Piper longum Linn: Morphology, Distribution, Phytochemicals, Traditional uses and Pharmacological actions

Abstract

There are various therapeutic plants in this universe. These medicinal plants include a variety of phytochemical components that aid in the treatment of several ailments. These plants include Piper longum Linn, which belongs to the Piperaceae family. In its natural habitat, Piper longum is sometimes referred to as pippali and is more frequently called as long pepper. Indomalaya area is where Piper longum originally came from mostly grows naturally in tropical rain forests. The Kashi Hills, the lower hills of West Bengal, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are all the places in India where it is found. The Ayurvedic, Unani, and Sidha systems of medicine are the ones that employ Piper longum as the most commonly used medicinal herb. Piperine, piperlogumin, Piperlonguminine, sesamin etc are the main phytoconstituents of  piper longum. Chronic bronchitis, jaundice, stomachic, asthma, constipation, gonorrhoea, diarrhoea, cholera, chronic malaria, etc. are some of the ailments that Piper longum treats. The most recent activities of Piper longum that have been described include anti-depressant, anti-platelet, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, anti-fungal, immunological modulator, etc. This paper offers comprehensive details on the pharmacological profile, traditional use, and different documented actions of Piper longum Linn.