Disease relevance of Zanthoxylum

• OBJECTIVE: To define the nature and mechanisms of neuromuscular effects of toxic principles in bark of Southern Prickly Ash tree (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis) that might contribute to its clinical toxicity in cattle [1].
• In a continuing search for compounds with antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) possessing multidrug ef flux systems, we have demonstrated activity associated with extracts from Southern prickly ash bark, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis [2].

High impact information on Zanthoxylum

• In terms of molecular diversity, menthane and acyclic monoterpenoids, cadinane and mesocyclic sesquiterpenoids, and simple alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones dominate the essential oils of Zanthoxylum species [3].
• Linalool, 4-terpineol, alpha-terpineol, and trans-2-hexenol, are found in all of the Zanthoxylum species examined in this study [3].
• For Zanthoxylum fagara, a shallow-rooted understory shrub, Prosopis removal from clusters decreased leaf water potential (Psileaf) and net CO2 exchange (A) during periods of HL [4].
• A methanol extract of Zanthoxylum schinifolium stems at a concentration of 250 microg/ml showed potent inhibitory activity against monoamine oxidase (MAO) in a mouse brain [5].
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitory coumarin from Zanthoxylum schinifolium [5].

Biological context of Zanthoxylum

• Effect of methanol extract of Zanthoxylum piperitum leaves and of its compound, protocatechuic acid, on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and lipid peroxidation in rats [6].
• These results suggest that the volatile extract from Zanthoxylum schinifolium pericarpium is a good candidate for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy and that reactive oxygen species are the key signaling molecules in the volatile extract-induced cell death in HepG2 cells [7].

Associations of Zanthoxylum with chemical compounds

• The most abundant classes of compounds found in Zanthoxylum leaf oils are acyclic and menthane monoterpenoids as well as simple alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones [3].
• Coumarins and antiplatelet constituents from the root bark of Zanthoxylum schinifolium [8].
• Anthelmintic properties of alpha-sanshool from Zanthoxylum liebmannianum [9].
• Two quinoline alkaloids, (-)-R-geilbalansine (1) and hyemaline (2), as well as aromatic amide, N-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-methoxyethyl)-2-methoxyethyl]benzamide (O-methylbalsamide) (3), were isolated as new natural products from the stem barks of Zanthoxylum hyemale, together with seven known compounds [10].
• Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three indolopyridoquinazoline alkaloids, 1-hydroxyrutaecarpine, rutaecarpine, and 1-methoxyrutaecarpine as the active principles of antiplatelet aggregation in vitro, from the chloroform-soluble part of the fruit of Zanthoxylum integrifoliolum (Rutaceae) [11].

Gene context of Zanthoxylum

• Tyrosinase inhibitor isolated from the leaves of Zanthoxylum piperitum [12].

References