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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
Structural characterisation, bioactivity exploration, application, and technological innovation in sanshools
Cheng-Zhao Li1, Jun Wang2, Jun-Li Yang3
1CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Sanshools are natural α, β-unsaturated amides found in Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) that are key to its "numbing" and bioactivity properties. This article systematically elaborates on the structural characteristics, sources and applications of separation and analytical techniques for sanshools, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for improving their stability, targeted separation efficiency, and large-scale production. Additionally, the article reveals the pharmacological effects of sanshools, such as analgesia, photoprotection, and insecticidal properties, while evaluating their current applications, prospects, and key technical challenges in medicine, personal care products, food and agriculture. Furthermore, the article clarifies the molecular-level mechanism underlying the "numbing" sensation induced by sanshools, emphasizing its importance as an indicator in Zanthoxylum quality assessment. In summary, this work introduces the structural characteristics and biological activities of sanshools; and provides a systematic reference to advance the research and practical utilization of sanshools.
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