Medicinal plant of Jujube (ziziphus jujuba) and its indigenous knowledge and economic importance in desert regions in east of Iran: situation and problems

Jujube ( Ziziphus jujuba ) is one of the most valuable medicinal plant which grows in south-khorasan province. This region – majority with desert climate in east of Iran - is the major producer of Jujube ( Ziziphus jujuba ) in the Iran and also in the world. about 98 percent of production of this valuable medical plant in Iran produce in this province. Jujube was domesticated in the Indian subcontinent by 9000 BCE. Over 400 cultivars have been selected. The tree tolerates a wide range of temperatures and rainfall, though it requires hot summers and sufficient water for acceptable fruiting. Jujube is not familiar for many people in the world because of its medicinal characters are not introduced for them properly. Its yielding in 2012 in Iran received to 3000 tons and extent of its cultivation is 1350 ha and its economically value in raw format is about 20 millions USD $. Unfortunately this valuable medical have been faced with many problems in its production and marketing process that cause reducing profitability of cultivating jujube for farmers in south-khorasan province. In this article, author present a brief view of medical plant of ziziphus jujuba and its applications, medicine’s characters, economical importance, problems, barriers and approaches of its cultivating and marketing and finally state conclusion and recommendations of its application in sustainable rural livelihood and development in south-khorasan province –east of Iran.