Research progress in the numb-taste components of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae)

The genus Zanthoxylum is commonly used in dishes as one of the eight cuisine condiments and seasonings as well as a tradition medicinal plant for bacteriostasis, narcosis, exciting, and so on. Unsaturated aliphatic acid amides in Zanthoxylum species are a sort of important active substances. The chemical constituents, the physiological mechanisms underlying paresthesias and extraction and separation methods of these alkylamides were summarized in this article. It also expected the developing prospect of the numb-taste components.