DOSE-DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF JUJUBE LEAF AND FRUIT EXTRACTS ON YEAST GROWTH

Abstract

Structurally different secondary metabolites synthesized by plants are known as phytochemicals. It is known that many phytochemicals can extend the life span of organisms. The parts of the jujube plant (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) have been used for many years in the treatment of different diseases among people. Jujube leaves and fruits have a very good antioxidant and anti-aging capacity as they have many important bioactive compounds. The feeding of Drosophila melanogaster with jujube extracts has been shown to increase lifespan. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is another model organism used to understand aging mechanisms which are similar to higher eukaryotes. In our study, the effects of jujube leaf and fruit extracts on yeast growth were analyzed. Hexane, acetone, methanol and water solvents were used for leaf and fruit extraction. Growth tests were done in different concentrations of each extract using a microplate reader. To determine the dose-dependent effect of the extracts on yeast growth, growth tests were performed using a microplate reader using different concentrations of each extract. The results showed that the hexane extracts of jujube leaf slowed down yeast growth, while acetone, methanol and water extracts positively affected yeast growth. On the other hand, yeast growth was slowed in all jujube fruit extracts except the low concentrations of hexane extract (0.2 mg/ml). As a result, polar extracts of jujube leaf were found to increase yeast growth more than fruit extracts. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the leaf content and determine the bioactive compound that positively affects growth.