Medicinal and Nutritional Properties of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. in Traditional Persian Medicine and Modern Phytotherapy

Objectives: Ziziphus jujuba (jujube) is a plant with a long history of consumption as a fruit and a medicinal plant, which has various pharmacological effects. This plant has been widely used in traditional Persian medicine (TPM) and modern phytotherapy. Therefore, the overarching goal of this research was to review the nutritional and pharmacological properties of this valuable plant. Materials and Methods: The relevant keywords were used to search different databases containing the new findings as well as the old textbooks, and several articles on Z. jujuba, its effects, and its benefits were extracted. Results: First, the descriptions of Z. jujuba in the books on traditional medicine were reviewed with regard to the experiences of past physicians. Next, the new findings reported by scientists about the pharmacological effects of Z. jujuba and its active ingredients were presented. Z. jujuba has had numerous uses in the course of history. Considering the definitions provided in the traditional medical books and the modern applications of Ziziphus jujuba, there were close relationships among some of the findings, while for some of the effects described in traditional books there is no similar account in the classical medical books. Conclusions: Jujube has been used for the treatment of some diseases throughout the history. Hence, since this plant is native to different parts of Iran, research centers are recommended to use the state-of-the-art technology to summarize the effects of jujube and its socioeconomic benefits.