A Literature Review of Andaliman Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Properties

Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) is one of the typical spices of North Sumatra cuisine with limited usage. It is widely found in North Sumatra, at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. It grows wildly in the Tapanuli region and is used as a cooking ingredient in traditional Batak Angkola and Batak Mandailing cuisine. This article aims to explore secondary metabolite contents and pharmacological activities of Andaliman in vitro and in vivo. PRISMA protocol of reporting method was implemented. Articles were obtained from the last 10 years (January 2015 - January 2025) from Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, and NCBI with keywords of anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, and Andaliman. Research has shown Andaliman to possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. Its antioxidant properties were from alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids, which donate hydrogen atoms and increase SOD production. Its antibacterial properties were obtained from flavonoids and terpenoids. As an antifungal, Andaliman’s phenol acts by inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans and Candida krusei. By suppressing TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-9, COX-2, and iNOS in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), its anti-inflammatory properties were shown. Its alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and triterpenoids may also act as anticancer agents by inhibiting mitosis and triggering apoptosis in cancer cells. Furthermore, it can reduce blood glucose level with its flavonoid content (acting as an antioxidant and an α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitor) and saponin (Pancreas β-cell regeneration).