Active components, quality control, and molecular mechanisms of Zanthoxyli pericarpium in brain health

Chinese herbal medicine Zanthoxyli pericarpium (ZP), derived from the dried pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. or Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim., contains diverse bioactive constituents including volatile oils, alkaloids, amides, flavonoids and their glycosides, coumarins, and lignans. With a long history of clinical application in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ZP is renowned for its warming middle energizer, analgesic, insecticidal, and anti-pruritic properties. Recent studies have highlighted its remarkable therapeutic potential in brain health management, particularly the pharmacological effects of ZP and its active components on cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, anti-depressant activity, Alzheimer’s disease intervention, and pain relief, which have garnered significant scientific attention. This review comprehensively summarizes the neuroactive components, quality control methodologies, analytical techniques, brain health-improving pharmacological mechanisms, and associated therapeutic targets of ZP, aiming to provide a scientific foundation for its clinical application in preventing and treating brain health-related disorders.