Characterization of the pungent principles and the essential oil of Zanthoxylum schinifolium pericarp.

The pungent principles and the essential oil from the pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Rutaceae) have been investigated and compared to those of Z. bungeanum, the primary source of the traditional Chinese drug Huajiao (Pericarpium Zanthoxyli). HPLC-MS and HPLC-NMR analyses revealed an alkylamide profile highly similar to that of Z. bungeanum, with hydroxy-alpha-sanshool and hydroxy-beta-sanshool being in both plants the major constituents of the alkylamide fraction. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil showed that limonene was, like in Z. bungeanum, the main component (21%), followed by 4-terpineol, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpineol acetate, beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol and beta-linalool.