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Exploring the Medicinal Benefits of Filfil Darāz (Piper longum L.): Insights from Unani Medicine and Modern Perspectives
Abstract
Backround: Filfil Darāz (Piper longum L.) is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Piperaceae family, is therapeutically used in many traditional systems of medicine, such as Unani, Ayurveda, Siddha, etc. Purpose of Review: This review's primary goal is to investigate data on Piper longum botanical description, Pharmacognostic characteristics, phytochemicals, and therapeutic uses. This information will ultimately help Unani and other scientists plan various studies for additional research on this significant medicinal plant. Materials and Methods: This systemic review was done through an extensive literature survey of Unani classical and other ethnobotanical literature and published research work available on various search engines viz., Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc. Result: Piper longum L. is the accepted botanical name of Filfil Darāz, long pepper, Pīplamūl as referred in Unani and other traditional medicines. It is grown in Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Philippines. In India, the plant is found in the lower hills of West Bengal, the Khasi hills, the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats from Konkan to Kerala, and the Nicobar Islands, it is also found in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Karnataka. Usually, the fruit of this important medicinal plant is therapeutically used for various ailments, including indigestion, constipation, dysentery, neurogenic gastralgia, skin diseases, nervine weakness, weakness of stomach, flatulence, amenorrhea, dribbling of urine, etc. It contains many important secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, esters, piperine, steroids, and essential oils, etc., which have been reported to possess antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anthelminthic, mosquito-larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-asthmatic, cardioprotective, anti-snake-venom neuro-pharmacological, immunomodulation, antiarthritic and antiulcer and lipidemic agents. Conclusion: Numerous bioactive chemicals that have been isolated and extracted from piper longum have been found to have potential therapeutic benefits for various bodily systems.
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Piper longum (family Piperaceae), commonly known as “long‐pepper” or “Pippali” grows as a perennial shrub or as an herbaceous vine. It is native to the Indo‐Malaya region and widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical world including the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Middle‐East, and America. The fruits are mostly used as culinary spice and preservatives and are also a potent remedy in various traditional medicinal systems against bronchitis, cough, cold, snakebite, and scorpion‐sting and are also used as a contraceptive. Various bioactive‐phytochemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, esters, and steroids were identified from the plant extracts and essential oils from the roots and fruits were reported as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anthelminthic, mosquito‐larvicidal, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, anticancer, neuro‐pharmacological, antihyperglycaemic, hepato‐protective, antihyperlipidaemic, antiangiogenic, immunomodulatory, antiarthritic, antiulcer, antiasthmatic, cardioprotective, and anti‐snake‐venom agents. Many of its pharmacological properties were attributed to its antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects and its ability to modulate a number of signalling pathways and enzymes. This review comprehensively encompasses information on habit, distribution, ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of P. longum in relation to its medicinal importance and health benefits to validate the traditional claims supported by specific scientific experiments. In addition, it also discusses the safety and toxicity studies, application of green synthesis and nanotechnology as well as clinical trials performed with the plant also elucidating research gaps and future perspectives of its multifaceted uses.
The spectacular thrust and inquisitiveness of the present-day world have resulted in an incredible scientific approach regarding herbal medicine potential. The importance of herbal medicine has witnessed a tremendous expansion because of its significant effective and safe medications, especially in chronic and long-standing ailments. Filfil daraz ( Piper longum L.) or long pepper, is a herb with enormous therapeutic benefits. Its beneficial actions are HÄá¸im (digestive), MuqawwÄ«-i-MiÊ»da (stomachic), and KÄsir-i- RiyÄḥ (carminative). Since ages, Unani physicians used this herb for several disorders like BalghamÄ« khansi (Phlegmatic cough), FÄlij (Paralysis), Laqwa (Facial palsy), Mirgi (Epilepsy), Niqris (Gout), ‘Irq al-NasÄ (Sciatica), and QÅ«lanj (Colitis) etc. Literature survey revealed countless important phytoconstituents namely alkaloids such as piperine, volatile oil, esters and resins. Moreover, many plant parts have shown distinct activities like analgesic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, immunomodulatory activities in quite a lot of in-vivo and in-vitro studies. The present review delivers a comprehensive description of Piper longum L., its ethnobotanical uses, and recent scientific studies. New research avenues are open for future research endeavours for phytochemical studies and preclinical and clinical trials to explore its medicinal importance.
The pippali of Ayurveda botanically known as Piper longum L. is one of the economically valued plants, the fruits and roots of which are used widely in the preparation of traditional herbal medicines as well as in various modern drugs. The Ayurvedic medicine system has been heavily dependent on its use since time immemorial. Dried or powdered forms of the fruits and roots are sold at Rs 350 to 3000 per kg, at the national and international markets. Supply of the raw materials is still dependent on the wild source as the existing cultivation and management practices are not adequate to fulfill the demand. If utilized, it may become one of the most important components of agroforestry systems in the tropical and subtropical warm humid climate of the country that may generate up to approximately Rs 130,000 as an additional income to the farmers.
Traditional plant based compounds are seeking more attention in pharmaceutical companies to treat incurable diseases as they have no side effect, ease of recovery in large amount and high magnitude of activity. The present study deals with anti-viral assay of methanolic and chloroform extract from seeds of Piper longum and Piper nigrum which are commonly used in food. From the seeds of Piper longum and Piper nigrum chloroform and methanolic extracts were collected by reflux method and extracts were evaluated against Vesicular stomatitis virus and human para influenza virus on HeLa cell lines. Cytotoxicity assay was carried out by MTT assay and LDH measurement. Anti-viral activity of Piper nigrum in chloroform extract showed higher activity than Piper nigrum in methanolic extract against Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus and Human para influenza virus on HeLa cell line. Piper longum in methanolic extract showed higher anti-viral activity than in chloroform extract against both viruses. Cytotoxicity assay of Piper longum treatment showed significant dose-dependent inhibition of growth of HeLa cells at IC 50 values of 46.24, 33.43 and 38.49 µg/ml at 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation respectively. Similarly, extract of Piper nigrum treatment also showed inhibition of growth of HeLa cells at IC 50 values of 551.58, 24.18 and 17.47 µg/ml at 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation respectively. LDH measurement showed 100% of inhibition at 260 mg/ml for both extracts of Piper nigrum. Piper longum in methanolic extract showed 100% of inhibition at 240 mg/ml and no activity were observed in the case of chloroform extract. These results suggest that both Piper longum and Piper nigrum have significant anti-viral and anti-cancer activity in HeLa cells. HPTLC analysis of both the pepper in chloroform extract at 254nm and 366 nm was done which produces different bands. At 254 nm resolutions of bands were poor and at 366 nm well resolved bands with different intensity of color of bands confirmed the presence of piperidine.
Herbs orchestrate resurgence and vegetal awakening is supervened everywhere in the world. Medicinal plants always played an important role in the health development of mankind. Piper longum provides us new lead molecules for the development of drugs against various pharmacological targets. Plants included in this family are annual and persistent herbs or shrubs, indigenous to northern moderate stretch of the world. Piper longum is well known for its medicinal and pharmaceutical importance. In this review studies we will want to explore the various pharmacological properties of Piper longum in Unani system of medicine. Evidence suggests that various listed of Unani Medicine formulated with the Piper longum among these few are tablet, capsule, syrup and semi-solid etc. The primary constituents isolated from various parts of P. longum are piperine, piperlongumine, sylvatin, sesamin, diaeudesmin piperlonguminine, pipermonaline, and piperundecalidine. It is most commonly used to treat chronic bronchitis, asthma, constipation, gonorrhea, paralysis of the tongue, diarrhea, cholera, chronic malaria, viral hepatitis, respiratory infections, stomachache, bronchitis, diseases of the spleen, cough, and tumors. This study provides detailed information about the P. longum fruit, including phytochemistry, pharmacological profile and safety profile. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2019, 5(1): 1-7
Several species of Piper are used in indigenous system of medicine in India. The root
(Pippalimula) and fruit(Pippali) of Piper longum Linn. is possessing high therapeutic
virtues. According to Ayurved system of medicine, the Piper longum Linn. roots are
pungent and having heating, stomachic, laxative, anthelmintic and carminative properties.
It improves the appetite and useful in bronchitis, abdominal pain, disease of the spleen
and tumors. According to Unani system, root has a bitter, hot and sharp taste and used as
carminative, hepato-protactive, stomachic, abortificient, haematinic, diuretic, digestive
and as a general tonic. It also cures inflammation of the liver, pains in the joint, lumbago,
snakebite, scorpion-sting and night-blindness. Plant Pippali is cultivated and also
imported from other countries as it is highly demanded in pharmaceutical industries. It is
reported as endangered species in some states. The cultivation practice of Piper longum
Linn. is necessary to overcome its requirement in Pharmaceutics as its highly used plant
for classical formulations. On experimental level, Pippalimula is reported having
analgesic, antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities. Also, the fruit and root
extract of Piper longum along with ciprofloxacin showed good synergistic activity
against MRSA. P.longum roots along with E. ribes seeds pregnancy showed antifertility
activity in female albino rats. Further scientific validations and clinical trials may sustain
the classical claims regarding the root of Piper longum Linn.
The fruits of Piper longum Linn, are used in allergic skin disorders and asthma. The effect of petroleum ether, alcoholic and decoction of the fruits of P. longum was studied for antihistaminic activity using Guinea pig ileum preparation (in vitro), histamine induced bronchospasm in Guinea pigs and haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice (in vivo). Its anti-allergic activity was evaluated using milk induced leukocytosis in mice and passive paw anaphylaxis in rats (in vivo). The extracts (100 μg mL -1) significantly (p<0.01) inhibited the histamine induced contraction of isolated Guinea-pig ileum preparation. The extracts (50, 100, 200 mg kg -1) showed the significant (p<0.01) activity and increase in dose of extract increased the % protection in histamine induced bronchospasm and also showed significant (p<0.01) activity in haloperidol induced catalepsy and passive paw anaphylaxis. In milk-induced leukocytes, petroleum ether and decoction extract (200 mg kg -1) showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in number of leukocytes and alcoholic extract didn't show any significant effect.
Piper longum, belonging to the family Piperaceae, have been reported to have pharmacological and clinical importance. The present study was undertaken to compare the in vitro antioxidant and antimycobacterial activity of chloroform, ethyl-acetate, hexane, ethanol, hydro-ethanol and aqueous extracts of seeds of Piper longum in order to establish the most active extract for further study. All the six extracts were screened for antioxidant activity using in vitro screening models viz. scavenging activity of DPPH radical, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical; reductive ability and ABTS assay. Ascorbic acid served as reference standard. The extracts were also screened for antimycobacterial activities against M. smegmatis in order to authenticate the folklore claims of its use against non tuberculous bacteria. Various plant secondary metabolites were found to be present in the extracts in different proportions. Mycobacterium smegmatis (non-tuberculous bacteria) was found to be sensitive against chloroform (PC), ethanol (PE), ethyl-acetate (PEA) and hexane (PH) extracts. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of different extracts were in the increasing order of PC>PE=PH>PEA. MIC of PC, PH, PE, PEA was found to be 8, 16, 16 and 32 mg/mL, respectively and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was calculated as 20.23, 33.43, 36.23 and 64.09 mg/mL, respectively. Chloroform extract of Piper longum (PC) showed the highest in vitro antioxidant activity as well as antimycobacterial activity.
Background:
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycaemia and other symptoms like polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger) which ultimately causes various other complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and microangiopathy.
Objectives:
The antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of oil from Piper longum (PLO) and piperine was investigated with their possible mechanism using α-glucosidase, aldose reductase (AR), and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity.
Methods:
The biochemical parameters, viz. glucose level, insulin level, liver glycogen content, glycosylated hemoglobin, total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and antioxidant parameters, were estimated for all treated groups in acute and chronic antihyperglycemic animal models.
Results:
PLO (100 and 200 mg/kg), piperine (25 and 50 mg/kg), and glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg) in respective groups of diabetic animals administered for 28 days reduced the blood glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. There was significant increase in body weight, liver glycogen content, plasma insulin, and high-density lipoprotein and decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, triglyceride, and total plasma cholesterol in PLO-administered groups as compared to control group. The IC50 value of PLO for α-glucosidase, AR, and pancreatic lipase was found to be 150 ± 2.5, 120 ± 1.2, and 175 ± 1.2 μg/ml, respectively, which was found comparable with the standard drugs acarbose (90 ± 2.3 μg/ml), quercetin (80 ± 2.3 μg/ml), and orlistat (25 ± 0.5 μg/ml), respectively.
Conclusion:
The investigation done reveals that PLO has significant antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity.