesterol. However, zizyphus doesn't seem to improve levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol.
  • Yellowing of the skin in infants (neonatal jaundice). Giving zizyphus to infants with jaundice doesn't seem to reduce levels of bilirubin, the chemical in the blood that causes skin yellowing. But zizyphus might shorten the length of time for which the infants need to be hospitalized.
  • Sleep quality. Early research shows that taking a specific product containing zizyphus, lactium, hops, magnesium, and vitamin B6 does not improve sleep quality in healthy adults.
  • Anxiety.
  • Diabetes.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Dry skin.
  • Fatigue.
  • Liver disease.
  • Muscular conditions.
  • Ulcer.
  • Wounds.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of zizyphus for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

There is not enough information available to know if zizyphus is safe to take for medical conditions.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking zizyphus if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Zizyphus might lower blood sugar. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully, if you have diabetes and use zizyphus in amounts larger than the amounts normally found in food.

Latex allergy: People who are allergic to latex might also be allergic to zizyphus. Try to aAvoid zizyphus if you know that you are allergic to latex.

Surgery: Zizyphus might lower blood sugar and might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Zizyphus might also slow down the central nervous system. Anesthesia and other medications used during surgery also affect the central nervous system. The combined effects might be harmful. Stop taking zizyphus at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for ZIZYPHUS Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The appropriate dose of zizyphus depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time, there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for zizyphus. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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View References

REFERENCES:

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  • Yoo, K. Y., Li, H., Hwang, I. K., Choi, J. H., Lee, C. H., Kwon, D. Y., Ryu, S. Y., Kim, Y. S., Kang, I. J., Shin, H. C., and Won, M. H. Zizyphus attenuates ischemic damage in the gerbil hippocampus via its antioxidant effect. J Med Food 2010;13(3):557-563. View abstract.
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  • Jing XY, Peng YR, Wang XM, Duan JA. Effects of Ziziphus jujuba fruit extracts on cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2) activity in rats. Chin J Nat Med. 2015 Aug;13(8):588-94. View abstract.
  • Kandimalla R, Dash S, Kalita S, Choudhury B, Malampati S, Kalita K, Kalita B, Devi R, Kotoky J. Protective Effect of Bioactivity Guided Fractions of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Root Bark against Hepatic Injury and Chronic Inflammation via Inhibiting Inflammatory Markers and Oxidative Stress. Front Pharmacol. 2016 Sep7;7:298. View abstract.
  • Koohi-Hosseinabadi O, Andisheh-Tadbir A, Bahadori P, Sepehrimanesh M, Mardani M, Tanideh N. Comparison of the therapeutic effects of the dietary and topical forms of Zizyphus jujuba extract on oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil: A golden hamster model. J Clin Exp Dent. 2015 Apr 1;7(2):e304-9. View abstract.
  • Lombardi C, Mistrello G, Roncarolo D, Senna G, Passalacqua G. Latex-jujube cross-reactivity: case report and immunological study. Allergy. 2005 Jul;60(7):971-2. View abstract.
  • Naftali T, Feingelernt H, Lesin Y, Rauchwarger A, Konikoff FM. Ziziphus jujube extract for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation: a controlled clinical trial. Digestion. 2008;78(4):224-8. View abstract.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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