Zanthoxylum piperitum, or synonymously known as Fagara piperita, is a deciduous tree grown in East Asia, especially Korea, Japan, and China. Commonly known as Japanese pepper, its fruit is widely used as a spice in Japanese cuisine to suppress unpleasant fishy and meaty odors and to produce a fresh flavor. Fruit peels and leaves are used in Japan to preserve foods. In Korea, Z. piperitum has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

The fruits and leaves of Z. piperitum are reported to contain aliphatic acid amides, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other phenolic compounds. A glycoprotein isolated from Z. piperitum showed anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. The fruits and leaves of Z. piperitum showed anti-oxidant and hepatoprotective effects.