Introduction
The jujube fruit (commonly called red date, Chinese date, or Ber) offers a naturally sweet and chewy taste experience while delivering impressive nutritional value (1). Beyond being a delicious snack, this nutrient-dense fruit provides numerous health benefits. Notably, traditional medicine systems utilize all parts of the jujube plant – including its roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits – for their therapeutic properties (2,3).
This small, round fruit has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Middle Eastern practices. Let’s explore the incredible benefits of jujube.
Bioactive components in Jujube fruit
The peel and pulp of jujube fruits contain the highest concentration of bioactive compounds – powerful plant nutrients that deliver health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These natural phytochemicals make jujubes more than just a sweet snack (4).
The scientific evidence has shown that jujube fruits contain a high amount of various bioactive compounds, including ascorbic acid, triterpenic acids, phenolic acids, amino acids, saponins, cerebrosides, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and mineral constituents (5).
The medicinal power of jujubes lies in their phytoconstituents, which offer comprehensive protection for
- Liver support (hepatoprotective)
- Blood sugar regulation (antidiabetic)
- Anti-inflammatory activities.
Dried Jujube fruit (whole) /100 grams = Total Calories 64
Dried Jujube whole fruit contains 64 Calories of energy per 100 grams. Other content in the dried jujube fruits is as follows
▪ Protein – 5 g
▪ Fat – 1.7 g
▪ Dietary fiber – 6.7 g
▪ Carbohydrate – 73.3 g
▪ Calcium – 66.6 mg
▪ Iron – 5 mg
Now, let us see some of the health benefits of Jujube fruits
Nutrients & Antioxidants of Jujube Fruit
Jujube is a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, including:
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Vitamin C (boosts immunity)
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Potassium (supports heart health)
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Iron (prevents anemia)
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Fiber (aids digestion)
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Antioxidants (fight free radicals)
Health benefits of Jujube fruit
1. Antioxidant property of Jujube fruit
Experiments on mouse liver prove that the flavonoid extracted from the Jujuba fruits shows natural antioxidant properties and also increases the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione (GSH) in the mouse liver. (6)
- SOD and GSH are the components of the body’s antioxidant defense system, working together to neutralize the harmful ROS, that is reactive oxygen species.
2. Anti-inflammatory activity
Inflammation is the body’s automatic defense response to pathogens and tissue injury (7). But chronic inflammation may result in diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Thus, anti-inflammatory therapeutics are necessary for healthy living.
Polysaccharides of Jujube help in increasing the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon-γ-γ (IFN-γ) in the spleen of immunosuppressed mice (8).
- IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon-γ-γ (IFN-γ) are anti-inflammatory cytokines.
3. Anti-hyperlipidemic properties of Jujube fruits
The polysaccharides of this fruit help in reducing the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and inhibit oleic acid-induced triglyceride and lipid accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner in L02 cells (9).
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a protein (enzyme) that helps the liver turn food into energy.
- Oleic acid is a type of fat found in food.
4. Anti-viral effect
Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpenoid, was extracted from jujube fruit (10). They had a special inhibitory activity against the influenza A/PR/8 virus. In vivo experiments showed that betulinic acid can relieve the symptoms of lung necrosis and edema caused by the influenza A/PR/8 virus in mice.
5. Immunoregulatory effects
Jujube is a functional food that can regulate the immune system by enhancing or suppressing the immune response, providing host defenses against infection, and suppressing allergies and inflammation (11, 12).