Unabi, Or Jujube.

Unabi, Or Jujube: Description of the Plant and Its Medical Properties

Unabi, or Jujube, is a shrub belonging to the buckthorn family. This plant is widespread in the Caucasus and Central Asia, where it grows on dry, gravelly, rocky slopes of hills and mountains, as well as in light forests at an altitude of 2000-2500 m above sea level. The shrub, 3-8 m high, has a gray-black trunk, a highly branched crown and young shoots with thorns. The leaves are ovate, leathery, veined and bluntly serrated along the edges.

Unabi blooms in May-July, while its flowers are small, greenish-yellow and arranged singly or in groups of 3-5 in dense glomerular inflorescences. The unabi fruit is a spherical red or brown drupe that is sweet and edible. It can be consumed raw, dried, smoked and canned, and is also used in the preparation and production of drinks.

One of the most important properties of unabi is its medicinal effect. All parts of the plant are suitable for use for medicinal purposes, and unabi preparations have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anesthetic, expectorant, antitussive, diuretic, anti-sclerotic and hypotensive effects, and also regulate metabolism in the body and have a general strengthening effect.

The roots of unabi are used to dye silk in various shades of yellow and for tanning leather, and the bark and leaves are used in the production of domestic silk. The roots contain triterpenoids, leukocyanins and tannins, and the bark contains triterpenoids, alkaloids (mauritin A, nummilrins, jujubanins), tannins and leukoanthocyanins. The leaves contain sugars, uronic and organic acids (malic, succinic, tartaric), saponins, alkaloids, vitamins C, Bi and P, folic acid, carotene, coumarins and alcohols. The fruits contain organic acids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, vitamins C, Bi and K, folic acid, carotene and phenolcarboxylic acids, and the seeds contain beta-sistosterol, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and fatty oil.

A decoction of unabi roots is used to treat lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, cough, as well as to treat diseases of the liver, gall bladder, kidneys and bladder. It can also help with headaches, insomnia and nervous disorders.

A decoction of unabi bark is used to treat hypertension, atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, as well as to improve digestion and appetite.

A decoction of unabi leaves is used to treat diarrhea, gastritis, stomach ulcers, and also to improve immunity.

A decoction of unabi fruits is used to treat coughs, bronchitis, sore throats, as well as to strengthen teeth and gums.

It is worth noting that unabi may cause an allergic reaction in some people, so it is recommended to consult a doctor before use.