Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae): A Systematic Review of Its Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicology

Abstract

Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae) is a popular food additive and traditional Chinese herbal medicine commonly named HuaJiao in China. This plant is widely distributed in Asian countries. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review on the traditional usages, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology of this plant. Furthermore, the possible development and perspectives for future research on this plant are also discussed. To date, over 140 compounds have been isolated and identified from Z. bungeanum, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and free fatty acids. The extracts and compounds have been shown to possess wide-ranging biological activity, such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects, antibacterial and antifungal effects, as well as regulatory effects on the gastrointestinal system and nervous system, and other effects. As a traditional herbal medicine, Z. bungeanum has been widely used to treat many diseases, especially digestive disorders, toothache, stomach ache, and diarrhea. Many traditional usages of this plant have been validated by present investigations. However, further research elucidating the structure-function relationship among chemical compounds, understanding the mechanism of unique sensation, as well as exploring new clinical effects and establishing criteria for quality control for Z. bungeanum should be further studied.

Development of conventional PCR and real‐time PCR assays to discriminate the origins of Chinese pepper oil and herbal materials from Zanthoxylum

“…This plant is also used to make edible oil, called Chinese pepper oil in Korea, which has a more spicy taste and distinctive flavor than other Zanthoxylum species, and is also used in folk remedies to treat stomachache and asthma. On the other hand, Z. bungeanum (Sichuan pepper) is not distributed in Korea, but is an indispensable spice and herbal medicine in China . The fruit of the Chinese pepper provides many health benefits, including various phytochemical nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids .…”

“…On the other hand, Z. bungeanum (Sichuan pepper) is not distributed in Korea, but is an indispensable spice and herbal medicine in China. 24 The fruit of the Chinese pepper provides many health benefits, including various phytochemical nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids. 23 For these reasons, Chinese pepper oil is ten times more expensive than other vegetable oils such as sesame or perilla oil.…”

“…Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, the name of a herbal medicine, is prescribed to treat abdominal pain, toothache, dyspepsia, vomiting, diarrhea, ascariasis and eczema in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine, but these national pharmacopoeias differ in how they define botanical species. [23][24][25] In the Korean pharmacopoeia, the pericarps of Z. schinifolium, Z. piperitum or Z. bungeanum are defined as the authentic herbal medicine Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, whereas the Chinese pharmacopoeia describes only two species, Z. schinifolium or Z. bungeanum. 25 Due to insufficient production in Korea, large amounts of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium are supplied from China.…”

Quality evaluation of different varieties of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. peels based on phenolic profiles, bioactivity, and HPLC fingerprint

“…Z. bungeanum Maxim. is the most popular species with huge economic and medicinal value (Zhang et al., 2017). Its leaves are a traditional vegetable and are also used to prepare antioxidant oral solution (He, 2015).…”

Antiproliferative Activity of Secondary Metabolites from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides Lam: In vitro and in silico Studies

“…The genus Zanthoxylum consists of over 200 species widely distributed along the tropics with 35 species found in tropical Africa. 5,6 Among the different Zanthoxylum species, Z. zanthoxyloides is the most common species in Uganda, where a decoction from the root-bark is used traditionally to treat elephantiasis, toothache, sexual impotence, gonorrhea, malaria, dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain. 7 Elsewhere in Cameroon, extracts from different parts of Z. zanthoxyloides are indicated in the treatment of urinary tract infections, dysentery and sickle cell anemia.…”