Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 249, Traditional medicine, Subcommittee SC 1, Traditional Chinese medicine.

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Introduction

Zanthoxylum nitidum root (the Chinese Pinyin name: Liang-Mian-Zhen) is the dried root of Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC., which is known in China as Liang-Mian-Zhen. It is mainly distributed in southern China and Viet Nam. Zanthoxylum nitidum root and its products are sold in China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Uganda, and many other countries. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating stomachache, toothache, rheumatic arthralgia, traumatic injury, and venomous snake bites. Additional medical applications include the treatment of inflammations, various types of cancer, bacterial and viral infections, gastric and oral ulcers, and liver damage.

Zanthoxylum nitidum root contains a variety of effective chemical components, including alkaloids, coumarins, lignans, sterols, flavonoids, and volatile oils, among which alkaloids have the highest content, accounting for about 0,7 %. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Zanthoxylum nitidum root has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-tumour effects. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Zanthoxylum nitidum root are widely used in the treatment of bruises, stomach pain, toothache, and rheumatism.

The alkaloids are the main active components of Zanthoxylum nitidum root. Nitidine chloride is one of the most frequently used alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum root to study its various pharmacological effects.

At the same time, studies have also shown that the alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum root have a certain degree of toxicity and can cause toxic effects such as hepatocyte toxicity, renal cytotoxicity, developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity.

On the market, the quality of Zanthoxylum nitidum root is uneven. There are forgeries and adulterations. The common forgeries and confused products of Zanthoxylum nitidum root are the stem of Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. and roots from the plants of Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam., Zanthoxylum armatum DC., Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum Hemsl. var. spinifolium Rehd.et Wils..

The quality evaluation of Zanthoxylum nitidum root in Chinese Pharmacopoeia has inspection items that are different from Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. prodr. var. tomentosum Huang..

The development of standards for the quality and safety control of Zanthoxylum nitidum root can provide a reference for better development and use of Zanthoxylum nitidum root. Moreover, Zanthoxylum nitidum root is ranked no. 94 in the priority list of single herbal medicines for developing standards in ISO/TR 23975 .^[ 1 ^] Thus, it is essential to develop an International Standard for Zanthoxylum nitidum root to ensure the consistency in the quality of Zanthoxylum nitidum root, which can contribute to the safe use of this herb and also promote the international trade.

In this document, the identification of commonly adulterated species of Zanthoxylum nitidum root is also introduced.

As national implementation can differ in different countries, national standards bodies are invited to modify the values given in 5.8 and 5.10 in their national standards. Examples of national and regional values are given in Annex C.

1 Scope

This document specifies the minimum requirements and test methods for Zanthoxylum nitidum root.

This document applies to Zanthoxylum nitidum root sold and used as Chinese materia medica (whole medicinal materials) and decoction pieces derived from this plant.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Description

5 Requirements and recommendations

5.1 General characteristics

5.2 Morphological features of root

5.3 Microscopic identification

5.4 Thin-layer chromatogram (TLC) identification

5.5 Moisture

5.6 Total ash

5.7 Ethanol-soluble extractives

5.8 Heavy metals

5.9 Pesticide residues

5.10 Marker compounds

6 Sampling

7 Test methods

7.1 Macroscopic identification

7.2 Microscopic identification

7.3 Thin-layer chromatogram (TLC) identification

7.4 Determination of moisture

7.5 Determination of total ash

7.6 Toddalolactone identification

7.7 Determination of ethanol-soluble extractives

7.8 Determination of heavy metals

7.9 Determination of pesticide residues

7.10 Determination of marker compounds

8 Test report

9 Packaging, storage and transportation

10 Marking and labelling

Bibliography

ISO 24902:2026

Traditional Chinese medicine. Zanthoxylum nitidum root

Current

Published:

11 Aug 2026

1 Scope