Antioxidant potential of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.: an approach from culture to cure

Species of Ziziphus occur naturally in arid and semi-arid regions across the Indian subcontinent and are valued for their multiple uses, including edible fruits, livestock fodder and applications in traditional medicine. Among them, Ziziphus mauritiana, famously known as ‘Bor’ or ‘Ber’, has been widely used in folk remedies for the management of several ailments. In the present study, the antioxidant potential of Z. mauritiana leaves was investigated through a comparative assessment of ethanolic and methanolic extracts using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Both extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent free radical scavenging activity, with the ethanolic extract exhibiting relatively higher inhibition at higher concentrations. Although the activity was lower than that of the standard (Quercetin), the results indicated the presence of bioactive compounds capable of neutralizing free radicals. This experimental study highlights the potential of Z. mauritiana leaves as a natural source of antioxidants and encourages further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations.