The jujube is a little known fruit, but is gaining momentum in Western cultures for its high amount of vitamins and minerals. It has been used for thousands of years in Asian countries by medicine men and herbalists alike. The jujube is not named after the popular candy from childhood, but rather, the other way around.
History
The jujube, also known as ziziphus, is grown and cultivated in India, Russia southern Europe, China and the middle East. The fruit has been used in Chinese medicine for over 4,000 years. In 1908, a plant explorer for the USDA introduced it to North America and soon after, other cultivars were selected from seedlings. In California, the jujube is grown for just a few niche markets.
Nutrition
According to a study published in Volume 103 Issue 2 of the journal, Food Chemistry, jujube contains the potassium, phosphorus, manganese and calcium as the major minerals. There are also high amounts of sodium, zinc, iron and copper. Jujube also contains vitamin c, riboflavin and thiamine. It contains 20 times the amount of vitamin C as citrus fruits. The vitamin and mineral content of the fruit helps to soothe the stomach, ease sore throats, suppress the appetite, support cardiovascular health, enhance metabolism and cleanse the blood vessels.
Amino Acids
The body requires 24 amino acids to function, and the jujube fruit contains 18 of the 24. Amino acids help with the maintenance and formation of the bones, skin, muscle, bloods, hormones, neurotransmitters and enzymes in the body. They are also essential to the building of more that 50,000 proteins made by the human body. Amino acids assist the body in healing wounds and diseases.
Liver
A study was published in the April 21 2009 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in which the protective effects of jujube fruit on the liver were investigated. It was found that the fruit protected the liver against injury in mice. It also helped to eliminate oxidative stress in the liver. Oxidative stress is when free radicals form in the body and interact with cells. Free radicals can lead to many diseases.
Cancer
The water extract of jujube fruit was studied by the Vaccine and Serum Research Institute in Iran. In the study, which was published in the February 2008 issue of Cytotechnology, it was found that this extract inhibited tumor cells, and may have useful compounds for medicinal use. It was especially useful against Jurkat leukemic cells, which are related to leukemia.
Tags: Amino acids, been used, found that, jujube fruit, study published