High-Level of Cyclic AMP in the Jujube Plum

Abstract

A large amount of cyclic AMP-like substance was found in the imported commercial jujube plum, Zizyphi Fructus, commonly used in traditional Chinese Medicine. The fresh fruits of the jujube plum, as obtained from a local botanical garden, also contained comparable amounts of the substance.

The substance was purified to an almost pure state from commercial material and was identified as cyclic AMP (adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate) by both chemical and biochemical means. Thus, it has been established that cyclic AMP content of the fruits of jujube plum reaches up to 500 nmoles/g dry weight; which is more than 10 times higher than the maximum value so far reported in other plants.

Key Word Index

Zizyphus vulgaris - Rhamnaceae - Adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate