Research progress on chemical components of traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan pepper and its prevention and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders
The traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan pepper is the dried and mature skin of the Rutaceae plant Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. or Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. The surface of Sichuan pepper is gray green or dark green; Sichuan peppercorns are purple red or brownish red in color. Sichuan pepper has a long history of medicinal use, with functions such as warming the middle and dispelling cold, dehumidifying, relieving pain, and killing insects; Traditional Chinese medicine is commonly used in clinical practice to treat biliary roundworm disease, schistosomiasis, and pinworm disease; It is also used for lactation, pain relief, etc. Domestic and foreign scholars have conducted extensive research on the chemical components of Sichuan pepper, and found that Sichuan pepper mainly contains volatile oils, alkaloids, amides, coumarins, lignans and other chemical components. Shanjiaosu, also known as Sichuan pepper sesame extract, belongs to the amide class and is the main flavor substance of Sichuan pepper. Shanjiaosu can bind to various ion channels and receptors, exerting a wide range of biological effects. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have found that traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan peppercorns have significant effects in puzzle solving, antidepressant treatment, Alzheimer’s disease treatment, and pain relief. However, there is a lack of systematic induction and summary of their neurological activity and mechanism of action. This article summarizes the chemical composition of traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan pepper and the research progress on the pharmacological effects of Sichuan pepper on the central nervous system in the past decade, providing scientific basis and reference for the application of Sichuan pepper in neurological and psychiatric diseases.

Sichuan pepper, as a high-value plant resource, is widely used in the food industry, but its medicinal value still needs to be further developed. Chinese herbal medicine Sichuan pepper can enhance the activity of the cholinergic system, reduce the deposition of A β – amyloid protein, improve the body’s antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging ability, inhibit monoamine oxidase in the brain, etc. These pharmacological activities all indicate that Sichuan pepper has a bright prospect in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. In depth research on the neuroprotective mechanism of Sichuan pepper can provide new ideas and targets for the development of related drugs. The extensive neurological pharmacological activities exhibited by traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan pepper, especially its amide components, have received attention. However, it is unclear whether there is a connection between it and downstream pathways of related receptors or related receptors, as well as its structure-activity relationship; There are currently no related drugs or functional products on the market. Therefore, it is of great significance to thoroughly reveal the pharmacological substance basis and target of traditional Chinese medicine Sichuan pepper for drug research and development.