The Jujube tree originated in China where it has been cultivated for several thousand years. Now, the jujube tree can be found around the globe, including the southwestern part of the United States. The fresh jujube fruit is highly desired by many cultures and available in Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian stores. Jujube date has long been used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia.

Historical use
Jujube ( Zizyphus jujuba or Semen Ziziphi Spinosae ) is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. Jujube is promoted as having a calming effects. In China, Jujube is known as Suan Zao Ren.

What's in Jujube herb?
A number of compounds are present in jujube, including saponins, jujubosides and triterpenoic acids.

Jujube as a sedative and sleep aid
It appears that the saponins are the main active ingredients in terms of sedation.

Separation and purification of saponins from Semen Ziziphus jujuba and their sedative and hypnotic effects.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007.
Saponins from jujube herb were tested on animals and found to have sedative properties.

Comparison of the sedative and hypnotic effects of flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides extracted from Semen Ziziphus jujube.
Nat Prod Res. 2007. College of Food, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
We investigated and compared the sedative and hypnotic effects of three kinds of compounds, flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides. Flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides were extracted from jujube herb and orally administered to mice separately. Results show that flavonoids and saponins caused a significant reduction of walking time and coordinated movement ability of mouse, significantly prolonged its sleeping time. Comparative analysis showed that saponins had a more effective sedative and hypnotic function than that of flavonoids, polysaccharides did not show a sedative and hypnotic effect.

Jujube as anti cancer agent in liver cancer
Mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of Zizyphus jujuba in HepG2 cells.
Am J Chin Medicine. Department of Food and Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
We investigated the anti-cancer activity of jujube herb and its underlining mechanisms of action in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and found that jujube extract decreased the viability of the cells. Our findings suggest that jujube extract induced a concentration dependent effect on apoptosis and a differential cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells.

Combination of Zizyphus jujuba and green tea extracts exerts excellent cytotoxic activity in HepG2 cells via reducing the expression of APRIL.
Am J Chin Med. 2009. Huang X, Kojima-Yuasa A, Xu S, Kennedy DO, Hasuma T, Matsui-Yuasa I. Department of Food and Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Life Science, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of tumor highly resistant to available chemotherapeutic agents. The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma remains a challenge that needs new approaches in the future. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the chloroform fraction (CHCl(3)-F) from Z. jujuba has anticancer activity in human liver cancer cells (HepG2), and that combining CHCl(3)-F with green tea extracts results in enhanced effects of anticancer activity in the cells. We speculate that jujuba extract and green tea extract mixture might provide a lead to a new drug design to treat hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.

Hardening of the arteries
EXCLI J. 2015. Anti-atherogenic potential of jujube, saffron and barberry: anti-diabetic and antioxidant actions. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by an increased level of lipoprotein (a) and a decreased level of adiponectin, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. To reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients, use of agents with antidiabetic and anti-atherogenic potential is required. Using an animal model of diabetes, we investigated the antiatherogenic potential of extracts of three medicinal plants: jujube, barberry, and saffron. For this, serum level of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, adiponectin and lipoprotein (a) in diabetic control and extract treated groups were measured. Statistical analysis of measurements showed that serum levels of fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and VLDL decreased significantly in all treated groups. Treatment with all extracts reduced lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant capacity of the experimental diabetic groups. Serum adiponectin levels increased in all treated groups, whereas lipoprotein (a) levels decreased, most markedly when treated with jujube extract. Jujube, saffron, and barberry extracts are beneficial in ameliorating oxidative stress and atherogenic risk of diabetic rats.

Jujube review
This herb is used in the Orient for its calming effects. This herb does appear to have some relaxation potential although others herbs such as passion flower, Kava , and supplements such as tryptophan, 5-HTP and theanine are good options.

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Eyesight Rx for better visual acuity within hours or days
Supplement Facts:
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Citrus bioflavonoids
     (eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones, flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed carotenoids
     (astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin)
Bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus)
Eyebright extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba)
Suma extract (Pfaffia paniculata)
Mucuna pruriens extract (Cowhage)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Lycium berry extract (Lycium Barbarum)
Sarsaparila (Sarsaparilla Smilax)
Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement

Brain and mental influence
Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2013. Ethanolic Extract of the Seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Induced by Cholinergic Blockade in Mice.

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Feb 12. A Standardized Extract of the Fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Induces Neuronal Differentiation of Cultured PC12 Cells: A Signaling Mediated by Protein Kinase A. These results support the use of jujube as a food supplement for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases in which neurotrophin deficiency is involved.

Jujube studies
Anti-complementary Activity of Triterpenoides from Fruits of Zizyphus jujuba.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2004.
In order to determine on the anti-complement activity of triterpenes, following eleven triterpenoides were isolated from the fruits of the jujube: ceanothane-type triterpenes: colubrinic acid, zizyberenalic acid; lupane-type triterpenes: alphitolic acid, alphitolic acid, betulinic acid, betulonic acid; and oleanane-type triterpenes: maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, oleanonic acid. These jujube compounds were examined for their anti-complement activity against the classical pathway of the complement system. Among them, some exhibited significant anti-complement activity, whereas the ceanothane-type and the lupane-type triterpenes were inactive. This suggests that the oleanane-structure plays an important role in inhibiting the hemolytic activity of human serum against erythrocytes.

Protection of NMDA-induced neuronal cell damage by methanol extract of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004.
Jujube is one of the herbs widely used in Korea and China due to the CNS calming effect. The present study aims to investigate the effect of the methanol extract of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen, the seeds of Zizyphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa ( jujube ), on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cerebellar granule neuron. Jujube inhibited NMDA-induced neuronal cell death. These results suggest that jujube prevents NMDA-induced neuronal cell damage in vitro.

How does Jujube work?
Compounds in the herb, called jujubosides, have inhibitory effects on glutamate-mediated excitatory signal pathway in the hippocampus and probably act through their anti- calmodulin action. Extracts of jujube have proanthocyanidins and antioxidant properties

Jujube tree information
The jujube tree probably originated in China where it has been cultivated for several thousand years. The plants were taken beyond Asia centuries ago and today grow to some extent in northern Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East and southwestern United States. The jujube tree provides the jujube date which is actually tasty. The jujube date taste is a cross between an apple and a date. The jujube fruit can be made into candy. I do not know if jujube tree seed has medicinal benefits.

Questions
A few years ago I used to purchase Jujube Fruit in capsule form. The health food store I purchased it at is no longer in business. Do you know where I can get jujube fruit in capsule form? I would give this to my son as a mild laxative. It worked wonderful.
   Jujube fruit extract products in capsule form can be found online if you do a jujube supplement search.

Q. I greatly appreciate the information you've posted on your website. In the interest of assisting, I'd like to offer come comments on jujube, which is discussed briefly on your site. I take supplements for health, focus, stress and assistance sleeping. To clarify the 'focus' issue, I periodically have trouble getting out of repeating 'thought' cycles. Sometimes the repeating thought is a song I heard on the radio, other times the repeating thought is something like 'gosh, this is a big problem'. Even though I consciously wish the repeating thought to go silent, it doesn't go away upon command. I describe this as 'getting into a thought rut' or 'my mental jukebox'. I've found GABA an effective way to exit the rut, but I am looking for other supplements so that I can take GABA holidays. While reading your website, I became interested in Jujube. The first time I took a ' Swansons wild jujube ' 250 mg capsule, the effect was very strong. It gave me a headache for a few moments. It was about 3 PM in the afternoon. I was stressed and unhappy while at the office working. Within 15 minutes of taking the capsule, the unhappy repeating thoughts had entirely disappeared. The contrast was so stark, I was a little frightened. I was feeling a little sedated, but not to the point of being unable to work. I could easily imagine trading this marginal loss of work effectiveness for freedom from repeating negative thoughts, and that was a bit frightening, too. I was surprised that there is so little information on the jujube and it psychoactive ingredients. It strikes me as far more potent than Kava Kava. A few days later, I took another capsule immediately before going to bed. I found it was ineffective for getting to sleep. The same calming effect was experienced, but the 'sedation' didn't lead to sleep. Instead, my mind gradually returned to the standard logical talk I experience. Over the last 2 weeks, I've experimented with smaller doses of Swansons jujube (1/2 to 1/3 a capsule). I empty the capsule into a glass of water, drink a portion and throw the rest away. Even at 1/3 a capsule, the effect is very similar though the 'sedated' feeling declines. I've given up on using it for assistance sleeping.
   A. This is very interesting, thanks for sharing it with us.
      Q. Since I wrote in late April, I have continued to use 'trial and error' to see what jujube could do and am happy with the results. I've found it very useful for calming down anger and frustration when I am cognitively aware that the 'anger and frustration' are pointless, but my mind seems stuck in 'being angry and frustrated.'  Here is a situation that has come up two or three times since I last wrote. I have a 2 hour commute that I must make 2 or 3 times per week. I hate the drive, but there is nothing immediate that can be done about it. While driving home, I sometimes get caught in a cycle of anger over my circumstances. I am cognitively aware that my life is entirely one that I've chosen, and that in the broader scheme of things, everything is fine. Despite 'knowing' everything is 'ok', my efforts to 'switch to something else' are useless. At these moments, I have taken 1/4 capsule of Swansons wild jujube 250 mg capsule. The anger dissipates within 20 minutes and there is no drowsiness. In fact, I don't notice having taken anything. On another occasion, there was a weekend family get together that I was required to attend. The event was going to require an additional 6 hours on the road after a 3 commute week. I really wanted to enjoy the event, but as I prepared to leave could feel frustration and anger rising. Before starting the 3 hour drive, I took my 1/4 capsule of jujube. I arrived in a very good mood and had an enjoyable time. As mentioned before, I've found jujube has no benefit as a sleep aid.

Zizyphus is sometimes misspelled as zyziphus, zyzyphus, ziziphus jujuba, or zizyphus.