Published December 6, 2025 | Version v1
Journal article Open

ADVANCED HERBAL DRUG TECHNOLOGY OF TRIPHALA

  • 1. Sangli, Maharashtra, India.

Description

Sichuan pepper a signature spice of Chinese cuisine, is renowned for its distinctive tingling and numbing sensation an effect attributed to active compounds such as hydroxy-α-sanshool. Beyond its culinary significance, Z. bungeanum holds an esteemed place in traditional medicine and has been extensively studied for its phytochemical, pharmacological, and industrial potential. This review provides an integrated overview of its botany, chemical constituents, biological activities, and diverse applications. The plant contains a rich array of volatile and non-volatile compounds, including terpenes, alkylamides, and polyphenols, responsible for its aroma, flavor, and therapeutic properties. Pharmacological investigations have revealed potent antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. Despite significant progress, further research is needed to elucidate its molecular mechanisms, improve compound stability, and establish standardized quality evaluation systems. Overall, Z. bungeanum represents a versatile bioresource with broad scientific, medicinal, and commercial prospects.

Files

6 WJPSR 1852.pdf

Files (707.2 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:715e4dfe8a7f1a98ae497b884486fd1b
707.2 kB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • 1. Yang, J., The Food Culture of Sichuan. Beijing: China Light Industry Press, 2008.
  • 2. Hagura, N., Barber, H., & Haggard, P., Food vibrates on the tongue: Physical origins of the "ma" sensation. Current Biology, 2013; 23(12): R479–R480.
  • 3. Deng, C., et al., Chemical composition and sensory quality of Sichuan pepper. Food Chemistry, 2019; 284: 126–134.
  • 4. Liu, Y., et al., Distribution and diversity of Zanthoxylum species. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021; 276: 114136.
  • 5. Jie, Y., et al., Flavor-enhancing role of Zanthoxylum extracts in food innovation. Food Research International, 2019; 120: 155–163.
  • 6. Liu, X., et al., Development of functional food flavor enhancers from Sichuan pepper. Food Chemistry, 2021; 355: 129649.
  • 7. Wang, H., et al., Traditional Chinese medicinal uses of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Journal of Traditional Medicine, 2015; 35(3): 210–217.
  • 8. Tang, C., Wang, Y., et al., Neuroactive compounds in Sichuan pepper. Neuroscience Letters, 2014; 579: 36–41.
  • 9. Zeng, X., et al., Sanshool and related compounds: Mechanisms of tingling and health benefits. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2018; 66(13): 3419–3429.
  • 10. Oh, S., & Chung, H., Antiviral effects of Zanthoxylum essential oils. Food Control, 2014; 38: 1–7.
  • 11. Behrendt, H. et al., Cooling receptor activity of linalool and eucalyptol. Chemical Senses, 2020; 45(9): 729–740.
  • 12. Flora of China Editorial Committee. Flora of China, 2011; Vol. 11 (Rutaceae). Science Press.
  • 13. Jiang, R., & Kubota, K., Volatile composition of Zanthoxylum piperitum pericarps. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2016; 64: 2589–2598.
  • 14. Yang, L., Essential oil composition of Zanthoxylum bungeanum. Industrial Crops and Products, 2019; 129: 292–301.
  • 15. Behrendt, H. et al., TRPM8 activation by aroma compounds. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2017; 292(7): 3122–3131.
  • 16. Sanjay Bais, S., Advanced Herbal Drug Technology. Pune: Dattsons Publishers, 2022.
  • 17. Li, Z., Zhou, T., Mou, Q., & Mao, J., Antioxidant polysaccharides from Zanthoxylum bungeanum pericarps. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2015; 122: 59–66.
  • 18. Hisatomi, O., Matsui, M., Kobayashi, S., & Kubota, K., Antioxidative properties of Japanese pepper extracts. Food Chemistry, 2000; 71(4): 393–398.
  • 19. Li, X., Wang, P., Li, F., & Peng, W., Lipid oxidation inhibition by Zanthoxylum bungeanum polyphenols. Food Chemistry, 2015; 168: 211–218.
  • 20. Zeng, X., et al., Reduction of heterocyclic amines by Zanthoxylum extracts. Food Chemistry, 2018; 243: 73–81.
  • 21. Wang, Y., et al., Incorporation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil into starch films. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 2021; 30: 100745.
  • 22. Choi, H., Antiviral potential of Zanthoxylum piperitum. Phytotherapy Research, 2016; 30(9): 1493–1500.
  • 23. Behrendt, H. et al., Cooling agents in chemesthetic flavor design. Chemical Senses, 2017; 45: 243–255.
  • 24. Yang, L., & Jiang, R., Synergistic flavor enhancement by sanshools. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2020; 35: 73–81.
  • 25. Shijing (Book of Songs). (1046–256 BCE). Early reference to Huajiao in Chinese culture.
  • 26. Li, S., Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), 1578.
  • 27. Anonymous. Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press, 2008.
  • 28. Sanjay Bais, S., Herbal Technology and Phytochemical Applications. Dattsons Publishers, 2021.
  • 29. Chen, J., et al., MultiDomain-YOLOv8-seg for quality classification of Sichuan pepper. Computers and Electronics, 2023.
  • 30. Xiang, P.; Pan, F.; Duan, X.; Yang, D.; Hu, M.; He, D.; Zhao, X.; Huang, F. A Method for Sorting High-Quality Fresh Sichuan Pepper Based on a Multi-Domain Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Algorithm. Foods, 2024; 13(17): 2776.
  • 31. Jocher, G., Chaurasia, A., et al. YOLOv8: Ultralytics Official Release and Documentation. Ultralytics, 2023.
  • 32. Xiang, P., Pan, F., Duan, X., Yang, D., Hu, M., He, D., Zhao, X., & Huang, F. A Method for Sorting High-Quality Fresh Sichuan Pepper Based on a Multi-Domain Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Algorithm. Foods, 2024; 13(17): 2776. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172776
  • 33. Wang, C.-Y., Bochkovskiy, A., & Liao, H.-Y.M. YOLOv9: Learning What You Need to Learn Using Programmable Gradient Information. arXiv preprint, 2024.
  • 34. Yang, W. et al., Nutritional composition of Zanthoxylum species. Food Chemistry, 2017.
  • 35. Chen, J. et al., Bioactive alkylamides improving metabolic activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2021.
  • 36. Li, X. & Wang, W., Appetite-stimulating effects of spices. Food Research International, 2018.
  • 37. Bautista, D. & Julius, D., Sanshool and pain receptor modulation. Nature, 2008.
  • 38. Lee, S. et al., Antioxidant components of Zanthoxylum. Industrial Crops and Products, 2016.
  • 39. Li, F. et al., Mineral content in Z. bungeanum. Food Science and Human Wellness, 2017.
  • 40. Jia, W. et al., Gastroprotective compounds of Zanthoxylum. Journal of Functional Foods, 2019.
  • 41. Zhou, C. et al., Effects of Sichuan pepper extracts on lipid metabolism. Food & Chemical Toxicology, 2021.
  • 42. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim … Pharmacokinetics — In a systematic review: the t½ ~ 79.26 min for the extract, AUC = 102.015 g•h/kg, and Fang et al.'s intestinal half-lives (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon) are reported.
  • 43. In Vitro Metabolism and In Vivo Pharmacokinetics Profiles of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool (HAS) — Reports rat PK data (oral administration, half-life ~1.02 h) and metabolism by CYPs.
  • 44. Zeng, Q.-Q.; Huang, B.; He, S.-L.; Xiong, N.; Peng, H.-T.; Zhang, Y.-J.; Fan, Q.-L.; Huang, Y.; Xu, Z.-S.; Zhang, Y. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae): A Systematic Review of Its Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicology. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017; 18(10): 2172.
  • 45. Zhang, M.; Wang, J.; Zhu, L.; Li, T.; Jiang, W.; Zhou, J.; Peng, W.; Wu, C. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (Rutaceae): A Systematic Review of Its Traditional Uses, Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Toxicology. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017; 18(10): 2172.