Phytoconstituents of Zizyphus spina-christi L. fruits and their antimicrobial activity

The crude protein of Zizyphus spina-christi seeds was found to be 15.9%. The percentage of essential amino acids was (12.8%) of total amino acids. Semi-essential was 17.1%, and non-essential represents 70% of the total mixture. Free sugars of the edible part of the fruit were isolated and identified by Paper Chromatography (PC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) and shown to be a mixture of fructose, xylose, glucose, and rhamnose. The yield of mucilage of the edible parts of the fruit of Z. spina-christi L. was 7.5%. PC and HPLC studies revealed that the hydrolysate of the mucilage of Z. spina-christi L. contains, mannose (93%), glucuronic acid (4.4%), rhamnose (1.24%) and galacturonic acid (0.37%). The lipid content of Z. spina-christi L. seeds was studied. Analysis of the fatty acids, by a Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC) technique, revealed the presence of 13 fatty acids; linoleic acid represents 45% of the total mixture, followed by linolenic acid (20%). Cholesterol and β-sitosterol represent the major constituents of the unsaponifiable fraction (ca. 49%). This lipid fraction showed antimicrobial activity against G+ve Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus pyogenes, G−ve Escherichia coli. Fatty acid fraction showed high activity against E. coli, and B. subtilis.