Bioassay-Guided Extraction and Isolation of Natural Herbicides from Dried Zanthoxylum limonella Alston Fruits

Weeds are problematic plant species around the world. Various strategies exist for controlling weeds, but chemical treatment remains the preferred method, particularly when using natural substances. In this research, a crude aqueous-methanol extract from dried Zanthoxylum limonella fruits was acid-base partitioned into four fractions: neutral extract (NE), acid extract (AE), basic extract (BE), and aqueous extract (AQ). These fractions were further separated into seventeen subfractions: NEF1 to NEF7, AEF1 to AEF5, and BEF1 to BEF5, which were then tested for herbicidal activity against the growth of Chinese amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli). Active subfractions were isolated via column chromatography and identified using spectroscopic methods, yielding seven active compounds: xanthoxyline (1), tambulin (2), atanine (3), prudomestin (4), skimmianine (5), p-methoxybenzoic acid (6), and methyl caffeate (7). Compounds 2–7 had not been previously reported in Z. limonella. Xanthoxyline (1) was identified as the most potent botanical herbicide, fully inhibiting seed germination of Chinese amaranth and barnyard grass. This compound also decreased seed imbibition and α-amylase activity in both species. Molecular docking studies on the α-amylase enzyme (PDB ID: 1BG9) revealed that the aromatic, hydroxy, and carbonyl groups of xanthoxyline (1) interact with the enzyme's active sites.