• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.315-321
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• 2016

Background: Herbal medicine has becoming a potential source of treatment for different types of cancer including breast cancer. It has been shown that plants from the family Rhamnaceae possess anticancer activity. Objective: In this study, we determined the antiproliferative influence of Ziziphus spina christi- a species from this family- on the MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell line. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of the total extract, ethanol, ethanol-aqueous (1:1) as well as aqueous fractions of Ziziphus spina christi leaves was evaluated through MTT assay against MCF-7 cell line. Cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis induction were assessed by flowcytometry cycle RNase/PI analysis and Annexin V-FLUOS, respectively. Apoptosis was also analyzed by immunoblotting assay. Results: Our results indicated that the ethanolic fraction had the lowest $IC_{50}$ value (0.02 mg/ml), induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase as well as apoptosis after a 48h of treatment. Conclusions: This is the first report on anticancer effect of Ziziphus spina christi ethanolic fraction on breast cancer cells, providing a scientific basis for its utility in traditional medicine. However, further in-depth studies are needed to confirm the precise mechanisms.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2023

Cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) was intercropped with Ziziphus spina-christi as summer forage in two consecutive seasons of 2017 and 2018. The aims to find out suitable agroforestry practice for saline soils of Khartoum State. And to investigate effect of tree spacing on forage biomass yield under semi -irrigated systems. Completely randomized block design with 3 replicates was conducted for this trial. Thus Z.spina-christi that fixed at 4×4 m was intercropped with cowpea at 1 m and 1.5 m spacing from trees trunk. Tree growth parameters were measured in terms of tree height, tree collar diameter, tree crown diameter and fruit yield per tree. While crop were parameters were determined in terms of plant height, number of plant, forage biomass yield per ha and land equivalent ratio. Soil profile of 1×1 m and 1.5 m depth was excavated and its features were described beside its chemical and physical properties were analyzed for 0-10 cm, 0-30 cm, and 30-60 cm and 60-100 cm layers. The results revealed that soil pH, CaCO₃, SAR, ESP, and EC ds/m were increased by increasing soil depths. Meanwhile tree growth in terms of tree height was significant in the first season 2017 when compared with tree collar diameter and tree crown diameter. Also significant differences were recorded for tree growth when compared with sole trees in the second season in 2018. Tree fruit showed marked variations between the two seasons, but it was higher under intercropping particularly at ZS2. Crop plant height was highly significant under sole cropping than intercropping in first season in 2017. In contrast forage biomass yield was significant under intercropping in ZS1 and ZS2 treatments. Land equivalent ratio was advantageous under this agroforestry system particularly under ZS2. Thus it recorded 5 and 9 for ZS2 in the two consecutive seasons respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to introduce this agroforestry system under such arid lands to provide summer forage yield of highly nutritive value and low cost for animals feed as well as to increase farmers' income and to halt desertification and to sequester carbon.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.844-850
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• 2002

The potential nutritive value was studied on leaves of seven fodder trees in Central Sudan during dry season at two distinct periods, the early dry and the late. The chemical composition, mineral concentration, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in situ OM or nitrogen degradability and estimated metabolizable energy showed a wide variation among fodder tree species and between different periods of the dry season. Crude protein (CP) ranged from 285 to 197 g/kg DM at early dry season, with a significant reduction in late dry season. Ziziphus spina-christi and Balanites aegyptiaca showed the least reduction in CP content. The NDF, ADF and lignin were about 200, 160 and 19 g/kg DM, respectively at the early period, and significantly increased at the late period of the dry season, except for lignin of Z. spina-christi. For mineral concentration, all fodder tree leaves were rich in calcium but poor in phosphorus. In situ OM degradability significantly decreased at the late period of dry season, but values remained as high as over 600 g/kg OM. At both periods, Z. spina-christi showed the highest value, while the lowest was recorded in Acacia seyal. The IVOMD showed a similar trend to those of in situ OM degradability, except for A. seyal. The nitrogen degradability was highest in B. aegyptiaca and lowest in Z. spina-christi at both periods. A significant and positive correlation had existed between CP and IVOMD or in situ OM degradability (r=0.68, p<0.05; r=0.77, p<0.05, respectively). Also, a significant but negative correlation was found between condensed tannins and nitrogen degradability (r=-0.87, p<0.01). Results demonstrated that Z. spina-christi potentially has a good nutritive value as dry season feed or supplement, while A. seyal tends to be less promising. A. nubica and B. aegyptiaca may be a useful source for degradable protein, even though it may have a limited supply of energy to animals. A. tortilis, A. mellifera and A. ehrenbergiana may have potential value for a supplementation of energy or protein, if they were harvested in the early dry season or in wet season as preserved feed. It is highly recommended to supplement with an appropriate amount of phosphorus when these fodder trees were used.