Scientific name: ziziphus spinosa

Zizyphus spinosa, family Rhamnaceae, a non toxic chines herb which contain betuline and jujubo side as the main active active constituent, used as sedative and hypnotic herb in cases of insomnia, neurasthenia, and irritation, and this is because of the alkaloid fraction it contain.

Key words:

Zizyphus spinosa, rhamnaceae, chines herbs, sedative hypnotic herbs,

Ziziphus spinosa is mainly one of the most important sedative and hypnotic chines herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that nervousness and irritation are caused either by emptiness of blood and qi or an excess of fire in the heart, liver and spleen and these result in symptoms of insomnia, heavy dreams, convulsion or delirium

They use herbal mixture to calm or stabilizes the mind and to reduce anxiety, irritation and to balance mental activity. They thought the mechanism of these drugs is to cool the fire in the heart, liver, spleen and kidney.

A family of 59 genera and about 900 species, genera include rhamus (110 spp), zizyphus (100 spp ), scutia(9 spp ) , and others .

The constituent of this family includes purgative quinones (anthraquinones, anthranols, and their glycosides). Alkaloidal peptides occur in some genera, also terpenoids and terpenoid saponins.

This herb contains betuline , betulic acid, and glycosides jujuboside A and B , which on hydrolysis produce jujubogenin (C30H48O4). The seed also contain some vitamins and organic acid.

Recently, Han and park reported that several other alkaloids had been isolated from the seeds and fruit of this herb.

The alkaloids isolated from the seeds are peptide alkaloids, which have been named sanjoinines – 14 in all. The fruit contains 12 different alkaloids with a phenanthrene radical; these have been named daechu alkaloids.

The alkaloid fraction from the seed or the fruit are the active principles in the herb’s sedative action, the peptide alkaloids isolated from the stem bark are not effective.

The Chinese medical classics list this herb as one that can calm the mind, preserve qi, nourish muscles, and enrich bone marrow.

In recent laboratory investigations, the herb showed a tranquilizing and hypnotic effect.

It’s also an analgesic and anti convulsive.

The toxicity of the herb is very low. The LD50 in mice is 13.3 g/kg.

The herb is usually used to treat neurasthenia, irritation, and insomnia.

The normal dose is 9-18 g in decoction.

1- clinical handbook of chines prepared medicines   -   chun han zhu  -  1989

2- the pharmacology of chinese herbs  -  chang shon jang

3-encyclopedia of medicinal plants

 4- Internet