Fruits for the Future 2 
                 (Revised edition) 
           Ber and other jujubes 
                    Authors
                   S. Azam-Ali 
                  E. Bonkoungou 
                    C. Bowe 
                    C. deKock 
                    A. Godara 
                   J.T. Williams 
                    Editors
                J.T. Williams (chief editor) 
                   R.W. Smith 
                     N. Haq 
                   Z. Dunsiger
      First published in 2001 by International Centre for Underutilised Crops, 
      University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK 
      ¤ 2006 Southampton Centre for Underutilised Crops 
      The text in this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or 
      media without requiring specific permission. This is subject to the material not 
      being used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source of 
      the material must be acknowledged as [SCUC] copyright and the title of the 
      document must be included when being reproduced as part of another 
      document or service. 
      British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data 
      Ber
      1. tropical fruit trees 
      i Williams ii Smith iii Haq iv Dunsiger 
      ISBN  085432 8580 
      Citation: Azam-Ali, Bonkoungou, Bowe, deKock, Godara, Williams. (2006) 
      Ber. International Centre for Underutilised Crops, Southampton, UK. 
      DFID/FRP and DISCLAIMERS 
      This publication is an output from a research project funded by the United 
      Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of 
      developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID 
      [R7187 Forestry Research Programme].  
      The opinions expressed in this book are those of the authors alone and do not 
      imply an acceptance or obligation whatsoever on the part of ICUC, SCUC, 
      ICRAF or IPGRI.  
       ICUC
       The International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC) is an autonomous, non-
       profit, scientific research and training centre. It was established in 1992, based at the 
       University of Southampton in the UK, but has since moved to the headquarters of the 
       International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka. The Centre was established to 
       address ways to increase the use of underutilised crops for food, nutrition, medicinal 
       and industrial products. The enhancement of currently underutilised crops is a key to 
       food security, to the conservation of biological diversity and to the preservation and 
       restoration of fragile and degraded environments throughout the world. 
       World Agroforestry Centre 
       The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), established in Nairobi in 1977, is an 
       autonomous, non-profit research body supported by the Consultative Group on 
       International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICRAF aims to improve human 
       welfare by alleviating poverty, improving food and nutrition security and enhancing 
       environmental resistance in the tropics. 
       IPGRI
       The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) is an international 
       research institute with a mandate to advance the conservation and use of genetic 
       diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. It is also a centre of the 
       Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. 
       Also available in this series of monographs:  
       Safou – Dacryodes edulis by J. Kengue (ISBN 0854327649) 
       Baobab – Adansonia digitata by M. Sidibe and J. T. Williams (ISBN 0854327762) 
       Annona spp. by A. C. de Q. Pinto, M. C. R. Cordeiro, S. R. M. de Andrade, F. R. 
                                    0854327851)
       Ferreira, H. A. de C. Filgueiras, R. E. Alves and D. I. Kinpara (ISBN 
       Mangosteen – Garcinia mangostana by M. bin Osman and Abd. Rahman Milan 
       (ISBN 0854328173) 
       Monkey orange – Strychnos cocculoides by C. K. Mwamba (ISBN 0854328416) 
       Ndjanssang – Ricinodendron heudelotii by Z. Tchoundjeu (ISBN 0854328424) 
       Sapote species – Pouteria sapota, P. campechiana, P. viridis by C. Azurdia 
       (ISBN 0854327651) 
       Forthcoming in this series: 
       Jackfruit – Artocarpus heterophyllus by N. Haq (ISBN 0854328394) 
       Tamarind – Tamarindus indica – Revised edition (ISBN 085432 8599) 
                                                 Contents
                Abbreviations..................................................................................................... ii 
                Preface.............................................................................................................. iii 
                Chapter 1. Introduction, Taxonomy and History................................................1 
                   1.1 Introduction.....................................................................................1 
                   1.2 The genus Ziziphus..........................................................................2 
                   1.3 The species of Ziziphus....................................................................3 
                   1.4       The major cultivated species ...........................................................4 
                      1.4.1 Indian jujube...........................................................................4 
                      1.4.2 Chinese jujube........................................................................5 
                   1.5       The minor cultivated species...........................................................9 
                      1.5.1        Z. spina-christi (L.) Desf........................................................9 
                      1.5.2        Z.  lotus (L.) Lam..................................................................10 
                   1.6 Wild species...................................................................................11 
                      1.6.1 Asia.......................................................................................11 
                      1.6.2 Africa....................................................................................12 
                      1.6.3  New World..........................................................................12 
                   1.7       Vernacular names for jujubes........................................................12 
                   1.8 Historical evidence........................................................................14 
                      1.8.1 Indian jujube.........................................................................14 
                      1.8.2 Chinese jujube......................................................................15 
                Chapter 2. Composition....................................................................................18 
                   2.1 Introduction...................................................................................18 
                   2.2 Fruit composition...........................................................................18 
                      2.2.1 Ber........................................................................................18 
                      2.2.2 Chinese jujube......................................................................20 
                   2.3 Ethnopharmaceutical compounds..................................................20 
                      2.3.1        Ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and bioflavonoids.........20 
                      2.3.2 Pectin A................................................................................21 
                      2.3.3 Alkaloids..............................................................................21 
                      2.3.4 Glycosides............................................................................21 
                      2.3.5 Triterpenoic acids.................................................................22 
                      2.3.6 Lipids....................................................................................23 
                   2.4       Nutritional and pharmaceutical studies..........................................23 
                      2.4.1 Sweetness inhibitors.............................................................23 
                      2.4.2        Permeability enhancement activity.......................................24 
                      2.4.3        Cytotoxic effect (chemotherapy)..........................................24 
                      2.4.4 Neurological properties........................................................25 
                      2.4.5 Antifertility/contraception....................................................26 
                      2.4.6        Hypotensive and antinephritic effect....................................26 
                      2.4.7 Cardiovascular activity.........................................................26 
                      2.4.8 Immunostimulant effects......................................................26