COMPOSITIONAL STUDIES AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF FRUIT OF Zizyphus oxyphylla EDGEW

Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew is an important wild fruit-bearing plant found in various parts of Pakistan, however a systematic mapping of the oil derived from fruit and mineral composition of fruit is lacking. In current investigation, the crude methanolic extract, corresponding fractions and essential and fixed oils of fruit of Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew (ZO) were screened for antimicrobial, antioxidant and hemolytic activities besides mineral anahaemolysis of fruit. Mineral composition indicated potassium and zinc as major and minor elements in fruit. Presence of higher amounts of all necessary mineral contents indicates that said ZO fruits may find their place in human diets supplement and as well as in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparation. The fruit oils as well as crude methanolic extract and its corresponding fractions showed considerable antimicrobial activity. The fruit extracts and different fractions contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents (7.28-138 GAE, mg/100 g) and total flavonoid contents (12.68-74.5 CE, mg/100 g). Essential and fixed oil of fruit and extracts and corresponding fractions exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Of the fruit oils and extracts and fractions tested, the methanol extract and fixed oil exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity. The hemolytic activity against human blood erythrocytes (RBCs) of the ZO fruit extract, corresponding fractions and oils indicated the % haemolysis of RBCs to be in the range of 2.44-8.16%.The results of the present investigation showed that crude methanolic extract and its various fractions as well as essential and fixed oils of Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew fruit may be used as source of antioxidant and antimicrobial.