Evaluation of Some Phytochemical, Nutraceutical, and Antimicrobial Properties of Ziziphus Nummularia Fruit Extract

Recent trends in the production of functional foods and nutraceutical compounds indicate the important role of bioactive molecules in the treatment of human diseases. In this study, some phytochemical and nutraceutical properties of Ziziphus nummularia fruit extract harvested from the Poshtpar-Dashtestan forests were evaluated.

The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of Ziziphus nummularia fruit extract were studied by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and spectrophotometric methods, respectively. The secondary metabolites were analyzed by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. The antimicrobial activities of the aqueous extracts against gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus; gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi; mold Aspergillus niger and yeast Candida albicans were evaluated using the microdilution method.

The GC-MS analysis of the sample identified 51 chemical compounds with different chemical and bioactive structures, such as alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids. Furthermore, the Ziziphus extract showed significant inhibitory and lethal activities against the microbial strains, with its highest antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. The presence of antimicrobial compounds detected by GC-MS confirmed the results of the antibacterial activity of the extract.

According to the results, the Ziziphus nummularia extract can be an appropriate terrestrial source of antimicrobial compounds with significant performance against foodborne pathogens. Consistent with the literature, the secondary metabolites from the Ziziphus extract have potential biological and nutraceutical effects which require more laboratory studies.