The Ziziphus jujuba belongs to the Rhamnaceae family. It is traditionally used to cure various human ailments. The root barks of Ziziphus nummularia are reported to have sedative-hypnotic, antipyretic and analgesic properties. The fruit and its seeds are used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, where they are believed to alleviate stress, and traditionally for anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory purposes and sedation, antispastic, antifertility/contraception, hypotensive and antinephritic, cardiotonic, antioxidant, immunostimulant, and wound healing properties. It is among the fruits used in Kampo medicine. Jujube, along with Gan cao, is used in Chinese medicine to harmonize and moderate other herbs. Ziziphin, a compound in the leaves of the jujube, suppresses the ability to perceive sweet taste.

In Guyana Z. jujube is widely available in the all the Regions; it grows almost like a weed. The Guyanese community is, generally, not aware about the importance of this plant. It grows as a shrub. In the present study, the leaves of the Z. jujuba (Indian Date) in combination with each of Ethanol, Methanol, Ethyl acetate and Chloroform were tested to determine the antifungal and antibacterial activity of each extract. The tests were done according to the methods reported in the literature. The ethanol extract showed the strongest activity, using both well diffusion and poison plate methods. Among the four extracts, the ethanol extract showed the highest inhibition against S. aureus than E. coli and C. albicans.

 

Keywords: Antimicrobial agents; Ziziphus jujube; Microorganism; Herbal medicine; leaf extract; free radicals