Family • Arecaceae
Paminta
Piper nigrum
BLACK PEPPER
Hu-chia
| Other scientific name | Other names |
| Piper glabrispicum | Malisa (Tag.) |
| Paminta (Tag.) | |
| Pamienta (Span.) | |
| Pepper (Engl.) | |
| Hu-chia (Chin.) |
| Botany · Stout climber with smooth branches, 2-3.5 mm in diamiter. · Leqaves are leathery, broadly ovate to oblongh-elliptic, 10-13 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, with pointed, rounded, or heart-shaped based, 7 plinerved, smooth on both surfaces. Rachis is hairy. Flowers are dioceous (having the male and female organs). Fruits are crowded, sessile, rounded and about 4 mm long, 3 mm wide, with 3-4 stigmas. Distribution Limited cultivation. Properties and chemical constituents The dried fruits furnish the black pepper of commerce. When the outer shell is removed, the product is white pepper. The pepper contains an active resin (oleoresin) responsible for the known pungent taste and aromatic odor. Contains an alkaloid piperine, 5 - 9%; piperidine, 5%; mesocarp contains chavicine. Considered acrid, rubifacient, stimulant, counterirritant, stomachic, carminative. Parts utilized Roots, leaves, seeds. Uses Folkloric Decoction used as mouthwash for toothache; rubifacient in alopeicia and skin diseases. Liniment used in rheumatism. Infusion used as gargle for afflictions of the throat. Juice of leaves boiled and applied externally for scabies. Ointment mixed with lard used againsst Tinea capitis. Mixed with brandy and anise, used as a febrifuge in malaria. Used in shellfish and mushroom poisoning. Mixed with honey and ginger, used by Malay as abortifacient. Roots used as antihelmintic. In Iraian traditional medicine, used to relieve menorrhagia in women. In Ayurveda, paste of black pepper is used for boils, piles, rheumatic pains, headache, prolapsed rectum, toothaches. Pepper is given for dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, cholea, cough, gonorrhea and malarial fever. Others Culinary: A kitchen essenntial; a condiment and spice since early times. Studies • Spasmolytic / Anti-menorrhagia: (1) There was spasmolytic effect of the black pepper extract probably through involved voltage dependent calcium channels and B-adrenoreceptors. (2) Spasmolytic Activity of Piper Nigrum Fruit Aqueous Extract on Rat Non-Pregnant Uterus: The results support the traditional use of black pepper for relief of menorrhagia. • Antispasmodic: Antispasmodic Effect of P Nigrum Fruit Hot Water Extract on Rat Ileum: Study showed spasmolytic effect on rat ileum probably mediated via Ca+ influx. • Analgesic: Analgesic Activity Of Piper Nigrum Extract Per Se And Its Interaction With Diclofenac Sodium And Pentazocine In Albino Mice: Piper nigrum alone did not show any significant analgesic activity. However PN extract significantly increased the analgesic activity of diclofenac sodium and pentazocine. • Pharmacognostical Studies: Root distillation yielded 0.39% essential oi, with a total yield of 0.79% piperine from the root. • Antibacterial: Study yielded an isobutyleicosatrienamide, pellitorine, trachone, pergumidiene and isopiperolein B. All the isolated compounds were active against B subtilis, B spaericus, K aerogenes and Chromobacterium violaceum. • Larvicidal : Study demonstrated the potential of P nigrum extracts against larvae of Cx quinquefasciatus and its benefits for the development of new cost-effective and environmentally friendly larvicide for mosquito control. • Antiepileptic : Study demonstrated anticonvulsant activity of the water extract of P nigrum attributed to an antagonistic action at NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors. • Antioxidant : Study showed both water extract and ethanol extract exhibited strong total antioxidant activity Availability Wild-crafted. |
