In vitro activity of collinin isolated from the leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium against multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.[Pubmed: 30097109]

Tuberculosis is a very serious infectious disease that threatens humanity, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains resistant to drugs suggests that new drug development is urgent. In order to develop new tuberculosis drug, we have conducted in vitro anti-tubercular tests on thousands of plant-derived substances and finally found collinin extracted from the leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium, which has an excellent anti-tuberculosis effect.

Authentication of Zanthoxylum Species Based on Integrated Analysis of Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences and Metabolite Profiles.[Pubmed: 29058421]

We performed chloroplast genome sequencing and comparative analysis of two Rutaceae species, Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Korean pepper tree) and Z. piperitum (Japanese pepper tree), which are medicinal and culinary crops in Asia. We identified more than 837 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 103 insertions/deletions (InDels) based on a comparison of the two chloroplast genomes and developed seven DNA markers derived from five tandem repeats and two InDel variations that discriminated between Korean Zanthoxylum species. Metabolite profile analysis pointed to three metabolic groups, one with Korean Z. piperitum samples, one with Korean Z. schinifolium samples, and the last containing all the tested Chinese Zanthoxylum species samples, which are considered to be Z. bungeanum based on our results. Two markers were capable of distinguishing among these three groups. The chloroplast genome sequences identified in this study represent a valuable genomics resource for exploring diversity in Rutaceae, and the molecular markers will be useful for authenticating dried Zanthoxylum berries in the marketplace.

A New Megastigmane Sesquiterpenoid from Zanthoxylum Schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc.[Pubmed: 27007360]

Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. (Rutaceae), a dioecious shrub with hooked prickly branches, has been used as folk medicine for the treatment of the common cold, stomach ache, diarrhea, and jaundice in China, Korea, and Japan. In our phytochemical investigations on this genus, a new megastigmane sesquiterpenoid, which is referred to as schinifolenol A (1), was isolated from Z. schinifolium. The stereochemistry was characterized via the analyses of extensive spectra. The absolute configuration was established by the application of a modified Mosher's experiment and assisted by a time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) on calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Bioactivity screenings showed that compound 1 exhibited a safe hypotoxicity and a better selectivity on anti-Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpes virus (KSHV).

Effects of Plants on Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Periodontal Ligament Cells: A Systematic Review.[Pubmed: 26822584]

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of plants on osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells. The included studies were selected using five different electronic databases. The reference list of the included studies was crosschecked, and a partial gray literature search was undertaken using Google Scholar and ProQuest. The methodology of the selected studies was evaluated using GRADE. After a two-step selection process, eight studies were identified. Six different types of plants were reported in the selected studies, which were Morinda citrifolia, Aloe vera, Fructus cnidii, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Centella asiatica, and Epimedium species. They included five types of isolated plant components: acemannan, osthole, hesperetin, asiaticoside, and icariin. In addition, some active substances of these components were identified as polysaccharides, coumarins, flavonoids, and triterpenes. The studies demonstrated the potential effects of plants on osteogenic differentiation, cell proliferation, mineral deposition, and gene and protein expression. Four studies showed that periodontal ligament cells induce mineral deposition after plant treatment. Although there are few studies on the subject, current evidence suggests that plants are potentially useful for the treatment of periodontal diseases. However, further investigations are required to confirm the promising effect of these plants in regenerative treatments.

Anti-inflammatory terpenylated coumarins from the leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.[Pubmed: 26753624]

Nine terpenylated coumarins, namely 7-[(E)-3',7'-dimethyl-6'-oxo-2',7'-octadienyl]oxy-coumarin (1), schinilenol (2), schinindiol (3), collinin (4), 7-[(E)-7'-hydroxy-3',7'-dimethy-locta-2',5'-dienyloxy]-coumarin (5), 8-methoxyanisocoumarin (6), 7-(6'R-hydroxy-3',7'-dimethyl-2'E,7'-octadienyloxy)coumarin (7), (E)-4-methyl-6-(coumarin-7'-yloxy)hex-4-enal (8), and aurapten (9), along with a 4-quinolone alkaloid (10) and integrifoliodiol (11), were isolated from the leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Of the isolates, compounds 4 and 7 potentially inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW264.7 cells, with IC50 values of 5.9 ± 0.8 and 18.2 ± 1.8 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 4 and 7 dose-dependently reduced the LPS-induced iNOS expression. Moreover, pre-incubation of cells with 4 and 7 significantly suppressed LPS-induced COX-2 protein expression. In addition, compounds 4, 7, 8, and 10 showed strong α-glucosidase inhibitory effects, with IC50 values of 92.1 ± 0.7, 90.6 ± 0.9, 78.2 ± 0.2, and 82.4 ± 0.8 μM, respectively. Compounds 1, 5, and 11 displayed moderate effects with IC50 values of 161.6 ± 0.3, 164.4 ± 1.1, and 155.4 ± 0.9 μM, while acarbose, a positive control, possessed an IC50 value of 121.5 ± 1.0 μM. This is the first investigation on the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of components from Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Further studies should be made on active compounds.

Zanthoxylum schinifolium leaf ethanol extract inhibits adipocyte differentiation through inactivation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes.[Pubmed: 25760758]

Zanthoxylum schinifolium is widely used as a food flavoring in east Asia. Although this plant has also been used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of the common cold, toothache, stomach ache, diarrhea and jaundice, its anti-obesity activity remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of ethanol extract from the leaves of Z. schinifolium (EEZS) on adipocyte differentiation, and its underlying mechanism, in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. The results demonstrated that EEZS effectively suppressed intracellular lipid accumulation at non-toxic concentrations, and was associated with the downregulation of several adipocyte-specific transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferation-activity receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α and C/EBPβ, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, it was observed that EEZS markedly inactivated the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways, which act upstream of PPARγ and C/EBPs in adipogenesis. These results suggested that EEZS inhibited lipid accumulation by downregulating the major transcription factors involved in the pathway of adipogenesis, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ, via regulation of the ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. This indicated the potential use of EEZS as an anti-obesity agent.

Effects of Oils and Essential Oils from Seeds of Zanthoxylum schinifolium against Foodborne Viral Surrogates.[Pubmed: 25587338]

Human noroviruses are the most frequent cause of foodborne viral disease and are responsible for the vast majority of nonbacterial gastroenteritis. However, no specific therapies are available for the efficient control or prevention of foodborne viral disease. Here, we determined the antiviral activities of oils from seeds of Zanthoxylum schinifolium (ZSO) against foodborne viral surrogates, feline calicivirus-F9 (FCV-F9), and murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1), using plaque assay. Time-of-addition experiments were designed to determine the antiviral mechanism of action of ZSO against the surrogates. Maximal antiviral effect was observed upon pretreatment of FCV-F9 or MNV-1 with ZSO, which comprised oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and linolenic acid as the major fatty acids. FCV-F9 was more sensitive to ZSO than MNV-1, and the 50% effective concentration of ZSO against pretreatment of FCV-F9 was 0.0007%. However, essential oils from Z. schinifolium (ZSE), which comprised 42% estragole, showed no inhibitory effects against FCV-F9 and MNV-1. These results suggest that the inhibitory activities of ZSO were exerted by direct interaction of FCV-F9 or MNV-1 virion with ZSO, which may be a food material candidate for control of foodborne viral disease.

Radiosensitizing effect of schinifoline from Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb et Zucc on human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells: a preliminary in vitro investigation.[Pubmed: 25470278]

Schinifoline (SF), a 4-quinolinone derivative, was found in Zanthoxylum schinifolium for the first time. 4-Quinolinone moieties are thought to have cytotoxic activity and are often used as a tubulin polymerization inhibitors, heterogeneous enzyme inhibitors and antiplatelet agents. However, very little information respect to radiosensitization has focused on SF. This work aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of SF on A549 cells. The cell viability results indicated cytotoxicity of SF on A549 cells, with IC50 values of 33.7 ± 2.4, 21.9 ± 1.9 and 16.8 ± 2.2 μg/mL, respectively, after 6, 12, 24 h treatment with different concentrations, and the 10% or 20% IC50 concentration during 12 h was applied in later experiments. The results of cell proliferative inhibition and clonogenic assay showed that SF enhanced the radiosensitivity of A549 cells when applied before 60Co γ-irradiation and this effect was mainly time and concentration dependent. The flow cytometric data indicated that SF treatment before the irradiation increased the G2/M phase, thus improving the radiosensitivity of A549, leading to cell apoptosis. This paper is the first study that describes the in vitro radiosensitising, cell cycle and apoptotic-inducing effects of schinifoline.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil from Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens) in Xishuangbanna, SW China.[Pubmed: 25448503]

Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens Huang) is widely consumed as an indigenous remedy for digestive disorders, detoxification, detumescence and analgesia by the ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna, SW China. A related species, Huajiao (Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc.), has similar uses in traditional Chinese medicine. We aimed to scientifically validate the traditional uses by investigating and comparing the chemical composition, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oils of Maqian and Huajiao.