Exploring The Ethnobotany and Therapeutic Potential of Zizyphus xylopyrus

Zizyphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd. (Rhamnaceae) is an evergreen shrub of North-Western India, Pakistan, and China that has ever-growing relevance for medicine. Different parts of the plant have been used in Ayurveda and traditional medicine for obesity, diabetes, snake bites, fever, diarrhea, insomnia, and many more. Moreover, the plant has numerous pharmacological actions, including antisteroidogenic, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antidiarrheal, Anti-bacterial activity, Anti-cataract activity, Mast cell stabilization, Anti-microbial activity and Wound healing activity. Many of these traditional claims have been scientifically validated by several researchers adopting different approaches. This review aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive account of the ethnobotanical aspects, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Zizyphus xylopyrus with special emphasis on its therapeutic value and possible future studies.