Zanthoxylum coco

<h2 id="description">Description</h2>
<p>The coco, also cochucho or smelly sauco, is usually found either in isolated groups or standing alone, from a small to medium-sized tree, ranging from 6 to 8 metres in height. The foliage is abundant, <a href="/facts/Evergreen/bcLptUdV">evergreen</a> with <a href="/facts/Imparipinnate/1tm6hMyo">imparipinnate</a> leaves that present paired spines presumably in the place of leaflets. Punctations, in pairs, on the leaflets are quite distinctive. Leaves have serrated margins and pinnate venation. Flowers have five <a href="/facts/Petal/DQMkpRSm">petals</a> and are arranged in <a href="/facts/Paniculate/wG4oIXQU">paniculate</a> inflorescences. The fruit is spherically shaped, <a href="/facts/Dehiscence_(botany)/w5cbltMG">dehiscent</a>; containing a shiny blackish seed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a>
The whole plant has a characteristic unpleasant smell, hence the alternative name "smelly sauco".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="biochemistry">Biochemistry</h2>
<p>Even though unused in the general botanical pharmacopeia, <i>Zanthoxylum coco</i> tissues are very rich in <a href="/facts/Alkaloid/m6hUXohz">alkaloids</a>. γ-Fagarine, N-methylisocorydine, skimminianine, α-fagarine, fagarine-2, magnoflorine, <a href="/facts/Nitidine/jGJ664JU">nitidine</a>, chelerythrine, <a href="/facts/Berberine/BaPIowNa">berberine</a>, <a href="/facts/Palmatine/Itb3B1AH">palmatine</a> and <a href="/facts/Candicine/Dd3wvRA1">candicine</a> have been isolated from the foliage and wood.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="taxon-synonym-usage">Taxon synonym usage</h2>
<p>The <i>coco</i> belongs to the genus <i><a href="/facts/Zanthoxylum/rcppIlyW">Zanthoxylum</a></i>. However, most local scientific articles use <i>Fagara</i> as the genus name.
</p>

<ul><li>Hieronymus, G.: (1882), Plantae Diaphoricae Florae Argentinae - Bs. A.s, Ed. Kraft, 53 - 404 pp.</li>
<li>Domínguez, J. A.: (1928), Contribuciones a la Materia Médica Argentina, Bs. As., Ed. Peuser, 95 - 433 pp.</li>
<li>Stucker, G.V.: (1930), Contribución al estudio del Fagara coco, Congreso Internacional de Biología, Montevideo, Oct. 1930.</li>
<li>Fernández Rua, R.: (1933), El alcaloide de la corteza del Fagara coco: la fagaridina, Córdoba, folleto - 12 pp. y tablas.</li>
<li>Boelcke, O.: (1989) Plantas vasculares de la Argentina - Bs.As., Ed. H. Sur, 2da. reimpresión, 171 - 369 pp.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Stucker, G.V.: (1930), Contribución al estudio del Fagara coco, Congreso Internacional de Biología, Montevideo, Oct. 1930. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Fernández Rua, R.: (1933), El alcaloide de la corteza del Fagara coco: la fagaridina, Córdoba, folleto - 12 pp. y tablas. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Boelcke, O.: (1989) Plantas vasculares de la Argentina - Bs.As., Ed. H. Sur, 2da. reimpresión, 171 - 369 pp. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Zanthoxylum coco open-in-new

Zanthoxylum coco