Abstract

Zanthoxylum genus (Rutaceae) comprises about 212 species distributed in warm temperature and subtropical areas in the worldwide. Zanthoxylum species have been used in traditional for the treatment of tooth decay, snakebites, blood circulation problems, stomach problems, inflammation, rheumatic, and parasitic diseases. The chemical investigations of Zanthoxylum have been studied by many scientists over the world. Several classes of compounds have been isolated from this genus such as alkaloids, coumarins, and monoterpenes. Of these, alkaloids are the main components and play an important role in Zanthoxylum species. Alkaloids have been shown the potential promise about biological activities: cytotoxic, antimalarial, leishmanicidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, and antibacterial activities. This chapter will focus on the structure elucidation and pharmacological activities of alkaloids from Zanthoxylum species. In addition, the absolute configuration of some alkaloids from Zanthoxylum genus will be also discussed.

Highlights

  • Zanthoxylum genus is one of the biggest genera belonging to the Rutaceae family, including 212 species in the world and widely distributed in the warm or tropic temperate zones

  • From the Zanthoxylum species, many compounds have been isolated, including alkaloids, lignans, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, etc.; they are the specific classes of compounds in Zanthoxylum genus

  • Experimental and calculated ECD spectra could play an important role for determine absolute configurations of alkaloids from Zanthoxylum species

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Summary

Introduction

Zanthoxylum genus is one of the biggest genera belonging to the Rutaceae family, including 212 species in the world and widely distributed in the warm or tropic temperate zones. The main components presented in this genus are alkaloids and coumarins, with significant biological activities, especially anticancer activities This genus contains high levels of benzophenanthridine alkaloids that shown their potential cytotoxic in vitro and their ability to inhibit tumor in vivo through many mechanisms, resistant against many pathogenics including MRSA strain (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)—a bacterium caused dangerous infections in hospital [1] and shown anti-inflammatory activity [2] (Figure 1).

Alkaloids constituents from Zanthoxylum genus
24 Dihydrochelerythrine
48 Arnottianamide
Biological activities of alkaloids
71 Dictamnine
Inflammatory effects
Antifungal and antibacterial activities
Other biological effect
NMR methods
Circular dichlorism
Findings
Conclusions
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