Menolyte
Da Zao
FRUCTUS JUJUBAE (CHINESE DATE)
Da Zao is the dried ripe fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae).
CHEMISTRY
The fruit contains triterpenes betulinic acid, aiphitolic acid,
betulonic acid, oleanonic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid and
ursolic acid together with a number of isomeric b-coumaric acid esters
of aiphitolic and maslinic acid1'2. Two alkaloids named zizyphusine
and daechucyclopeptide- 1 were also isolated from the fruit3.
It is interesting to note that the fruit yields relatively high amounts
of cAMP and cGMP. Their contents in dry fruit were 100-500 nmol/g
and 30-SO nmoL/g, respectively4-6.
From the seed of Z. jujuba, three saponins jujubosides A and B, and
ziziphin were isolated7'8. Furthermore, flavone C-glycosides swertisin
and spinosin as well as the acylated derivatives of spinosin sinapoyl-,
feruloyl- and coumaroylspinosin were also found in the seed9.
PHARMACOLOGY
The flavone C-glycosides swertisin, spinosin and acylspinosins were found to have mild sedative activity in animal experiments. Among these compounds swertisin showed the highest sedative activity10.
FUNCTIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Da Zao has a sweat taste and a warm property, acting on the spleen and stomach channels. It has the functions of:
(i) invigorating the function of the spleen and stomach and replenishing
Qi, used in weakness of the spleen and stomach marked by lassitude
and weakness, and loose stools; and
(ii) replenishing the blood and tranquilizing the mind, used in blood
deficiency marked by sallow complexion, emaciation and restlessness.
DOSAGE
10-30g.
REFERENCES
1. Yagi, A., Okamura, N., Haraguchi, Y., Noda, K., Nishioka, I.
(1978) Studies on the constituents of Zizyphi fructus. I. Structure
of three new p-coumarates of aiphitolic acid. Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Bulletin,
26, 1798-1802.
2. Yagi, A., Okamura, N., Haraguchi, Y., Noda, K., Nishioka, I. (1978)
Studies on the constituents of Zizyphi fructus. LI. Structure of
new p-coumaroylates of maslinic acid. Chemical and Pharmaceutical
Bulletin, 26,
3075-3079.
3. Han, B.H., Park, M.H. (1987) Sedative activity and the active
components of zizyphi fructus. Archives of Pharmacal Research, 10,
208-211.
4. Cyong, J.C., Takahashi, M. (1982) Guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate
activity in fruits of Zizyphus jujuba. Chemical and Phannaceutical
Bulletin, 30, 1081-1083.
5. Cyong, J.C., Takahashi, M. (1982) Identification of guanosine
3',5'-monophosphate in fruits of Zizyphus jujuha. Phytochemistry,
21, 1871-1874.
6. Cyong, J.C., Hanabusa, K. (1980) Cyclic adenosine monophosphate
in the fruits of Zizyphus jujuba. Phytochemistry, 19, 2747-2748.
7. Otsuka, H., Akiyama, T., Kawai, KI., Shibata, S., Innue, 0., Ogihara,
Y. (1978) The structure of jujubosides A and B, the saponins isolated
from the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba. Phytochemistry, 17, 1349-1352.
8. Kurihara, Y., Ookubo, K., Tasaki, H., Kodama, H., Akiyama, Y.,
Yagi, A., et al. (1988) Studies on the taste modifiers. I. Purification
and structure determination of sweetness inhibiting substance in
leaves of Zizyphus jujuba. Tetrahedron, 44, 61-66.
9. Woo, W.S., Kang, S.S., Wagner, H., Seligmann, 0., Chari, V.M.
(1980)Acylated flavone-C-glycosides from seeds of Zizyphus jujuba.
Phytochemistry, 19, 2791-2793.
10. Woo, W.S., Shin, K.H., Kang, S.S. (1980) Chemistry and pharmacology
of flavone C-glycoside from Zizyphus seeds. In Recent Advances in
Natural Products Research, edited by W.S. Woo, B.H. Han, pp. 33-
40. Seoul: Seoul National University Press.