Biological role of Piper nigrum L. (Black pepper): A review

Piper nigrum is famous as the spices king due to its pungent quality[1]. Piper nigrum (P.nigrum) L. is a member of family Piperaceae[2-4]. The genus piper has more than 1000 species but the most well known species are P.nigrum, P.longum and P.betle; 51 cultivars of p. nigrum have been reported from the tropical and subtropical regions of India [5]. P.nigrum fruits are also used to produce white pepper and green pepper and are valued due the presence of piperine including its different isomers[6]. Black pepper can be used for different purposes such as human dietaries, as medicine, as preservatives, as biocontrol agents[1, 8, 9]. This plant and its active component piperine can stimulate the digestive enzymes of pancreas and intestines and also increases biliary bile acid secretion when orally administrated[7]. Some reports have been demonstrated that black pepper consumption in humans increased orocecal transit time[10-11]. Piperine prevents and minimize diarrhea produced by various oil and chemicals and also reduce intestinal fluid accumo-latin in mouse intestine[11]. The active agents of P. nigrum activates the epithelial cells in rat jejunum to permeates the uptake of various amino acids through the activation of membranes, enhance the production of proteins which are later used for the formation of cytoskeleton system due to surface adsorption property. This valuable specie also has the power to minimize different mutations like ethylcarbamte induced mutation in Drosophila. As compare to mutation, black pepper also reduced tumor formation in mice such as Ehrlich ascites tumour and Doltons lymphoma cells[12-14]. Other related activities included Anti-inflammatory activity, thermogenic action, growth stimulatory activity, anti-thyroid activity and chemopreventive[15]. Secondary metabolites from P. nigrum play defensive role against infections by microbes, insects and animals[16-17]. ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT