Salt Tree

• Plant Type: Phanerophyte shrub.
• Common Names: Salt Tree, Nitre Bush.
• Colors: White
• Flower Dimensions: 0.16- 0.2 inches in diameter.
• Flowering Seasons/Month: April-May and October to December.
• Desserts with Salt Tree: Sahara, Arabian.

The Salt tree is a drought-tolerant shrub of the Order Sapindales. It can grow up to 2.5 meters. This plant is native to the Northern African desert areas.

• The leaves of the Salt tree are alternate, wedge or sickled-shape, fleshy, and bluish-grey. The leaves measure 10 to 15 mm by 8 to 10 mm.
• The flowers of Nitraria retusa are small, fragrant, and whitish or greenish. They have 5 petals on short pedicels.
• The Salt tree has many erect stems, and the woody branches are spreading. When young, the twigs of the Nitraria retusa are furry.
• The Salt tree has fruits of a triangular drupe.

• The Nitraria retusa^[1] may be effective in acting as an agent of chemotherapeutic and cystotic activity in leukemia-lymphoma of humans.
• The experiment showed that the bioactive compounds from the leaf extract of N. retusa induced apoptosis of human cancer cells.
• In Morocco, the decoction of Salt Tree’s fresh leaves is used to treat poisoning, ulcer, stomach issues, heartburn, colitis, and colonic abdominal pain.
• Research showed that the aqueous fruit extract of Nitraria retusa^[2] can prevent penconazole-induced kidney injury in adult rats.
• The fruit extracts of Nitraria retusa^[3] have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that are effective in the inhibition of TBARS and microbial growth of beef patties.