Indian Plum Bidara: Nature's Answer to Antibiotic Resistance

Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana or Bidara) is a small tree and is widespread in most tropical areas, especially in South and Southeast Asia. It can be distinguished by the small and shiny leaves and sweet-tangy, small-apple-shaped fruits (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Exploring the Antimicrobial Potential of Ziziphus mauritiana: A study of its Various Parts

Go to source). Nevertheless, Bidara has long been a part of traditional medicine, being used not only to treat skin infections and fever but also hair loss and stomach problems, not only due to its taste and cultural significance.

This wisdom of antiquity is now being kept pace with. Malaysian researchers explored the capacity of Bidara tree leaves, fruit, roots, bark, and stems to combat dangerous bacteria and fungi. The outcomes were immensely good!

With the spread of antibiotic resistance that is already posing as one of the largest threats to human health worldwide, the discovery of natural alternatives is in demand. Bidara, the jujube tree, seems to hold the secret to creating safe, plant-based antimicrobial treatments.

Exploring the Science Behind Bidara’s Healing Power

To discover Bidara's antimicrobial secrets, samples were collected from healthy and mature trees in Malaysia's Sabah state. They made various parts of the plant, including leaves, roots, bark, stem, and fruit, into methanolic extracts (in order to extract the active plant chemicals) using alcohol.

The following extracts were put to the test against two notorious troublemakers:

• Escherichia coli (E. coli) –a bacterium that may cause diarrhoea, UTIs and even food poisoning.
• Fusarium solani (F. solani) – a plant, animal and, in some situations, human fungus that attacks individuals with weak immunity.

The disc diffusion test by the researchers is a laboratory method of testing that involves placing the small discs that have been moistened using the Bidara extracts on the plates that have bacteria and fungi.

After incubation, they found the occurrence of "inhibition zones" – ring-shaped spots where the microbes did not grow. The bigger the zone, the more effective the antimicrobial.

They also determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), or coefficients of minimum extract concentration needed to prevent the growth of microbes, and the Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC), or coefficients of minimum concentration needed to kill them.

This method of science has been used to uncover which part of the Bidara tree is the most effective natural protector.

Leaves and Fruits: The Most Potent Natural Defenders

Leaves and fruits of Bidara were found to be the most powerful in defence against E. coli and F. solani in all the tested parts.

• MIC values of E. coli and F. solani on leaves were 0.6 and 0.8 mg/mL, respectively, and thus, even a small portion of this substance could prevent the growth of microorganisms.
• Fruits demonstrated comparable MIC and MBC values, with inhibitory zones exceeding 100 mm² in some tests.

What gives them such power? They are known for their bioactive compounds, which include flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and phenolics. These compounds can:

• Destroy the cell walls of fungi and bacteria.
• Destroy essential enzymes required to survive.
• Stop their reproduction and prevent the spread of infections.

The fruits and leaves are basically natural antibiotics that do not produce any side effects or resistance, as synthetic drugs do. Researchers assume that these components contain beta-sitosterol, lupeol, and dimyristyl thiodipropionate, which serve as antimicrobials and antioxidants.

Bidara’s Roots, Bark, and Stems Also Showed Anti-Microbial Properties

While the leaves and fruits received the most attention, the roots, bark, and stems also had antimicrobial properties, although not the same as the leaves and fruits.

The root extracts demonstrated moderate but consistent antimicrobial activity, particularly against fungal strains.

They effectively inhibited fungal infections up to 86 mm². They have been found to store compounds like terpenoids and alkaloids in their roots that could help to break down the cell walls of the fungus and stop its growth.

Following the extracts of the barks that had good antibacterial activity on E. coli were the extracts that contained good antibacterial activity.

They were not potent as the leaves, yet they were effective in preventing the growth of microbes at slightly elevated concentrations (0.8-1.0 mg/mL). Bidara bark is already reported to possess wound-healing and anti-inflammatory action, and science has confirmed its application in traditional medicine.

The stems, however, exhibited the poorest response with the lowest inhibition areas. Scientists believe that this may be because of a lower concentration of active compounds in that part of the plant. Nevertheless, their presence, however mild, contributes to the evidence that the whole Bidara tree has natural defence chemicals that need to be studied further.

How Does Bidara Fight Infections?

The antimicrobial punch of Ziziphus mauritiana comes from its complex blend of phytochemicals. Together, these compounds act on microbes through several mechanisms:

• Flavonoids and phenolic acids rupture the outer membrane of bacteria, making them release vital nutrients.
• Alkaloids disrupt the activities of microbial enzymes and protein production, weakening the cells internally.
• Tannins adsorb to the proteins in microbes and, in effect, block the normal functioning of the microbes.
• Saponins destroy the cell membrane of the fungi, resulting in cell death.

Thus, they can be promising for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi, which are no longer sensitive to conventional medications, indicating a multi-pronged attack, with Bidara extracts being quite effective against such infections.

Interestingly, the plant's antimicrobial effect can be enhanced by its strong antioxidant activity, which reduces oxidative stress and augments the body's existing antimicrobial defences. This implies that Bidara could not only fight infections but also help the body heal quickly.

Bidara to The Rescue Against The Antimicrobial War

Ziziphus mauritiana has been used in Asia since ancient times; traditional healers used it to clean wounds, relieve inflammation, and even boost hair growth. Its applications can now extend far beyond folklore because it has been scientifically validated.

Scientists predict a number of modern applications:

• Natural antibiotics: Leaf and fruit extracts could inspire new drugs against widespread bacterial and fungal infections.
• Herbal beauty: Creams or ointments prepared using Bidara could be used to treat acne, eczema, or minor wounds.
• Food preservation: It has antimicrobial properties and can be used instead of synthetic preservatives.
• Environmental farming: Chemical fungicides can be substituted with natural extracts.

With the help of such natural plant-based solutions, we will be able to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals while also finding a solution to the development of antibiotic resistance, one of the most serious issues in healthcare.

A Green Solution to Microbial Resistance

The research on Ziziphus mauritiana confirms what traditional medicine has always known: nature has strong answers in its roots, leaves, and fruits. The leaves and fruits are the most effective antimicrobial agents tested, inhibiting and killing both bad bacteria (E. coli) and bad fungi (F. solani).

Such findings demonstrate Bidara's enormous potential as a natural source of new antimicrobial drugs, food preservatives, and eco-friendly bioproducts. Nonetheless, more work remains to be done; scientists must isolate and test each compound separately in order to develop safe and standardised medicines.

In an era of antibiotic-resistant diseases and excessive use of chemicals, Bidara serves as a wake-up call that, in some cases, the solutions to the modern-day issues are growing in the backyard of nature!

Reference:

1. Exploring the Antimicrobial Potential of Ziziphus mauritiana: A study of its Various Parts - (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389832143_Exploring_the_Antimicrobial_Potential_of_Ziziphus_mauritiana_A_study_of_its_Various_Parts)

Source-Medindia