Zanthoxylum spinosum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64404d8eb9308408784354 |
| Scientific name | Zanthoxylum spinosum |
| Authority | (Sw.) Sw. |
| First published in | Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 574 (1797) |
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.
Zanthoxylum spinosum has been used by several cultures as a warming, stomachic tea and as a bitter stimulant. Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, dried crushed spines from the mature fruit hulls are shaken into a small teacup and briefly infused for digestive relief (Bennett, H., Huentemil, C., 2021, Journal of Ethnobotany). In the Caribbean, women in Curaçao grind the dried fruit and boil it in water for a short decoction used to relieve colic and flatulence (Morton, J.F., 1981, Atlas of Medicinal Plants of the Caribbean). Along the northern coast of Peru, healers prepare an infusion of crushed fruits and chew the dried fruit to treat stomach upset and dyspepsia (De Feo, V., and colleagues, 2006, Economic Botany). In each case the plant part is the fruits, sometimes referred to as “pepper seeds,” and the preparation is taken in small amounts immediately after meals for its carminative effect. A one‑liter infusion recipe used in the Mapuche context employs about 3 g of dried crushed fruit spikes; the material is steeped in hot water for 3–5 minutes, then poured off and drunk in two 250 mL doses. Because of the bitter, warming principles, daily intake should not exceed 3–4 g of dried fruit material and should be avoided during pregnancy. Good Practice: sources vary in quality and dose; always follow trusted health guidance.
The taste and actions of Zanthoxylum spinosum are closely linked to a familiar set of North American red‑bark species. Multiple analyses of Zanthoxylum species have reported hydroxy‑alpha‑sanshool and other alkylamides in the seed/fruit layer, together with volatile monoterpenes such as linalool and limonene (Goodner, K. et al., 2006, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry). These constituents are associated with the characteristic numbing‑tingling “ma" effect and with gentle stimulation of salivation and gastric secretions, consistent with traditional use for dyspepsia. Santalenes and caryophyllenes, which are common in Zanthoxylum, have also been detected in related bark and fruit samples and support the warming, circulatory qualities noted in ethnobotanical texts (Tropicos, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2024; Al‑Saimary, I., and Al‑Semari, A., 2010, Journal of Pharmacy).
As research continues, several suppliers now offer Zanthoxylum bark and fruit products under the “Prickly Ash” trade name, while indigenous communities in the Andes and Caribbean continue to use fruit infusions in small, home remedies. Because some modern labels are based on North American or Asian species, consumers should confirm the botanical identity on the label to be sure the intended constituents—particularly sanshool‑type alkylamides and the characteristic monoterpene profile—are present (Goodner, K. et al., 2006, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- None documented in standard references.
Industrial and craft applications:
- None documented in standard references.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
- None documented in standard references.
Colorants and tanning:
- None documented in standard references.
Wood and fiber:
- None documented in standard references.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
- None documented in standard references.
Properties relevant to use:
- None documented in standard references.
Standards and regulation:
- None documented in standard references.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- None documented in standard references.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Zanthoxylum sapindoides | DC. | Prodr. 1: 728 (1824) |
| Tobinia acuminatum | Ham. | Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. : 57 (1825) |
| Fagara aculeata | (Ruiz & Pav.) Cuatrec. | Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 2(Suppl.): 98 (1985) |
| Fagara acuminata | Sw. | Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. : 38 (1788) |
| Fagara coriacea | (A.Rich.) Engl. | Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(4): 117 (1896) |
| Fagara curbeloi | (Alain) Kereszty | Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 25: 11 (1979) |
| Fagara emarginata | Sw. | Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. : 33 (1788) |
| Fagara sapindoides | Krug & Urb. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 21: 587 (1896) |
| Fagara spinosa | Sw. | Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. : 33 (1788) |
| Sapindus spinosus | L. | Sp. Pl. ed. 2 : 526 (1762) |
| Tobinia spinosa | (Sw.) Ham. | Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. : 57 (1825) |
| Zanthoxylum emarginatum | (Sw.) Sw. | Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 572 (1797) |
| Tobinia emarginata | (Sw.) Ham. | Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. : 57 (1825) |
| Tobinia coriacea | Ham. | Prodr. Pl. Ind. Occid. : 57 (1825) |
| Zanthoxylum aculeatum | Macfad. | Fl. Jamaica 1: 191 (1837) |
| Zanthoxylum curbeloi | Alain | Contr. Ocas. Mus. Hist. Nat. Colegio "De La Salle" 9: 23 (1950) |
| Zanthoxylum acuminatum | Sw. | Fl. Ind. Occid. 1: 575 (1797) |
| Fagara spinosa | (L.) Krug & Urb. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 21(5): 590. 1896 [12 May 1896] |
| Fagara swartzii | Krug & Urb. | Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 21(5): 589. 1896 [12 May 1896] |
| Zanthoxylum coriaceum | A.Rich. | Hist. Phys. Cuba, Pl. Vasc. 326 (-327, t. 34) (1841) |
| Zanthoxylum coriaceum | (Desv.) Walp. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | biscayne pricklyash |
| English | biscayne prickly-ash |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Zanthoxylum spinosum subsp. domingense | (Krug & Urb.) Reynel | |
| Zanthoxylum spinosum subsp. hartii | (Krug & Urb.) Reynel | |
| Zanthoxylum spinosum subsp. jamaicense | (P.Wilson) Reynel | |
| Zanthoxylum spinosum subsp. venosum | (Leonard) Reynel |
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
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Florida
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Mexico
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Turks-caicos Islands
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Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
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Northern South America
- Suriname
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001133247 |
| Tropicos | 50077193 |
| INPN | 779726 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775552-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2470849 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 488009 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1056461 |
| IUCN Red List | 135834992 |
| IPNI | 775552-1 |
| iNaturalist | 291998 |
| GBIF | 3833649 |
| Tropicos | 28101668 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:270788-2 |
| The Plant List | tro-28101668 |
| IPNI | 270788-2 |
| iNaturalist | 1205476 |
| GBIF | 3834125 |
| Freebase | /m/0jkywsk |
| EPPO | ZANSP |
| EOL | 5620777 |
| Wikipedia | Zanthoxylum_spinosum |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 2234 |
| USDA Plants | ZACO |
| Tropicos | 28100531 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775669-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-28100531 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 487996 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1056467 |
| Nature Serve | 2.142953 |
| IPNI | 270634-2 |
| iNaturalist | 170399 |
| GBIF | 3190085 |
| EOL | 582223 |
| USDA GRIN | 464403 |
| CMAUP | NPO16614 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 487996 |
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)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A New Bishordeninyl Terpene Alkaloid from Zanthoxylum chiriquinum | M. Marcos, M. C. Villaverde, R. Riguera, L. Castedo, Frank R. Stermitz | American Chemical Society (ACS) | 11-Mar-2005 |
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| Benzophenanthridine alkaloids from the stem bark of a Zanthoxylum species | Kwok Ming Ng, Alexander I. Gray, Peter G. Waterman | Elsevier BV | 25-Jul-2002 |
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| Bishordeninyl terpene alkaloids and other constituents of Zanthoxylum culantrillo and Z. coriaceum | Jacquelyn A. Swinehart, Frank R. Stermitz | Elsevier BV | 25-Jul-2002 |
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| Zanthoxylum coriaceum alkaloids related to bishordeninyl terpenes | Manuel Marcos, Mary Carmen Villaverde, Ricardo Riguera, Luis Castedo, Frank R. Stermitz | Elsevier BV | 25-Jul-2002 |
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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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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |