Chromatographic isolation and estimation of zanthoxylol: an antisickling agent from the roots of Zanthoxylum species.

The roots of four species of Zanthoxylum were examined for the presence of zanthoxylol (2-dimethylallyl-4-(3-hydroxy-propyl)phenol) but only Z. zanthoxyloides was found to contain this substance. Purification was effected using Sephadex ionexchange resins; isolation and quantification were performed on reversed-phase HPLC columns. The identity was confirmed by UV, IR, NMR, GC and MS analysis. The zanthoxylol content was calculated as p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The possible chemotaxonomic value of the zanthoxylol content in Zanthoxylum species is speculated.