Jujube Research Articles

Spinosin inhibits activated hepatic stellate cell to attenuate liver fibrosis by targeting Nur77/ASK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

AimLiver fibrosis remains a great challenge in the world. Spinosin (SPI), a natural flavonoid-C-glycoside, possesses various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and anti-myocardial fibrosis effects. In this study, we investigate whether SPI can be a potential lead for the treatment of liver fibrosis and explore whether the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77, a negative regulator of liver fibrosis development, plays a critical role in SPI's action. MethodsA dual luciferase reporter system of α-SMA was established to evaluate the effect of SPI on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in LX2 and HSC-T6 cells. A mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis was used to test the efficacy of SPI against liver fibrosis. The expression levels of Nur77, inflammatory cytokines and collagen were determined by Western blotting and qPCR. Potential kinase pathways involved were also analyzed. The affinity of Nur77 with SPI was documented by fluorescence titration. ResultsSPI can strongly suppress TGF-β1-mediated activation of both LX2 and HSC-T6 cells in a dose-dependent manner. SPI increases the expression of Nur77 and reduces TGF-β1-mediated phosphorylation levels of ASK1 and p38 MAPK, which can be reversed by knocking out of Nur77. SPI strongly inhibits collagen deposition (COLA1) and reduces inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-1β), which is followed by improved liver function in the CCl4-induced mouse model. SPI can directly bind to R515 and R563 in the Nur77-LBD pocket with a Kd of 2.14 μM. ConclusionSpinosin is the major pharmacological active component of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa which has been frequently prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine. We demonstrate here for the first time that spinosin is a new therapeutic lead for treatment of liver fibrosis by targeting Nur77 and blocking the ASK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The Influences of Soil and Meteorological Factors on the Growth and Fruit Quality of Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.).

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is attracting more and more attention worldwide due to their tasty and nutritious fruit with extremely high contents of vitamin C (Vc) and soluble sugar. In order to find out the main factors that influence jujube growth and reproductive adaptability, the phenological periods, vegetative growths, fruiting abilities, and fruit qualities of eight newly released cultivars were compared and comprehensively analyzed in three representative ecological sites of the three main jujube-producing regions including Fuping (Hebei), Taigu (Shanxi), and Alar (Xinjiang) in China. Our results showed that the characteristics of jujube cultivars were significantly affected by soil and meteorological factors. The fruit number per bearing shoot was much more affected by temperature, light, and rainfall. The fruit number per bearing shoot, contents of soluble solids, and soluble sugar and Vc contents in fruits were influenced more by meteorological factors. The content of flavonoids was affected by both soil and meteorological factors. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that cultivars suitable for planting in Fuping (Hebei) were Yuhong and Lengbaiyu. Zaocuimi, Fucuimi, and Zaoqiuhong were suitable to be cultivated in Taigu (Shanxi), while Zaocuimi, Yuhong, Yulu, Luzao 2, and Yueguang behaved better in Alar (Xinjiang). This study provides insights of the environmental factors on jujube yield and quality and therefore provides references for highly efficient jujube cultivation.

Response of soil water in deep dry soil layers to monthly precipitation, plant species, and surface mulch in a semi-arid hilly loess region of China

Large-scale deep soil desiccation has occurred in the Loess Plateau caused by large-scale introduced vegetation rehabilitation over many years. Consequently, this occurrence has raised concerns among scholars regarding the obstacles to plant succession that may result from deep soil desiccation following large-scale artificial vegetation construction. In order to answer the question of whether vegetation can be replanted and water can be restored in the deep dry soil environment in this region, large soil columns in the field were used to simulate dry soil in the 0–1000 cm layer. Some soil columns were planted with Robinia pseudoacacia, Caragana korshinskii, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.), and Poa annua, while other columns were covered with stones, branches, ground cloth, and white plastic film. Bare soil columns were used as the control treatment (CK). Dynamic changes of soil water in the 0–1000 cm soil layer of the soil columns were regularly observed, and five years (2014–2018) of continuous observation data were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Under the condition of severe desiccation of the deep soil layer in the semi-arid loess region of China, reintroducing plants can be successful, and the reintroduced plants can grow normally depending on the amount of local precipitation; (2) Due to the different water consumption amounts of reintroduced plants, a new soil water balance can emerge in the dry soil layer. Plants with high water consumption planted on dry soil can result in more severe soil desiccation, while plants with low water consumption planted on dry soil can alleviate soil desiccation. (3) The use of soil surface mulching had a strong effect on soil water restoration, with the order of effectiveness for soil desiccation remediation being white plastic film > ground cloth > branches ≈ stones > control (CK). In particular, the use of white plastic film can transform severely desiccated soil in the 0–640 cm layer into a non-desiccated state. These research findings directly address long-standing concerns of ecologists regarding plant succession and soil water restoration in deep desiccated soil, and can serve as a reference for the sustainable development of ecological construction in the Loess Plateau of China.

Betulinic acid inhibits the proliferation of human laryngeal carcinoma cells through reactive oxygen species-mediate mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Betulinic acid (BA), a natural pentacyclic triterpene, was extracted from the white birch tree, Triphyophyllum peltatum and the jujube tree. In a variety of human cancer cell lines, this substance displays anticancer properties. In this study, we examined how BA works to inhibit human laryngeal cancer growth. We discovered that BA minimally exhibited cytotoxicity in normal cells (human normal cell line GES-1), while remarkably inhibiting viability of AMC-HN-8, TU212, HEp-2 and M4e cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In AMC-HN-8 cancer cells, BA induced apoptosis, activated caspase-3/9/PARP, significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increased the expression of cytochrome C in the cytoplasm, transported Bax to the mitochondria, increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine can reduce apoptosis. All data showed that BA triggered apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, in which ROS production was likely involved. The findings support the development of BA as a viable drug for the treatment of human laryngeal carcinoma.

Isotherm and kinetic studies on adsorption of gasoline and kerosene using jujube and barberry tree stem powder and commercially available activated carbon

Herein, the application of granular activated carbon, jujube, and barberry tree stem powder for the removal of gasoline and kerosene from water was investigated. Kerosene removal rates upwards of 68.48, 83.87, and 99.02% were achieved using jujube tree stem powder, barberry tree stem powder, and granular activated carbon, respectively. Besides, gasoline removal rates upwards of 69.35, 55.02, and 95.59% were attained using jujube tree stem powder, barberry tree stem powder, and granular activated carbon, respectively. Isotherm data were further investigated and fitted using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Elovich models. The results indicated that the adsorption onto jujube adsorbent is a multilayer adsorption process over a heterogeneous surface, which is best illustrated by the Temkin (Ave. R 2= 0.95) model. It was found that the Temkin isotherm (Ave. R 2= 0.81) best describes the properties of barberry stem powder in the adsorption of gasoline and kerosene from water. Moreover, the best models to describe the characteristics of granular activated carbon in the adsorption of gasoline and kerosene from water were Freundlich (Ave. R 2= 0.74) and Langmuir (Ave. R 2= 0.73) isotherms, respectively. The adsorption kinetics showed that the pseudo-second-order was appropriate in modeling the adsorption kinetics of gasoline and kerosene to the studied adsorbents (R 2>0.74).

DNA barcoding identification of grafted Semen Ziziphi Spinosae and transcriptome study of wild Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.

Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS) is the dried and ripe seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. Currently, the yield of naturally grown SZS is unstable owing to environmental factors. Grafting high-quality sour jujube scions onto sour jujube or jujube tree stocks can result in a greater yield. However, the effects of grafting on the quality and gene expression of SZS have rarely been reported. This study used a DNA barcoding technique, high-performance liquid phase-evaporative luminescence detector (HPLC-ELSD), and transcriptomics to investigate the origin and genetic differences between grafted and wild jujube seeds. DNA barcoding identified all samples as Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa. HPLC-ELSD analysis revealed a higher content of grafted SZS compared to that of the wild SZS. Transcriptome analysis of the metabolic pathways in SZS showed that 22 and 19 differentially expressed gene sequences encoded enzymes related to flavonoids and saponin synthesis, respectively. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified 15 core genes governing the differences in medicinal components between grafted and wild SZS. This study demonstrated the use of DNA barcoding and fingerprint methods to identify jujube seed species and effectively capture ingredient information of medicinal materials. Additionally, transcriptome technology provided data for identifying core differential genes, facilitating studies on quality differences between grafted and wild SZS.

Effect of Soil Moisture Conditions on Growth and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Bokjo’ Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

Effect of Soil Moisture Conditions on Growth and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Bokjo’ Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

Autonomous navigation method of jujube catch-and-shake harvesting robot based on convolutional neural networks

Autonomous navigation of agricultural devices plays an indispensable step for the realization of various field intelligent operation tasks. However, the accurate extraction of navigation path is still a challenging task due to the complex orchard environment with many interference factors. To cope with the challenge, a low-cost vision system based on convolutional neural network and machine learning algorithm is proposed to obtain accurate navigation path for autonomous path detection of catch-and-shake harvesting robot under winter jujube orchard. In the vision system, firstly, an improved light-weight YOLOX-Nano architecture with some tricks including CSP attention block, SPPCSPC-F and ASFF is proposed to detect root points of jujube tree. Results show that the mAP of our model is 84.08 % and model size is only 12.30 MB, which can meet the requirements of embedded deployment. Secondly, a K-means clustering algorithm is applied to divide root points into two classes which belong to left and right tree row. Finally, the navigation line can be determined by geometric relations and least squares. The experimental results showed that the navigation centerline mean pixel errors and average heading angle deviation are 4.49 pixels and 2.55°, respectively. Therefore, this method can provide a new theoretical basis and technical reference for autonomous navigation of winter jujube catch-and-shake harvesting robots.

Comparative studies of phytonutrients content and therapeutic potential of fruits parts of Dialium guineense Willd (Fabaceae) and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) used in traditional pediatric in Burkina Faso

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the phytonutrients content and selected biological activities of fruit parts of Dialium guineense commonly known as velvet tamarind and Ziziphus mauritiana called jujube tree used in the management of childhood diseases. Methodology and Results: Phytochemical components were determined by specific reagents and biological activities by antiradical and antibacterial test. The fruit pulp of Ziziphus mauritiana had the best antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.27 mg/mL) due to its high contents ( p < 0.05 ) of total phenolic compounds (31.18 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g), flavonoids (0.73 ± 0.50 mg RE /g), hydrolysable tannins (11.37 ± 0.05 mg TAE/g) and condensed tannins (9.86 ± 0.30 mg CE/g). It also exhibited the highest contents of -carotene (72 ± 0.01 mg/100g) and macroelements Na (12 ± 0.00 mg/100g), K (605 ± 0.20 mg/100g). On the other hand, the fruit pulp of Dialium guineense had the best contents of vitamin C (36 ± 0.07 mg/100g), vitamin E (0.109 ± 0.07 mg/100g) and microelements (Fe, Zn) with 8.00 ± 0.01 mg/100g and 1.10 ± 0.02 mg/100g respectively. The fruits pulp of these two species showed antibacterial activity against E. coli with the best minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.12 mg/mL Conclusions and application of results: Recommendations of enhancement and promotion of these two fruit species could constitute important sources for the development of new nutraceuticals and phytomedicines in the prevention and treatment of childhood diseases. Keywords: Childhood diseases, Dialium guineense, Ziziphus mauritiana, Nutraceuticals.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveal the molecular and metabolic basis of flavonoids in Chinese sour jujube fruits in different harvest times

Chinese sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chow) is one of woody plant with the same origin of medicine and food. Specialized metabolites including flavonoids are mainly distributed in its active ingredient, but the composition and biosynthesis mechanism of flavonoids in different harvest times are still unclear. Hence, the accumulation of flavonoids in Chinese sour jujube fruits from five harvest times was investigated, using a combined metabolomics and transcriptomics approach in this study. And a total of 1539 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 11592 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The flavonoid, flavone, and flavanols biosynthtic pathways were significantly enriched in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of DEGs and DAMs. Furthermore, a comprehensive regulatory network was built for flavonoids biosynthesis and it was discovered that one FLS gene, and one NAC transcription factors (TFs) with a high connection with flavonoids biosynthesis by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Finally, RT-qPCR analysis of 15 flavonoid biosynthesis-related key genes validated the transcriptome sequencing data. This study provides a basis for further research and utilization of flavonoids in Chinese sour jujube and which is beneficial to the metabolic engineering of flavonoids.

Biological control of anthracnose fruit rot disease (Colletotrichum spp.) and fruit yield improvement of jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller var. inermis Rehder) using Bacillus velezensis CE 100

Colletotrichum spp. are notorious phytopathogens that cause anthracnose rot disease in jujube fruits, have a complex lifestyle (with necrotrophic, hemibiotrophic, quiescent, and endophytic phases), they spread rapidly mainly through the production of spores and are increasingly becoming resistant to various fungicides which makes them difficult to control. This study investigated the inhibition of spore germination and mycelial growth of Colletotrichum spp. to suppress anthracnose rot disease in jujube fruits through the activity of cell wall degrading enzymes, and improvement of jujube fruit characteristics and yield via the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin acid (GA3) by Bacillus velezensis CE 100. The bacterial culture broth exhibited a strong chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and protease and the crude fraction suppressed the germination of spores by more than 95.0 % at a concentration of 100 µL/mL, and substantially reduced mycelial growth of Colletotrichum spp. The microscopic analysis revealed that the treatments degraded the cell walls and caused severe structural distortion of the spores and hyphae of Colletotrichum spp. Field application of B. velezensis CE 100 on the jujube tree crown and in the rhizosphere lowered the rate of anthracnose disease incidence by 2.8-fold and disease severity index (DSI) by 4.4-fold, compared to the control. In addition, B. velezensis CE 100 produced IAA (up to 15.6 mg/mL) and GA3 (up to 1.3 mg/mL), and the field application of the bacterial culture on the jujube tree crown and in the rhizosphere consequently improved the average fruit characteristics (fruit length, fruit diameter and fresh weight by 1.2-, 1.4- and 1.5-fold), chlorophyll index (photosynthetic rate by 1.1-fold), and fruit yield (by 2.1-fold) of jujube, compared to the control group. Thus, the inoculation of B. velezensis CE 100 has the potential effectiveness as a bio-fungicide against anthracnose rot disease in jujube fruits, and as a bio-fertilizer to improve fruit characteristics and yield.

Molecular insights into the VIRESCENS amino acid sequence and its implication in anthocyanin production in red- and yellow-fruited cultivars of date palm

This study examined the amino acid sequence of the VIRESCENS gene (VIR), which regulates the production of anthocyanin in 12 cultivars of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), grown in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The gene products were amplified via polymerase chain reactions, amplifying both exons and introns. The products were sequenced for the reconstruction of a phylogenetic tree, which used the associated amino acid sequences. The ripening stages of Khalal, Rutab, and Tamar varied among the cultivars. Regarding VIR genotype, the red date had the wild-type gene (VIR+), while the yellow date carried a dominant mutation (VIRIM), i.e., long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs). The DNA sequence of VIRIM revealed that the insertion length of the LTR-RTs ranged between 386 and 476 bp. The R2 and R3 motifs in both VIR+ and VIRIM were conserved. The C-terminus motifs S6A, S6B, and S6C were found in the VIR+ protein sequence. However, the amino acids at positions 123, 161, 166, and 168 differed between VIR+ and VIRIM, and were not included in the C-terminus motifs. Within the VIR+ allele, the lysine at position 187 in the C-terminus was located immediately after S6B, with a protein binding score of 0.3, which was unique to the dark, red-fruited cultivars Ajwah, Anbarah, and Safawi. In the lighter, red-fruited cultivars, the presence of glutamic acid at the same position suggested that the anthocyanin regulation of date palm might be outside the R2 and R3 domains in the N-terminus.

Preharvest Foliar Spraying Combined with Postharvest Salicylic Acid Treatment Regulates Panzao (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Jingcang1’) Fruit Quality and Softening during Storage

Panzao (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Jingcang1’) have a short shelf-life, which hampers their marketability. To investigate effects of combined pre- and postharvest treatments on quality and softening during storage, preharvest Guomantian foliar fertilizer (FF) spray and postharvest salicylic acid (SA) dip were applied to panzao. By day 63 of storage, fruit firmness responded to treatment in the order of FF+SA treatment > FF or SA treatments > Control. All treatments inhibited fruit reddening during storage and, compared with those of the control, alleviated the decline in total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and phenol contents and decreased the oxidative aging process, which was consistent with the change in firmness. The FF+SA treatment reduced the activities of amylase, cellulase, polygalacturonase, and β-glucosidase, which decreased the degradation of macromolecules including starch, cellulose, and pectin. Principal component analysis showed that FF+SA exhibited a synergistic effect and was the most effective treatment for maintaining fruit quality during storage. FF increased accumulation of nutrients during growth and improved quality, while SA delayed the decline in fruit quality and reduced softening. These results provide the theoretical basis and technical knowledge for improving the shelf-life of panzao during storage and long-distance transportation.

Genome-wide analysis of ALDH gene family in jujube and identification of ZjALDH3F3 for its important role in high-temperature tolerance

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are NAD(P)-dependent enzymes that oxidize aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. They play crucial roles in various biological processes and plant responses to stress. The impact of high temperatures on jujube quality and yield has been well documented. Nevertheless, the involvement of ALDHs in the response to heat stress remains poorly understood. This study aimed to identify ZjALDHs in the jujube genome (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) and conducted in silico analyses. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that ALDHs in plants, including jujube, can be divided into ten families, and members from the same family share conserved gene and protein structures. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) histochemical staining were used to analyze the expression patterns of ZjALDHs in response to elevated temperatures. We identified a ZjALDH (ZjALDH3F3) gene displaying a significant upregulation and down-regulation, respectively in heat-resistant (HR) and heat-sensitive (HS) jujube in response to heat treatments. Such specific responses are probably attributed to the different heat-responsive cis-elements of ZjALDH3F3 in HR and HS jujubes. ZjALDH3F3 over-expressed in tobacco increased heat tolerance, as evidenced by the reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes. The qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression of antioxidant enzymes, abscisic acid (ABA), and stress-responsive genes was enhanced in transgenic tobacco. This study sheds novel light on the function of ZjALDHs in heat resistance of jujube.

Hyperspectral estimation of chlorophyll content in jujube leaves: integration of derivative processing techniques and dimensionality reduction algorithms.

The leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) of vegetation is closely related to photosynthetic efficiency and biological activity. Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is a traditional economic forest tree species. Non-destructive monitoring of LCC of jujube is of great significance for guiding agroforestry production and promoting ecological environment protection in arid and semi-arid lands. Hyperspectral data is an important data source for LCC detection. However, hyperspectral data consists of a multitude of bands and contains extensive information. As a result, certain bands may exhibit high correlation, leading to redundant spectral information. This redundancy can distort LCC prediction results and reduce accuracy. Therefore, it is crucial to select appropriate preprocessing methods and employ effective data mining techniques when analyzing hyperspectral data. This study aims to evaluate the performance of hyperspectral data for estimating LCC of jujube trees by integrating different derivative processing techniques with different dimensionality reduction algorithms. Hyperspectral reflectance data were obtained through simulations using an invertible forest reflectance model (INFORM) and measurements from jujube tree canopies. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and elastic net (EN) were employed to identify the important bands in the original spectra (OS), first derivative spectra (FD), and second derivative spectra (SD). Support vector regression (SVR) was used to establish the estimation model. The results show that compared with full-spectrum modeling, LASSO and EN algorithms are effective methods for preventing overfitting in LCC machine learning estimation models for different spectral derivatives. The LASSO/EN-based estimation models constructed using FD and SD exhibited superior R2 compared to the OS. The important band of SD can best reveal the relevant information of jujube LCC, and SD-EN-SVR is the most ideal model in both the simulated dataset (R2=0.99, RMSE=0.61) and measured dataset (R2=0.89, RMSE=0.91). Our results provided a reference for rapid and non-destructive estimation of the LCC of agroforestry vegetation using canopy hyperspectral data.

Impact of Mulching on Soil Moisture and Sap Flow Characteristics of Jujube Trees

The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of grass planting and jujube branch mulching on soil moisture levels and jujube tree transpiration rates, with the ultimate goal of improving jujube tree production in rain-fed orchards. The study encompassed four treatments: jujube branch mulching (JBM), jujube branch mulching with white clover planting (JBM + WCP), white clover planting (WCP), and clean cultivation (CC). During a two-year experiment, it was observed that the JBM treatment exhibited the highest capacity for moisture conservation. Specifically, it resulted in an average increase of 2.69% (in 2013) and 2.23% (in 2014) in soil moisture content compared with the CC treatment. The application of statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between JBM and JBM + WCP, as well as highly significant differences (p < 0.01) between JBM and WCP in the year 2013. In 2014, JBM exhibited significant differences (p < 0.01) from both JBM + WCP and WCP. Between April and August, JBM exhibited the highest soil moisture content, followed by CC, with WCP showing the lowest levels. From September to October, JBM retained its status as the treatment with the highest soil moisture content, JBM + WCP ranked second, and CC experienced a decline and recorded the lowest soil moisture content. Under sunny conditions, all treatments showed a broad peak curve in the daily variation of sap flow velocity. In cloudy weather, a multi-peak wave-like curve was observed with similar trends across treatments. Between April and August, the monthly average sap flow velocity of JBM ranked the highest, followed by CC, while WCP showed the lowest velocity. During the period of September to October, JBM maintained its lead in sap flow velocity, while JBM + WCP rose to the second position, and CC’s sap flow velocity dropped to the lowest level. JBM and WCP treatments showed significant differences (p < 0.01), and in 2014, JBM also had significant differences (p < 0.05) compared with JBM + WCP. The sap flow velocity was positively correlated with air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, wind velocity, photosynthetically active radiation, and soil temperature. Photosynthetically active radiation was identified as the main driving factor influencing jujube tree transpiration. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of using pruned jujube branches for coverage in rain-fed jujube orchards. This approach not only conserves mulching materials and diminishes the expenses associated with transporting pruned jujube tree branches away from the jujube orchard but also achieves multiple objectives, including increasing soil moisture, promoting jujube tree transpiration, and enhancing soil water utilization. These results have significant implications for the efficient utilization of rainwater resources in rain-fed jujube orchards and provide valuable insights for practical applications in orchard management.

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Activity of Stem Bark of <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> (L.) Gaertn

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a significant metabolic disorder that increases mortality and morbidity, affects people all over the world. Recently, many individuals are exploring CAM treatment that may have fewer side effects due to the prominent side effects of allopathic medications. Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn. (Rhamnaceae) stem bark has been a vital part of the conventional system of medicine for the management of diabetes, inflammation, wounds, fever, asthma and liver disorders. In spite of its pharmacological significance, Ziziphus jujuba stem bark lacks scientific evidence of its antidiabetic and antioxidant potential. Hence, an attempt has been made to evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of the stem bark of Ziziphus jujuba using alpha-amylase inhibition assay. In this research work, we further investigated the antioxidant activity of the Ziziphus jujuba using DPPH and Nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. The Chloroform (CEZJ), ethyl acetate (EAZJ) and Ethanol (EEZJ) extracts of Ziziphus jujuba stem bark were used in the study. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, EEZJ had an IC50 value of 117.1 µg/ml, however, the value for the nitric oxide scavenging assay was 64.65 µg/ml. The Ziziphus jujuba was additionally examined for its in-vitro antidiabetic potential using an alpha-amylase inhibition assay, and it was discovered to possess a considerable percentage of alpha-amylase inhibition. The IC50 of EEZJ was found to be 34.68 µg/ml. These results imply that the Ziziphus jujuba possesses considerable antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. To thoroughly establish the anti-diabetic potential of Ziziphus jujuba, additional in vitro experiments utilizing cell lines and other enzymes may be conducted.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) Females to Aldehyde Volatiles from Dried Fruits.

Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) is a notorious pest of stored grain globally. The dried fruits (Ziziphus jujuba, Malus pumila, and Fragaria ananassa) can strongly attract P. interpunctella. However, specific volatile compounds responsible for such effects have not been identified. Volatiles were analyzed by using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) techniques. Five aldehyde compounds were selected for electroantennogram (EAG), single sensillum recording (SSR), and behavioral response assays. The three chemicals that elicited the strongest EAG responses to mated females at 100 μg/μL include hexanal (1.13 mV), heptanal (0.92 mV), and octanal (0.73 mV). In SSR experiments, the basiconic sensilla of the antennae responded to these aldehyde compounds. The results of behavioral responses showed that all aldehydes exhibited dose-dependent responses, with hexanal having the highest attractant rate of 74.56%. These compounds have the potential to be used for monitoring P. interpunctella and its integrated management program.

Anti-Cancer Potential of Phytocompounds from Ziziphus jujuba against Lung Cancer Target Proteins: An In Silico Validation

Ziziphus jujuba plant belongs to Rhamnaceous family and grows mainly in Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and Australia. Recent phytochemical investigation of plants provided some information on their biological effects, such as the hepatoprotective, immunostimulating, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. The current study investigated 34 phytocompounds from Z. jujuba and three anti-cancer drugs against three lung cancer target proteins. Drug likeliness screening revealed that two compounds dodecanoic acid and 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione possess zero violation, and compound azelaic acid possesses single violation against five drug rules. Molecular docking study reveals that 34 phytocompounds from Z. jujuba and three anti-cancer drugs showed docking score values in the range of −3.9 to −10.2 kcal/mol and −7.2 to −9.0 kcal/mol against three significant lung cancer target proteins. Furthermore, in silico screening top scored three phytocompounds campesterol, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione and three anti-cancer drugs etoposide, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin utilized. Pharmacokinetic profile of three phytocompounds from Z. jujuba showed excellent absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profile than standard drugs. Furthermore, bioactivity and density functional theory analysis showed that phytocompounds from Z. jujuba possess better bioactivity scores and molecular electrostatic potentials than standard drugs. Molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that campesterol with CDK2 (PDB ID 1GII) and MDM2/P53 (4HFZ) target proteins possess better simulation trajectories and binding affinity than standard drugs. Further clinical trials of compounds (campesterol, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 7,9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro[4,5]deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione) are needed to check clinical pertinence toward lung cancer target proteins to commercialize these novel drug molecule in the drug industry.

Bordeaux mixture accelerates ripening, delays senescence, and promotes metabolite accumulation in jujube fruit

Abstract The old, but eco-friendly pesticide, Bordeaux mixture (Bm), is widely used in agriculture. Here, the effects of Bm on preharvest fruit ripening, and postharvest senescence of fruit and the accumulation of antioxidants were studied in Ziziphus jujuba. A 200× dilution of Bm enhanced preharvest ripening and retarded jujube fruit postharvest senescence. Treatment with Bm increased the reddening index and promoted the accumulation of total phenolics (TP) and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in preharvest fruit. However, this Bm-accelerated ripening could be partly reversed using dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a specific scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Compared with preharvest fruit, Bm treatment decreased weight loss and decay and increased firmness in postharvest fruit. Similarly, Bm-delayed senescence was partly reversed using dimethylthiourea. Moreover, the decrease in TP and TAC during storage was partly impeded by Bm. A higher H2O2 content was detected in preharvest fruit than in postharvest fruit. Moreover, this Bm-induced H2O2 accumulation was significantly mitigated using dimethylthiourea. Interestingly, both preharvest and postharvest spraying with Bm significantly enhance copper and calcium accumulation in fruit. Thus, Bm can be widely used before or after harvest to improve fruit quality.