THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ZIZIPHUS RUGOSA LAM.: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Anjna Chaturvedi*1, Naved Siddiqui2
ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants continue to play a significant role in healthcare systems worldwide owing to their rich phytochemical composition and diverse pharmacological activities. Ziziphus rugosa Lam., a member of the family Rhamnaceae, is an underexplored medicinal plant widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of South and Southeast Asia. Traditionally, various parts of the plant, including the bark, leaves, fruits, flowers, and roots, have been employed in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, wounds, cough, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, menorrhagia, respiratory ailments, and inflammatory conditions. Phytochemical investigations have revealed the presence of numerous bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, cyclopeptide alkaloids, triterpenoids, phenolic acids, glycosides, and phytosterols, which are responsible for its broad spectrum of biological activities. Experimental studies have demonstrated that Z. rugosa possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anti-ulcer, wound-healing, analgesic, and cytoprotective properties, supporting many of its traditional therapeutic applications. The pharmacological actions of the plant are attributed to multiple mechanisms, including free radical scavenging, modulation of inflammatory mediators, enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defense systems, antimicrobial activity, and protection of gastrointestinal mucosa. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, comprehensive scientific validation, toxicity evaluation, standardization of extracts, and well-designed clinical studies remain limited. This review summarizes the botanical characteristics, geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemical profile, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, dosage forms, and future research prospects of Ziziphus rugosa.
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