Beyond Traditional Medicine: Biochemical Insights into the Therapeutic Potential of Ziziphus spina-christi

Background: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytochemicals that has potential therapeutic applications. Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate phytochemical composition and to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of various solvent fractions of Ziziphus spina-christi(L.) Desf. leaves. Methods: Leaf extracts were fractionated using hexane, acetone, methanol ,and water. Phytochemical screening, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), antimicrobial activity (MIC determination) and cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells (MTT assay) were evaluated. Results: The methanol fraction had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, attended by acetone fraction. Significant antioxidant activity was noticed in two fractions, with lower IC₅₀ values compared with the hexane and aqueous fractions. The methanol fraction accompanied the topmost antimicrobial action against all tested microorganisms and the maximal cytotoxic effect against HeLa cells. Conclusion: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. exhibited antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, particularly the methanol fraction. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting further investigation of phytochemical composition, biological mechanism, toxicity, and in vivo of these fractions