Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC (Andaliman): From Traditional Medicine to Modern Phytotherapy: A Review of Phytochemistry, Bioactivities, and Pharmaceutical Development

Abstract

Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC (Andaliman), a spice-bearing shrub native to North Sumatra, Indonesia, possesses a long history of traditional culinary and medicinal use. Its diverse phytochemical profile, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and saponins, forms the basis of its therapeutic potential. This review systematically compiles and analyzes in vitro and in vivo evidence for its broad-spectrum pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and wound-healing effects. The review emphasizes the correlation between solvent choice and bioactivity, the functions of key active compounds (e.g., limonene, quercetin, and fargesin), and elucidated therapeutic mechanisms. This work identifies critical research gaps in pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and formulation, proposing a strategic roadmap for translational research. This review provides a consolidated scientific foundation to guide the future development of Andaliman as a modern therapeutic agent and functional food ingredient.