Research Progress on Nutrient Composition,Health Functions and Product Development of Ziziphi Spinosae Folium

Zizyphus jujuba is a wild resource widely distributed in northern China, the resources of its leaves are huge.Ziziphi Spinosae Folium (ZJF) is an important by-product in the processing of wild jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.var.spinosa (Bunge) Hu exH.F.Chou) and Zizyphi Spinosae Semen. As a dual-purpose medicinal and edible plant resource, ZJF possesses multiple biological activities and health care effects.Flavonoids and saponins are the major chemical composition in ZJF.Moreover, amino acids, necleosides, and trace elements were also proposed to be main nutrient ingredients.Modern pharmacological studies have shown that ZJF possesses multiple activities, including antioxidation, sedative-hypnotic, hepato protective and antifungal effect. Most attention has been devoted to antioxidation and sedative-hypnotic functions and development of drinking tea infusions. Meanwhile, ZJF has been developed as functional beverages, food, vinegar, animal feed and other products.Meanwhile, ZJF has great potential in food, medicine and chemical industry.This paper summarized the plant source, nutrient composition, health functions and comprehensive product development of ZJF, and put forward suggestions for basic research and comprehensive development of ZJF, with a view to provide reference for the in-depth research and comprehensive development of ZJF.