A CRITICAL REVIEW ON BADARA (ZIZYPHUS JUJUBA LINN.)

Abstract

Badara is a native fruit of India, found wild and cultivated. From top to root, Badara is useful as food, fodder, nutrient and medicine purpose. Zizyphus jujuba Linn. is a small subdeciduous tree with dense spreading crown, commonly 0.6 meters high. Bark blackish to grey or brown, rough, regularly and deeply furrowed, Leaves 3-6. 3 by 2.5-5 cm., oblong or ovate, usually minutely serulate or apex distinctly doted, obtuse, base oblique and 3-nerved; Flowers 3.8-5 rnm. diam., greenish, in dense axillary tomentose cymes, Drupe L.2-2.5 cm. diam., globose, first yellow then orange and finally reddish brown, containing a single stone surrounded by fleshy pulp. Its flowering and fruiting season is November – December months. Badara having tremendous medicinal properties and having metabolites such as alkaloids, flavanoids, saponin etc. Badara fruit is a good source of vit- C and sugars and contain appreciable amount of mineral constitutes such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, carotene etc. Badara root, seeds, fruit, bark, leaves, flowers, all are having medicinal properties. Inspite of having medicinal properties, it is not considered as an important medicinal plant for use in main stream therapeutics. This article provides review of plant –Badara as a whole.