Zanthoxylum madagascariense (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa
Introduction


General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal

File:Map Zanthoxylum madagascariense.gif

distribution in Africa (wild)

Zanthoxylum madagascariense Baker

Protologue: J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 25: 303 (1889).

Family: Rutaceae

Origin and geographic distribution

Zanthoxylum madagascariense is endemic to Madagascar.

Uses

The very bitter stem bark decoction is taken to treat severe body pain, especially back-ache and arthritis, and also to treat intestinal worms. A bark decoction, together with leaves and bark of Dracaena reflexa Lam. or leaves of Desmodium ramosissimum G.Don is taken daily to relieve malarial symptoms, tiredness, muscular ache and poisoning.

Production and international trade

The stem bark of Zanthoxylum madagascariense is locally sold on the market for medicinal purposes.

Properties

From the stem bark the benzophenanthidrine alkaloids N-nornitidine, dihydrochelerythrine, norchelerythrine, decarine, caymandimerine and rutaceline were isolated. Other compounds isolated from the stem bark are the triterpenes lupeol and β-amyrine and the lignan sesamine.

Decarine showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria pfeifferi, which is an intermediate host for bilharzia parasites. Rutaceline showed moderate antiproliferative activity on human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and the African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell lines.

Description

Aromatic shrub or tree up to c. 15 m tall; very spiny on young parts, less on older branches; branches thick at apex, 12–14 mm in diameter.
Leaves alternate, imparipinnately compound with 5–7 pairs of leaflets, 10–25 cm long; stipules absent; rachis flattened above; leaflets with petiolule up to 2 mm long; leaflets opposite, elliptical-oblong, 1.1–13 cm × 0.8–3.2 cm, basal leaflets smaller, apex acuminate or apiculate to notched, base rounded, margins slightly toothed towards apex, with indistinct glandular dots, stiff, glabrous, pinnately veined.
Inflorescence an axillary, much-branched panicle 5–10 cm long, glabrous, 2–5 together at the apex of branches.
Flowers unisexual, 4-merous, regular, fragrant; pedicel 0–1.5 mm long; sepals triangular, c. 0.7 mm long; petals oblong, c. 2.5 mm × c. 1 mm, apex obtuse, greenish; male flowers with 4 stamens, filaments white; female flowers with short staminodes, ovary superior, carpel 1, stigma rounded.
Fruit an almost globose follicle c. 7 mm in diameter, mucronate, pale yellow to red, glandular pitted, 1-seeded.
Seed ovoid, 4.5–5 mm long, black and shiny.

Other botanical information

Zanthoxylum is pantropical and comprises about 200 species, with tropical America being richest in species. Mainland Africa harbours about 35 species, whereas about 5 species are endemic to Madagascar, and 2 to the Mascarene Islands. Several other Zanthoxylum species are medicinally used in Madagascar and in the Indian Ocean islands.

Zanthoxylum decaryi

Zanthoxylum decaryi H.Perrier is endemic to Madagascar. The very bitter stem bark is taken to treat severe body pain, especially back-ache and arthritis. The crushed stem bark is also applied externally to painful areas of the body. From the stem bark the alkaloids dictamnine, skimmianine, 4-methoxy-1-methylquinolone and decarine were isolated. The compounds isomultiflorenol, 1-asarinine, β-sitosterol and 6,7-dimethoxycoumarine were also isolated. The leaves and fruits smell strongly of lavender. The essential oils from different plant parts yielded complex mixtures of compounds. The major compound of the seeds and stem bark is citronellyl acetate and of the leaves and fruits linalool. The wood is used for house construction. It has become rare because of habitat destruction and overharvesting.

Zanthoxylum heterophyllum

Zanthoxylum heterophyllum (Lam.) Smith (‘bois de poivre’) occurs in Réunion and Mauritius. In Réunion a stem bark decoction is taken as a sudorific, purgative, tonic and stomachic and also to treat rheumatism, kidney pain and dysentery. Ash of the stem bark is inserted in decaying teeth to relieve pain. A decoction of the powdered leafy stem is taken to increase milk flow of nursing mothers. A leaf decoction is externally applied to skin irritations. The fruit has a peppery taste. The wood was formerly used for house construction. It is critically endangered in Mauritius, endangered in Réunion and extinct in Rodrigues. Multiplication techniques are needed to save the species from extinction in Mauritius. There is a spectacular difference in type of leaves on young plants and adult plants.

Zanthoxylum paniculatum

Zanthoxylum paniculatum Balf.f. is endemic to Rodrigues. A leaf infusion is considered soothing to the nervous system. A leaf and bark decoction was formerly used as a wash to clean wounds. It is critically endangered nowadays as only 3 specimens are known in the wild, which were seen flowering last in the 1970s. Propagation techniques are tried out to save the species from extinction.

Ecology

Zanthoxylum madagascariense occurs in humid forest, usually on mountain slopes, at (200–)600–2000 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Zanthoxylum madagascariense is relatively widespread in Madagascar, but is relatively rare. Habitat destruction is probably its largest threat.

Prospects

Zanthoxylum madagascariense contains compounds with interesting pharmacological activities. However, a thorough chemical analysis of all plant parts is needed, as well as further pharmacological evaluation of the compounds. As the alkaloids present in all plant parts are very toxic, a safety profile needs to be established. The Zanthoxylum species from Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands are relatively rare or even critically endangered, and therefore need to be protected.

Major references

Martin, M.T., Rasoanaivo, L.H. & Raharisololalao, A., 2005. Phenanthridine alkaloids from Zanthoxylum madagascariense. Fitoterapia 76(6): 590–593.

Pachon, G., Rasoanaivo, H., Azqueta, A., Rakotozafy, J.C., Raharisololalao, A., Lopez de Cerain, A., De Lapuente, J., Borras, M., Moukha, S., Centelles, J.J., Creppy, E.E. & Cascante, M., 2007. Anticancer effect of a new benzophenanthridine isolated from Zanthoxylum madagascariense (Rutaceline). In Vivo 21(2): 417–422.

Perrier de la Bâthie, H., 1950. Rutacées (Rutaceae). Flore de Madagascar et des Comores (plantes vasculaires), familles 104–105. Firmin-Didot et cie., Paris, France. 89 pp.

Randrianarivelojosia, M., Rasidimanana, V.T., Rabarison, H., Cheplogoi, P.K., Ratsimbason, M., Mulholland, D.A. & Mauclère, P., 2003. Plants traditionally prescribed to treat tazo (malaria) in the eastern region of Madagascar. Malaria Journal 2: 25. [Internet] Open Access article. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=184444. October 2006.

Rasoanaivo, H.L., 2006. Contribution à l’étude chimique de Zanthoxylum madagascariensis Baker et Zanthoxylum thouvenotii H. Perr., Rutaceae: mise en evidence de l’activité molluscicide de décarine, alcaloïde caractéristique des Zanthoxylum de Madagascar. Thèse de Doctorat en Chimie, Spécialité produits naturels, Département de Chimie Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar. 109 pp.

Other references

Andriamihaja, S., 1984. Essai d’inventaire des plantes médicino-dentaires malgaches. Bulletin de l’Académie Malgache Madagascar. pp. 171–227.

Andrianavalonirina, M.A., 2002. Contribution à l’étude de l’huile essentielle des feuilles de Vepris sp. (Rutaceae), nouvelle espèce endémique de Madagascar. Mémoire en vue de l’obtention du CAPEN, Département Formation Initiale Scientifique, Centre d’étude et de recherche (CER) - Physique Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar. 85 pp.

Bone, R., 2004. A proposal for rare plant rescue: Zanthoxylum paniculatum Balf. Fil. (Rutaceae), endemic to Rodrigues. [Internet] International Dendrology Society http://www.dendrology.org/ Documents/ IDS_04_pp56_61_Zanthoxylum.pdf. December 2010.

Coode, M.J.E., 1979. Rutacées. In: Bosser, J., Cadet, T., Julien, H.R. & Marais, W. (Editors). Flore des Mascareignes. Familles 64–68. The Sugar Industry Research Institute, Mauritius, l’Office de la Recherche Scientifique Outre-Mer, Paris, France & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 37 pp.

Gurib-Fakim, A. & Brendler, T., 2004. Medicinal and aromatic plants of Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes. Medpharm, Stuttgart, Germany. 568 pp.

Gurib-Fakim, A., Guého, J. & Bissoondoyal, M.D., 1997. Plantes médicinales de Maurice, tome 3. Editions de l’Océan Indien, Rose-Hill, Mauritius. 471 pp.

Gurib-Fakim, A., Guého, J., Sewraj, M.D. & Dulloo, E., 1994. Plantes médicinales de l’île Rodrigues. Editions de l’Océan Indien, Rose-Hill, Mauritius. 580 pp.

Lavergne, R., 2001. Le grand livre des tisaneurs et plantes médicinales indigènes de la Réunion. Editions Orphie, Chevagny sur Guye, France. 522 pp.

Ravaoarline, L., 1998. Ravitaillement de Tuléar en bois de construction. Mémoire de maîtrise, Faculté de Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Unité de l’Enseignement et de Recherche de Géographie, Université Maninday, Toliara, Madagascar. 106 pp.

Vaquette, J., Pousset, J.L., Paris, R.R. & Cave, A., 1975. Essential oils of Zanthoxylum decaryi. Plantes Médicinales et Phytothérapie 9(4): 315–320.

Author(s)

G.H. Schmelzer, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Schmelzer, G.H., 2011. Zanthoxylum madagascariense Baker. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 23 April 2026.

See the Prota4U database.