Phytochemical characterization and biological effects of plant species Ziziphus jujuba Mill.

Biljna vrsta Ziziphus jujuba Mill. koja pripada porodici Rhamnaceae najpoznatija je po svome plodu zbog čijih ga karakteristika nazivaju kineskom crvenom datuljom, ali i žižulom. „Plod života“ također je još jedan od sinonima, a on najbolje dočarava brojne blagodati ploda, ali i cijele biljke bogate najviše triterpenskim kiselinama, saponinima, alkaloidima, flavonoidima, jednostavnim fenolima i polisaharidima. Prvo poznata tradicionalnoj kineskoj medicini danas se uzgaja u svim dijelovima svijeta, pa i u Hrvatskoj, te se koristi u prehrambene i terapijske svrhe. Brojna neklinička i manje brojna klinička istraživanja potvrđuju njezinu tradicionalnu primjenu i objašnjavaju njezine antioksidativne, protuupalne, antikancerogene, antimikrobne anksiolitičke, sedativno–hipnotičke, imunomodulatorne, gastroprotektivne, kardioprotektivne, hepatoprotektivne i ostale biološke učinke. Potencijal ove biljne vrste u povećanju kvalitete života ljudi sve je veći zbog mogućih učinaka u prevenciji ili terapiji bolesti.Plant species Ziziphus jujuba Mill. which belongs to the family Rhamnaceae is best known for its whole fruit and because of its characteristics called Chinese red date, but also jujube. "Fruit of life" is another synonym and it best evokes the many benefits of the fruit, but also whole plants rich in triterpene acids, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, simple phenols and polysaccharides. The first known traditional Chinese medicine today is cultivated in all parts of the world, including Croatia, and is used for nutritional and therapeutic purposes. Numerous non-clinical and less numerous clinical studies confirm its traditional application and explain its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, anxiolytic, sedative-hypnotic, immunomodulatory, gastroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and other biological effects. The potential of this plant species in increasing the quality of human life is increasing due to its potential roles in disease prevention or therapy