Zanthoxylum americanum
Zanthoxylum americanum, commonly known as prickly ash, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to North America. Renowned for its pungent, citrus-like aroma, it contains bioactive alkaloids used traditionally to treat digestive issues, skin ailments, and inflammation. This potent botanical remains a significant subject in ethnobotanical and pharmacological research today.
- Scientific name: Zanthoxylum americanum
- Family: Rutaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Zanthoxylum, specifically as the species Zanthoxylum americanum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Rutaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Zanthoxylum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical range spanning across parts of North America. In Eastern Canada, its presence is noted in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec. Moving into the North-Central United States, the species can also be found within the state of Illinois. Additionally, its distribution extends into the state of Iowa. Together, these locations highlight the specific regional habitats where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Canada | Nova Scotia | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Ontario | WCVP |
| Eastern Canada | Québec | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Minnesota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | North Dakota | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Nebraska | WCVP |
Chemicals
Zanthoxylum americanum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include alloxanthoxyletin, asarinin, dipetaline, sesamin, xanthoxyletin.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| alloxanthoxyletin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asarinin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dipetaline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sesamin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xanthoxyletin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xanthyletin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Zanthoxylum americanum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |