Climbing Orange

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Climbing Orange
• Climbing-Orange
• Cockspur Orange
• Cockspur-Orange
• Walking-Stick Climber
• orange climber

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Toddalia willdenowii
• Scopolia angustifolia
• Toddalia micrantha
• Toddalia nitida
• Aralia labordei
• Toddalia ambigua
• Toddalia asiatica var. obtusifolia
• Toddalia asiatica
• Cranzia schmidelioides
• Cranzia micrantha
• Cranzia asiatica
• Toddalia asiatica var. floribunda
• Scopolia rubicaulis
• Toddalia asiatica var. gracilis
• Cranzia nitida
• Cranzia willdenowii
• Paullinia asiatica
• Rubentia angustifolia
• Limonia oligandra
• Toddalia tonkinensis
• Toddalia angustifolia
• Toddalia effusa
• Toddalia rubicaulis
• Toddalia schmidelioides
• Toddalia floribunda
• Scopolia micracantha
• Scopolia nitida

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Zanthoxylum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species is also found within the tropical regions of Ethiopia. Furthermore, its range extends into the territory of Sudan and South Sudan. Together, these locations define the primary habitat for this medicinal species across Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Zanthoxylum asiaticum is characterized by a broad vertical distribution across various montane and subtropical landscapes, occupying a diverse range of altitudinal gradients. It is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range suggests an adaptable ecological niche, allowing the species to thrive in both lowland tropical environments and higher-altitude temperate or sub-alpine zones. Such distribution patterns typically indicate an ability to tolerate varying temperature regimes and moisture levels associated with different altitudinal layers within its native forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Zanthoxylum asiaticum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across various seasons rather than shedding leaves seasonally. This combination of a multi-year lifespan and continuous leaf retention contributes to its robust growth patterns and steady physiological activity within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Zanthoxylum asiaticum is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. While it can exhibit characteristics of a liana, it is specifically classified as an obligatory climber. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 12 m, with an average plant height of approximately 12.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

12.3333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xanthoxylum asiaticum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit an elliptic form with crenulate margins, lacking both thorns and spines. The leaf structure is further defined by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) that remains constant across its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values at 140.0697674 cm²/g, reflecting a consistent leaf mass per unit area. Additionally, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the soil environment for nitrogen uptake rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

crenulate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

140.0697674 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xanthoxylum asiaticum is driven by biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically utilizing insect vectors such as bees to ensure successful fertilization. The species exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Following fertilization, the plant produces fleshy fruits that contain seeds characterized by a relatively small and consistent size. These seeds have a mean volume of 23 mm³, ranging from a minimum of 22 mm³ to a maximum of 24 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.022035 g, falling within a narrow range between a minimum of 0.01894 g and a maximum of 0.02513 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.02513 g

Seed mass mean:

0.022035 g

Seed mass min:

0.01894 g

Seed volume max:

24 mm³

Seed volume mean:

23 mm³

Seed volume min:

22 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Zanthoxylum asiaticum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, fruit, leaf.

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Food chemistry
4. Fitoterapia
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Zanthoxylum asiaticum has 52 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isopimpinellin, Toddalolactone, Toddanone, Aculeatin, Coumarins.

Isopimpinellin

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Analytical biochemistry
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Toddalolactone

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Analytical biochemistry

Toddanone

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Pharmacognosy magazine

Aculeatin

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Coumarins

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Nitidine

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

Toddaculin

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. PloS one

Toddalenone

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Pharmacognosy magazine

chelerythrine

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Analytical biochemistry

(+)-Toddanol

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Activities

Zanthoxylum asiaticum has 10 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Analgesic.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Food chemistry

Antimalarial

1. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Analgesic

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Food chemistry

Antinociceptive

1. The Pan African medical journal

Antiplasmodial

1. Fitoterapia

Cytotoxic

1. Food chemistry

Preparations

Zanthoxylum asiaticum has 25 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, Ethyl acetate extract of the fruits, Ethyl acetate fraction, L/RB, RB.

Ethanol extract

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ethyl acetate extract of the fruits

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction

1. Phytochemistry

L/rb

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rb

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Toddalia asiatica extract

1. Analytical biochemistry

Aqueous extract

1. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Callus cultures

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Chloroform fraction

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR