Senegal prickly-ash

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Senegal prickly-ash

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fagara senegalensis
• Fagara zanthoxyloides
• Zanthoxylum senegalense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its perennially existing buds are located high above the ground on woody stems or branches, a structural strategy that defines its life form. This phanerophytic nature, specifically categorized under the broader life form classifications of phanerophyte, ensures its survival and continued growth within its natural habitat over an extended temporal scale.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xanthoxylum zanthoxyloides is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This species is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not exhibit climbing, parasitic, or epiphytic behaviors, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, it reaches a significant plant height, with a mean height of approximately 10 m and a maximum recorded height of about 12.19 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12.19214826 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides is characterized by its complex secondary metabolism, which is primarily driven by the synthesis of bioactive alkaloids and essential oils within its glandular structures. These metabolic pathways are essential for the plant's defense mechanisms, producing various lipophilic compounds that act as natural deterrents against herbivory and microbial pathogens. In terms of its nutrient acquisition and soil interaction, the species does not engage in symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria for the purpose of atmospheric nitrogen assimilation; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer. The plant relies on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil through its root system to support its vegetative growth and the production of specialized metabolites. Its physiological processes are closely tied to its environmental adaptation, where its photosynthetic efficiency and nutrient cycling are regulated by moisture availability and soil composition, rather than through autonomous nitrogen fixation processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xanthoxylum zanthoxyloides is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects to facilitate genetic exchange. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, indicating that it relies on cross-pollination mechanisms to ensure reproductive success. The resulting seeds are relatively small and uniform in size, with a mean seed mass of 0.01702 g. Individual seed masses within the population vary slightly, ranging from a minimum of 0.01599 g to a maximum of 0.01805 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.01805 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01702 g

Seed mass min:

0.01599 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 4 reported plant parts identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, fruit, stem.

Leaf

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
2. Molecular pharmaceutics
3. Drug research
4. Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Lloydia
4. Anticancer research

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product research
3. Chemistry Central journal

Stem

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, CINNAMIC ACID, Citronellol, Fagaramide, Flavonoids.

CATECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Citronellol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fagaramide

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Molecular pharmaceutics

GERANIOL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycosides

1. Molecular pharmaceutics

N-Methylatanine

1. European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP)

RUTIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Molecular pharmaceutics

Activities

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 5 reported activities identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include sickle cell disease, COVID-19, breast cancer, diarrhea, dysentery.

Sickle cell disease

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
2. Molecular pharmaceutics

Covid-19

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Breast cancer

1. Natural product research

Diarrhea

1. Chemistry Central journal

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Parasitology research

Pain

1. Chemistry Central journal

Sickle cell anemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Wound healing

1. Chemistry Central journal

Preparations

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has 14 reported preparations identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, Methanol extracts, Methanol extracts of different parts of each plant (stem barks and fruits), Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides stem bark, alkaloid extract of trunk bark.

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanol extracts

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Methanol extracts of different parts of each plant (stem barks and fruits)

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides stem bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Alkaloid extract of trunk bark

1. Parasitology research

Aqueous extract

1. Lloydia

Essential oils

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Parasite (Paris, France)

Extracts

1. European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP)

Fruits

1. Chemistry Central journal