A coniferyl alcohol derivative from the roots of Zanthoxylum chalybeum

Abstract

Zanthoxylum belongs to Rutaceae family, and means ‘yellow wood’ which is derived from the Greek words xanthos (yellow) and xylon (wood). The family Rutaceae consists of 250 genera and nearly 900 species, many of which are sources of essential oils used in perfumery and medicine. Among the plants belonging to this family, the genus Zanthoxylum is the largest and most widespread plant and native to tropical and subtropical areas[1,2]. In Africa, the genus is reported to have close to 35 species[3]. Species of this genus are of economic importance as sources of edible fruits, oils, wood, raw materials for industries, medicinal plants, ornamentals, culinary applications, and are characterized by a satin wood commonly used in woodworking[4,5]. Zanthoxylum chalybeum (Z. chalybeum) is a deciduous tree that grows in medium altitudes up to 1 500 m above sea level (Figure 1) in dry woodland, bush land or grassland of south and south western Ethiopia. In the southern Ethiopia the plant PEER REVIEW ABSTRACT