Abstract
Zanthoxylum nitidum is a traditional Chinese herb, but limited information is available concerning its composition and pharmacological effects of essential oils from different parts of Z. nitidum. This study examined the composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of essential oils from different parts of Z. nitidum in China. The results indicate that the highest essential oil extraction rate was obtained from the pericarps (0.42%), primarily consisting of caryophyllene oxide (15.33%), nerolidol 2 (14.03%), and spathulenol (9.64%). This was followed by the leaves (0.21%), stems (0.09%), and roots (0.05%), with the highest content in their essential oils being caryophyllene (27.03%), cadina-1(10),4-diene (25.76%), and benzyl benzoate (17.11%), respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that, compared with the essential oils from stems and leaves, the essential oils from roots and pericarps showed relatively smaller differences and were usually clustered into one category. The leaf essential oil has the highest in vitro antioxidant activity, followed by the root, pericarp, and stem. This study aims to provide a scientific reference for the rational development and utilization of different parts of Z. nitidum, especially the leaf essential oil.