PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

DESCRIPTION

<£. Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the berries, which

have been freed from the pericarp, and the dried berry-like

fruit, which has been collected before ripening.

Flower and Fruit: The inflorescences are pendulous, axillary

spikes 5 to 15 cm long containing over 100 inconspicuous

white florets. The florets have 1 large ovary with 3 stigmas,

2 stamens and a reduced perianth. Red berry-like drupes

form the 30 to 50 flowers, which are fertilized.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is actually a liane, which

in cultivation is trained on posts or wire. It can grow to over

6 m. The stem is strong and woody, and the leaves are

cordate, glossy and pale green. The leaves are 5 to 10 cm

wide, 8 to 18 cm long and are on 5 cm long petioles.

Habitat: The plant grows wild in southern India and is

cultivated in tropical Asia and the Caribbean.

Production: Black Peppers are the dried fruits of Piper
™ nigrum, harvested before ripening. The whole ears are
plucked and separated from the spindles that have been
dried, or the fruit is first brushed from the spindles and then
dried. Once the shell has been removed, the green stone-fruit
is sun-dried or roasted, after which it blackens.

Not to be Confused With: Foreign fruits of the Piperacae

family. It is most frequently confused with peppershells,

pepper spindles or stiles, i.e. by-products of the extraction of

white pepper from black pepper.

Other Names: Piper, Pepper Bark

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (1.2-2.6%): chief components- sabinene (15-

25%), limonene (15-20%), caryophyllene (10-15%), beta-

pinene (10-12%), alpha-pinene (8-12%), delta3-carene (5%)

Acid amides (pungent substances): chief components- piper-

ine, additionally including among others piperylin, pipero-

lein A and B, cumaperine

3,4-dihydroxy phenyl ethanol glycosides (substratum for the

enzymatic black colouring of the fresh fruits)

Polysaccharides (45%)

Fatty oil (10%)

EFFECTS

The drug stimulates the thermal receptors and increases

secretion of saliva and gastric mucous. It has an antimicro-

BLACK PEPPER/ 103

bial effect. It influences liver and metabolic functions, and

has an insecticidal effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Folk medicine uses include stomach disor-

ders and digestion problems, neuralgia and scabies.

Chinese Medicine: Black Pepper is used for vomiting,

diarrhea and gastric symptoms in China.

Indian Medicine: Indian uses include arthritis, asthma, fever,

coughs, catarrh, dysentery, dyspepsia, flatulence, hemor-

rhoids, hiccoughs, urethral discharge and skin damage.

Homeopathic Uses: Piper nigrum is used for irritation of the

mucous membranes and galactorrhea.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Black Pepper is used internally for

stomach disorders and externally as an irritant ointment for

neuralgia and scabies.

Daily Dosage: Single doses range from 0.3 to 0.6 gm. The

daily dosage is 1.5 gm.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 to 10 drops, 1 tablet or 5 to 10

globules 1 to 3 times a day or from D4: 1 ml injection

solution sc twice weekly (HAB1).

LITERATURE

Atal CK et al., (1975) Lloydia 38:256.

Freist W, Der scharfe Geschmack des Pfeffers - Ein altes

Ratsel, nur teilweise gelost. In: Chemie i.u. Zeit 23(3): 135-142.

1991.

Kapil A, Piperine. A Potent Inhibitor of Leishmania donovani

Promastigotes in vitro. In: PM 59(5):474. 1993.

Koul IB, Kapil A. Evaluation of the Liver Protective Potential

of Piperine, an Active Principle of Black and Long Peppers. In:

PM 59(5):413. 1993.

Raina ML et al., (1976) Planta Med 30:198.

Richard ML et al., (1976) J Food Sci 36:584.

Schroder, Buch. In: Schroder R: Kaffee, Tee und Kardamom,

Ulmer-Verlag, Stuttgart. 1991.

Traxter JT, (1971) J Agric Food Chem 19:1135.

Further information in:

Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Vol. 1. 2nd Ed.

Pub. CRC Press Boca Raton 1975.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.