Investigation on optimal extraction method, quantity and mucilage variation of the ecotypes of Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

Jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) is one of the medicinal plants containing mucilage and is used in the fields of pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare and industrial purposes. In evaluation of medicinal plants, secondary metabolites could be considered as a valuable indicator. In this experiment, optimizing extraction method of mucilage was evaluated based on the Patumi and Karawya methods and comparing the amount of mucilage in jujube ecotypes. For this purpose, 25 ecotypes of jujube were collected from different parts of the country. Research was performed in two separate experiments in a completely randomized design with four replications in the Genetics and Plant Physiology lab of the University of Tehran during 1388 and 1389. Results of this study showed that warm extraction was identified as the most suitable method. Also, results showed that there were significant differences among ecotypes in terms of amount of mucilage. The variation range of mucilage differed among the ecotypes from 28/92% to 11/58%. Maximum amount of mucilage was recorded for ecotypes of Kasva (Qom) and Kolaleh (Mazandaran). Generally, results of this research could be used to select the best ecotypes for medicinal purposes as well as providing good information for linebreeding of the valuable medicinal plant.