title: Searching for novel cancer chemopreventive plants and their products: the genus Zanthoxylum.
abstract: The genus Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) comprises about 250 species, of which many are used as food, often as condiments, substituting pepper due to the pungent taste of fruits, seeds, leaves, and bark, and therapeutic remedies especially in Eastern Asian countries and in Central America. The whole plant is also consumed as an ingredient of soups and salads. The aim of this review is to examine in detail from a phytochemical and pharmacological point of view what is reported in the current literature about the anti-cancer and chemopreventive properties of phytopreparations or individual active compounds obtained from edible plants belonging to this genus.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Universita "G. D'Annunzio" di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti Scalo, Italy. fepifano@unich.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Epifano
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curini
authors.forename: Maria Carla
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marcotullio
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genovese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D017365:Spices; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic