prickly-ash
Zanthoxylum · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (41 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Prickly-ash, scientifically known as Zanthoxylum, is a versatile medicinal shrub renowned for its potent therapeutic properties. Rich in essential oils and bioactive alkaloids, it is traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to treat digestive issues, respiratory ailments, and inflammatory conditions. This resilient plant offers a unique blend of healing potential.
Names
Common Names
- prickly-ash
- Knobwoods
- prickly-ashes
- pricklyash
Scientific Names
Accepted name
ZanthoxylumSynonyms
- Fagara
- Xanthophyllon
- Lacaris
- Fagara
- Doratium
- Fagaras
- Curtisia
- Tenorea
- Ochroxylum
- Tipalia
- Pterota
- Tobinia
- Pseudopetalon
- Toddalia
- Pohlana
- Cranzia
- Perijea
- Duncania
- Kampmannia
- Dipetalum
- Mioptrila
- Aubertia
- Blackburnia
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Ultimately, it is identified 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, Zanthoxylum, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It is documented to grow within the borders of Benin, where it thrives in local ecosystems. The species is also found in Burkina, contributing to the regional biodiversity of the area. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal and inland territories of Gambia. Finally, the plant's range reaches into Guinea-Bissau, completing its distribution across these West African nations.
| 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 | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Zanthoxylum, offers various components that are utilized in traditional medicine. While the whole plant can be employed for its diverse therapeutic properties, specific parts are often singled out for their potency. The leaves are frequently harvested for their aromatic qualities, while the fruits serve as a significant source of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the seeds are highly valued, and in some medicinal preparations, a single seed or a collection of seeds may be processed to extract essential oils and alkaloids used to treat various ailments.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| seed | Current drug targets (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit | Current drug targets (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Current drug targets (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Zanthoxylum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Lignans, SM, Skimmianine, l-asarinin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Coumarins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Lignans | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Skimmianine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| l-asarinin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| l-sesamin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sucrose | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Coumarins
- Heliyon
Lignans
- Heliyon
SM
- Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
Skimmianine
- Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
l-asarinin
- Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
l-sesamin
- Di 1 jun yi da xue xue bao = Academic journal of the first medical college of PLA
sucrose
- Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
Activities
Zanthoxylum has 5 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antitussive.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitussive | Current drug discovery technologies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Zanthoxylum has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, pain, antihypertensive, bacterial diseases, brain diseases.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pain | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihypertensive | Journal of the science of food and agriculture (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bacterial diseases | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| brain diseases | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hyperlipidemia | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypoglycemia | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infection | Heliyon (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |