Plantes Médicinales & Aromatiques
Libre accès
ISSN: 2167-0412
ISSN: 2167-0412
Zoheir A Damanhouri and Aftab Ahmad
Medicinal plants are very popular in different traditional systems of medicines due to their diverse pharmacological potentials and lesser side effects in biological systems. Piper nigrum L. (Family Piperaceae) is a well known spice considered as ‘‘The King of spices’’ among various spices. It contains a pungent alkaloid ‘‘piperine’’ which is known to possess many pharmacological actions. Piperine increases bioavailability of many drugs and nutrients by inhibiting various metabolising enzymes. Piper nigrum L and its active constituent ‘’Piperine’’exhibits diverse pharmacological activities like antihypertensive, antiplatelet, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-asthmatics, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antispasmodic, antidepressants, immunomodulatory, anticonvulsant, anti-thyroids, antibacterial, antifungal, hepato-protective, insecticidal and larvicidal activities etc. The current review article is aimed to provide an updated literature review on recent advancement of pharmacognosy, chemistry and pharmacological activities of Piper nigrum L.