Zanthoxylum americanum, commonly referred to as prickly ash or common prickly ash, is an aromatic shrub native to central and eastern North America. Pricky ash has been used for medicinal purposes by Native American tribes such as Cherokee, Chippewa, Iroquois, and Ojibwa. An infusion of bark was used as a wash to treat itching skin and to treat swollen joints. The bark infusions were also used for back pain, cramps, pulmonary problems, fevers, and as a cold and cough remedy. A poultice made from the inner bark was used to treat rheumatism and sharp pains.

Zanthoxylum has been studied for several types of biological activities, such as larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antibiotic, hepatoprotective, antiplasmodial, cytotoxic, antiproliferative, anthelminthic, antiviral, anticonvulsant, and antifungal. However, studies on Zanthoxylum americanum are limited. The genus Zanthoxylum has been found to contain coumarins and alkaloids and Zanthoxylum americanum was reported for its anti-fungal activity.