Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
PIPER GUINEENSE
Botanical Name —
Piper guineense
Schum. et Thonn.
Common Names —
Bush pepper, West African black pepper, Ashanti pepper, Guinea pepper
Family —
Piperaceae
African Names —
Anang: okurusa; Arab (Shuwa): shitta masoro; Ashanti: soro-wisa; Bambara:
niamaku; Bakwari (Bota): indoko; Bakundu (Balondo, Batanga): ndonga; Diola: funkungen; Efik:
eti-nkeni; Ewe: kale, asonsa; Fanti: sasima; Fulani: chitta masoro; Hausa: masoro; Igbo: uziza;
Kanuri: ngolo imassoro; Malinke: fefe; Mano: za wele; Mende: komasimi, neni; Twi: sesaa, asonsa;
Yoruba: iyere, ata iyere
Description —
Piper guineense
is a slender climber, up to 12 m high, with prominent nodes
and clasping roots. The leaves are elliptical in shape, about 15 cm long and 7 cm broad. They are
pointed at the apex and rounded and up to 5-nerved at the base. The leaves when crushed have a
pleasant aroma. The flowers are small, borne on common stalks as clusters opposite the leaves or at
the terminals of the stem and branches. The fruits occur as racemes and are red or red-brown and
turn black when dry.
Habitat and Distribution —
Piper guineense
is found in high forest area; it occupies forest
clearings and clings on remaining trees in secondary forests. It is widely distributed.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
The black berries are used as spice to flavor soup. The oil distilled
from them is used for perfumery and soap making. The leaves are used to regulate the menstrual
cycle and as an ingredient in remedies for female infertility. The weak decoction of the leaves and
fresh fruits is used as a cough remedy. The seeds are stomachic and carminative and are indicated
especially for gripping stomachaches.
9
The plant is a reputed antibacterial agent, and the roots and
fruits are incorporated in preparations for the treatment of infectious diseases. The roots are listed
for gonorrhea, bronchitis, syphilis, and colds; the leaves are applied to wounds; and the seeds are
dispensed for bronchial infections. The pulverized seeds are used as an insecticide, and the whole
fruit is extracted and employed externally as a stimulating ointment or as a counterirritant.
Constituents —
Several lignans have been reported from the plant, including aschantine and
yangambine.
78
The roots yield piperine, trichostachine, and lignans, and the leaves contain the lig-
nin dihydrocubebin.
865
The essential oil obtained from the berries has been shown to consist mainly
of phellandrene, pinene, and limonene.
866,867
A phytochemical analysis of the fruits led to the isola-
tion of several amide piperines, including sylvatine,
N
-isobutyloctadeca-
trans
-4-dienamide, Δα,β-
dihydropiperlonguminine, Δα,β-dihydropiperine, and trichostachine.
868,869
The plant also contains
the pyrrolidine amide wisanidine, pipreidine amides, dihydrowisanine,
870
dihydropiperine,
874
wisa-
nine,
871,872
and
N-
formyl piperine.
873
Pharmacological Studies —
The amides have been shown to possess antimicrobial, anticon-
vulsant, antihypertensive, sedative, tranquilizing, and insecticidal properties.
874
P. guineense
seeds
