Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.: UV–Vis quantification of saponin content in early growth stages with adult specimen correlation

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. is a shrubby tree found in the Brazilian Northeast, with wide distribution in the Caatinga biome, popularly known as juazeiro. Due to its high content of saponins, the species is of great interest for medicine and cosmetics. The objective of this study was to investigate saponin content in young specimens collected in different cultivation periods and to correlate with the data found for an adult specimen of Z. joazeiro to obtain an alternative source of raw material for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and help while preserve the species. The analytical method for quantification of the saponins was validated using UV–Vis spectrophotometry techniques in accordance with the parameters recommended by Brazilian legislation. The results confirmed the sensitivity and robustness of the proposed method for quantification of saponin in hydroalcoholic extracts. The data revealed that the saponin content in young specimens increases over time, and the content at eighteen months of cultivation was 42% higher than that of the adult specimen. The young specimens (as standardized) represent an excellent alternative for obtaining saponins.