The hidden medicinal potential of Ziziphus mauritiana roots
When people think of "jujube," they imagine a sweet-sour fruit. But did you know that deep beneath the soil, this traditional herb hides a group of "triterpenes" with high medical potential?
Research from Srinakharinwirot University reveals that Thai jujube roots (Ziziphus mauritiana) contain unique chemical treasures! 1 2
Triterpenes are large natural compounds composed of 6 isoprene units (C30H48) that plants use as defensive shields. 3 They come in diverse structures:
Common in plants like birch trees
Rare structure first found in Ceanothus plants
Popular in cancer research studies
Excitingly, Thai jujube roots contain 7 types of triterpenes from both groups, a combination never before reported in this plant! 1 2
The research team from Srinakharinwirot University, led by Dr. Panomwan Pansrita and Dr. Sunit Suksamrarn, used advanced techniques to isolate these compounds:
Dried Thai jujube roots were ground into powder
Used ethanol and hexane for sequential extraction
Silica gel was used as the stationary phase
NMR and Mass Spectrometry for 3D molecular imaging
| Compound | Type | New Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| Zizyberenalic acid | Ceanothane | |
| Ceanothic acid | Ceanothane | - |
| Epiceanothic acid | Ceanothane | |
| 24-Hydroxyceanothic acid | Ceanothane | |
| Lupeol | Lupane | - |
| Betulin | Lupane | - |
| Betulinic acid | Lupane | - |
This marks the first report of ceanothane-type triterpenes in jujube! 1 7 Particularly significant is "Epiceanothic acid" with its unique three-dimensional structure resulting from atypical atomic arrangement.
Ceanothane is a rare open-ring triterpene (3,4-seco) found in limited natural sources. Research on Thai Gardenia species shows these compounds inhibit cancer angiogenesis (Anti-angiogenic) 9 , aligning with the mechanism of Betulinic acid from the lupane group in jujube, which has been reported to:
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Maceration | Simple, low cost | Time-consuming (24-72 hours) |
| Soxhlet | Thorough extraction | High temperature risk |
| Ultrasound (UAE) | 4x faster* | Requires parameter optimization |
This discovery opens doors to:
Development of precision medicine targeting specific cancer cells
Production of precursor compounds for modified pharmaceuticals
Evaluation of Thai jujube varieties for medical applications
Traditional wisdom that uses "jujube roots for bone health and anti-inflammation" now has molecular evidence! The research team indicates that the next steps involve bioavailability studies and structural optimization for enhanced efficacy. 8
"Nature has written healing codes in traditional plants for centuries... Science is the key to decipher them."