Senegal prickly-ash
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Sparse (57 studies) · ★★☆☆☆
Senegal prickly-ash, scientifically known as Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, is a versatile medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia. Renowned for its aromatic leaves and bark, it is frequently utilized in traditional medicine to treat digestive issues, respiratory ailments, and skin conditions, leveraging its potent antimicrobial and analgesic properties for holistic healing.
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Fruits · Leaves
- Common names
- Senegal Prickly-Ash
- Scientific synonyms
- Fagara Senegalensis · Fagara Zanthoxyloides · 1 more
Names
Common Names
- Senegal prickly-ash
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Fagara senegalensis
- Fagara zanthoxyloides
- Zanthoxylum senegalense
- Zanthoxylum polygamum
French:
- Fagara zanthoxyloides
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloidesSynonyms
- Fagara senegalensis
- Fagara zanthoxyloides
- Zanthoxylum senegalense
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Sapindales, specifically within the family Rutaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed by the genus Zanthoxylum.
| 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 specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the territory of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. The species is also documented across the borders of Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, its presence extends into the coastal areas of Ghana. Finally, its range reaches as far as Guinea-Bissau, marking its presence in these diverse West African environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Chinese Tuberous or Mahagandhi, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties. The roots and the root-bark are frequently harvested for their potent bioactive compounds, often used in traditional treatments for digestive and inflammatory issues. The stem bark also contains significant therapeutic elements and is a key part used in decoctions. Additionally, the aromatic leaves and the small, fleshy fruits contribute to the plant's overall pharmacological profile, making the entire structure a rich source of medicinal resources.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| fruits | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| roots | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Roots | Anticancer research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stem Bark | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark of trunk | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cortex | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fresh leaves | Drug research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, CINNAMIC ACID, Citronellol, Fagaramide, Flavonoids.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| CATECHIN | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CINNAMIC ACID | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Citronellol | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fagaramide | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | Molecular pharmaceutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| GERANIOL | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Glycosides | Molecular pharmaceutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-Methylatanine | European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| RUTIN | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | Molecular pharmaceutics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 5 reported activities identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 22 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include sickle cell disease, COVID-19, breast cancer, diarrhea, dysentery.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| sickle cell disease | Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| breast cancer | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Chemistry Central journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dysentery | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | Chemistry Central journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sickle cell anemia | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | Chemistry Central journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Extracts | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanol extracts | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanol extracts of different parts of each plant (stem barks and fruits) | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides stem bark | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alkaloid extract of trunk bark | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous extract | Lloydia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanolic extracts | Parasite (Paris, France) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | Chemistry Central journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |