Zanthoxylum gilletii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffbce92221170470854 |
| Scientific name | Zanthoxylum gilletii |
| Authority | (De Wild.) P.G.Waterman |
| First published in | Taxon 23: 363 (1975) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
For the past several months we’ve been asked to report only on documented, verifiable uses of the exact taxon Zanthoxylum gilletii, and after reviewing ethnobotanical monographs and peer‑reviewed sources as requested (e.g., Schmelzer & Gurib-Fakim 2008; Harinantenaina et al. 2012; Klein et al. 2021), there is no reliable record of its use as tea, decoction, tincture, maceration, or poultice.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Wood and fiber:
The timber of Zanthoxylum gilletii is used locally in West and Central Africa for light construction, tool handles, furniture, flooring, and general carpentry. The wood is generally light to medium in density and exhibits good workability with hand and machine tools, allowing sawing, planing, turning, and finishing for interior joinery and utility items. It is also employed for agricultural implements and occasionally for fuelwood and charcoal.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The mature fruits are harvested and used as a condiment and spice, valued for their aromatic, pepper-like flavor. Fruit are commonly dried and ground for flavoring dishes; in some regions they are similarly processed to Piper guineense for local cuisine. Roots and leaves have been noted as flavorants in seasoning blends, though the primary commercial spice use derives from the fruit.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
The fruits yield an essential oil by steam distillation. The oil contains limonene and linalool as major constituents and smaller amounts of sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol. It is used by local food and fragrance industries as a flavor and fragrance ingredient; concentration in finished goods is typically low due to sensory and regulatory considerations.
Properties relevant to use:
Heartwood is generally pale brown with good dimensional stability; the oil composition is characteristic of Zanthoxylum fruits with a citrus–peppery aroma profile. Density classes are typically medium (around 550–750 kg/m³ air-dry), allowing a balance of strength and workability suitable for light structural and joinery applications. Essential oil content of the fruit commonly ranges around 1–3% by dry weight.
Standards and regulation:
Wood suitable for internal joinery and furniture is graded per national timber standards and export specifications in supplier countries. Flavoring and essential oils derived from the fruit are handled under regional food and fragrance regulations that stipulate maximum permissible levels and permissible flavoring categories for food and beverages.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species occurs naturally in lowland and secondary forests and is also cultivated as an orchard tree for its fruit. Sustainable management involves selective harvesting of mature stems, planting in agroforestry systems, and maintaining sufficient regeneration. Local initiatives prioritize mixed plantings and seed supply to balance spice production with timber supply and forest integrity.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Zanthoxylum melanorhachis | (Hoyle) Little | Phytologia 6: 506 (1959) |
| Zanthoxylum tessmannii | (Engl.) Ayafor | Pl. Med. (Stuttgart) 50: 210 (1984) |
| Fagara amaniensis | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 301 (1917) |
| Fagara annobonensis | Mildbr. | Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 13: 700 (1937) |
| Fagara discolor | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 302 (1917) |
| Fagara gilletii | De Wild. | Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. , sér. 5, 1: 271 (1906) |
| Fagara inaequalis | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54: 303 (1917) |
| Fagara iturensis | Engl. | Wiss. Erg. Deut. Zentr.-Afr. Exped., Bot. 2: 423 (1912) |
| Fagara kivuensis | Lebrun ex Gilbert | Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 28: 379 (1958) |
| Fagara macrophylla | Engl. | Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(4): 118 (1896) |
| Fagara melanorhachis | Hoyle | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1933: 174 (1933) |
| Fagara obliquefoliolata | Engl. | Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2 , 19a: 222 (1931) |
| Fagara rigidifolia | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 54(4): 303. 1917 [13 Mar 1917] |
| Fagara tessmannii | Engl. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 46: 406 (1911) |
| Fagara gilletii var. cordata | G.C.C.Gilbert | |
| Fagara macrophylla var. preussii | Engl. ex De Wild. | |
| Zanthoxylum macrophyllum | Oliv. | Fl. Trop. Afr. 1: 304 (1868) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
-
Northeast Tropical Africa
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cabinda
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
-
East Tropical Africa
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000429498 |
| Tropicos | 28101651 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775746-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2469299 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 4728649 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1291627 |
| IUCN Red List | 61958923 |
| IPNI | 775746-1 |
| iNaturalist | 133504 |
| GBIF | 3838162 |
| Freebase | /m/0vsgch9 |
| EOL | 5620483 |
| Wikipedia | Zanthoxylum_gilletii |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Aporphines | |||||
| (+)-Magnoflorine | 73337 | Click to see | 342.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| > Alkaloids and derivatives / Benzophenanthridine alkaloids / Secobenzophenanthridine alkaloids | |||||
| Arnottianamide | 3085181 | Click to see CN(C=O)C1=C(C=CC2=CC3=C(C=C21)OCO3)C4=C(C(=C(C=C4)OC)OC)O | 381.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Vanillic Acid | 8468 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O | 168.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Salicylic acid and derivatives / Salicylic acids | |||||
| 3-Methylsalicylic Acid | 6738 | Click to see | 152.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Methoxybenzenes / Dimethoxybenzenes | |||||
| Methyleugenol | 7127 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)CC=C)OC | 178.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols | |||||
| Syringaldehyde | 8655 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C=O | 182.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans | |||||
| 4-[(3S,3aR,6R,6aR)-3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-6-yl]-2-methoxyphenol | 5315338 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C2C3COC(C3CO2)C4=CC5=C(C=C4)OCO5)O | 356.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0731-7085(85)80059-5 |
| 5-[(3aR,6R,6aR)-3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-6-yl]-1,3-benzodioxole | 102004873 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| Episesamin | 5204 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| Npc67790 | 233333 | Click to see | 354.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| Sesamin | 72307 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960985 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans / Tetrahydrofuran lignans / 9,9-epoxylignans / Dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans | |||||
| Arctigenin methyl ether | 384877 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| Dimethylmatairesinol | 1286 | Click to see | 386.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acid esters / Fatty acid methyl esters | |||||
| 11-Hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (11E)- | 521560 | Click to see | 268.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| CID 543388 | 543388 | Click to see CCCCC=CCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 254.41 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Palmitic Acid | 985 | Click to see | 256.42 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohol esters | |||||
| Citronellyl acetate | 9017 | Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)CCOC(=O)C | 198.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| Geranyl acetate | 1549026 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC(=O)C)C)C | 196.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols / Long-chain fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Hydroxytridecan-2-one | 13423645 | Click to see | 214.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty amides / N-acyl amines | |||||
| (2E,4E,8Z,10E,12E)-N-propan-2-yltetradeca-2,4,8,10,12-pentaenamide | 5321102 | Click to see CC=CC=CC=CCCC=CC=CC(=O)NC(C)C | 259.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| gamma-Sanshool | 6440615 | Click to see | 273.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| Pellitorine | 5318516 | Click to see | 223.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Citronellol | 8842 | Click to see | 156.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| Geraniol | 637566 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| Linalool | 6549 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Myrcene | 31253 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730040411 |
| 3-Carene | 26049 | Click to see CC1=CCC2C(C1)C2(C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Beta-Pinene | 14896 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Borneol | 64685 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Bornyl acetate | 6448 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC2CCC1(C2(C)C)C | 196.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Camphene | 6616 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| Camphor | 2537 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| CID 44630107 | 44630107 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| Limonene, (+/-)- | 22311 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Delta-Guaiene | 94275 | Click to see CC1CCC2=C(CCC(CC12)C(=C)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Betulinic Acid | 64971 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| Lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxy- | 2371 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| Lup-20(29)-en-3-ol, (3beta)- | 521518 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097191 |
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960985 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097191 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Benzoquinones / P-benzoquinones | |||||
| 2,6-Dimethoxyquinone | 68262 | Click to see COC1=CC(=O)C=C(C1=O)OC | 168.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.12.015 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Cyclic ketones | |||||
| 4-Ethylcyclohexanone | 79506 | Click to see CCC1CCC(=O)CC1 | 126.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Phenylketones / Alkyl-phenylketones | |||||
| Xanthoxylin | 66654 | Click to see | 196.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzodioxoles | |||||
| Cinnamamide, N-isobutyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)- | 96931 | Click to see | 247.29 | unknown | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1258965/ |
| Fagaramide | 5281772 | Click to see | 247.29 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960985 https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1258965/ https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Isoquinolines and derivatives / Benzylisoquinolines | |||||
| (1S)-1-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-ium-8-ol | 173713 | Click to see C[N+]1(CCC2=C(C1CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)C(=C(C=C2)OC)O)C | 314.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| Tembetarine | 167718 | Click to see C[N+]1(CCC2=CC(=C(C=C2C1CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)OC)O)O)OC)C | 344.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Benzoquinolines / Acridines / Acridones | |||||
| 1-Hydroxy-3-methoxy-10-methylacridone | 5377412 | Click to see CN1C2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)C3=C1C=C(C=C3O)OC | 255.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| 1-Hydroxy-3-methoxyacridin-9(10H)-one | 13250463 | Click to see | 241.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| Arborinine | 5281832 | Click to see CN1C2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C=C31)OC)OC)O | 285.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Benzoquinolines / Phenanthridines and derivatives | |||||
| Nitidine | 4501 | Click to see | 348.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50054A014 |
| Oxynitidine | 97597 | Click to see CN1C2=C(C=CC3=CC4=C(C=C32)OCO4)C5=CC(=C(C=C5C1=O)OC)OC | 363.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50054A014 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Furanoquinolines | |||||
| Skimmianine | 6760 | Click to see COC1=C(C2=C(C=C1)C(=C3C=COC3=N2)OC)OC | 259.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50057A031 https://doi.org/10.1111/J.2042-7158.1971.TB12785.X https://doi.org/10.1002/JHRC.1240090712 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Piperlongumine | 637858 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1OC)OC)C=CC(=O)N2CCC=CC2=O | 317.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952540 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50048A057 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| (2S)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 129010007 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| Hesperetin-7-Rutinoside | 3594 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
| Hesperidin | 10621 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(01)00265-9 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |