About Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.
Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf., commonly called Christ's thorn jujube, is a thorny evergreen tree or shrub. This species is native to the Levant, East Africa, and Mesopotamia. In the Levant, it grows in valleys at elevations up to 500 metres (1,600 ft). It is both drought tolerant and heat-resistant. Its seeds are held inside small, oblong woody pits; local fauna including the rock hyrax open these pits to eat the seeds inside. The ripe fruits of Ziziphus spina-christi are edible. Historically, this plant was used in ancient Egyptian medicine, where it was thought to have anti-inflammatory effects that could treat pain, swelling, and heat. One in vitro study has suggested this plant may have anti-inflammatory properties, and identified active compounds including epigallocatechin and gallocatechin that inhibit inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB.
