Long Peppers

Introduction: Piper Longum or Long Peppers are a flowering vine plant from the Piperaceae family that produce fruit that historically have been used in both culinary and medicinal contexts. Long Peppers thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, being a native of North East India, parts of the Himalayas and Indonesia. It was one of the first spices traded from India via the Silk Road, reaching the Middle East, Rome and Greece. By the Middle Ages, it became a luxury in Europe.

Long Peppers can be found in the historical medicinal collection in the Department of Pharmacology of Trinity College Dublin, based in St. James’s University Hospital. 

Active Ingredient:

The two primary active ingredients of Long Peppers that are responsible for their therapeutic effects are Piperine and Piplartine. They are both alkaloids, with Piperine also being found in Black Peppers and Piplartine being specific to Piper Longum. Piplartine is also known as Piperlongumine.

Introduction: Piper Longum or Long Peppers are a flowering vine plant from the Piperaceae family that produce fruit that historically have been used in both culinary and medicinal contexts. Long Peppers thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, being a native of North East India, parts of the Himalayas and Indonesia. It was one of the first spices traded from India via the Silk Road, reaching the Middle East, Rome and Greece. By the Middle Ages, it became a luxury in Europe.

Long Peppers can be found in the historical medicinal collection in the Department of Pharmacology of Trinity College Dublin, based in St. James’s University Hospital. 

Active Ingredient:

The two primary active ingredients of Long Peppers that are responsible for their therapeutic effects are Piperine and Piplartine. They are both alkaloids, with Piperine also being found in Black Peppers and Piplartine being specific to Piper Longum. Piplartine is also known as Piperlongumine.

Historically, in Ayurveda and Siddha; alternative medicinal systems derived from the Indian subcontinent, and Unani; traditional medicine practiced in Muslim culture in South Asia and Central Asia, both the fruit and the root of Long Peppers have been used in the treatment of numerous illnesses. 

Disorders and symptoms treated historically by Long Peppers In Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani:

• Respiratory Conditions: Asthma, Bronchitis and congestion

• Digestive complications: Flatulence, Indigestion, Dyspepsia and Anorexia

• Neurological: Epilepsy and Insomnia

• Liver and Spleen disorders such as Jaundice and obstruction of bile ducts

• Leprosy and dysentry

• Used in postpartum women to dispel the placenta and control bleeding

• Abortifacient 

• As a relief for pain in muscle and joint inflammation

Long Peppers and how their constituents, Piperine and Piplartine exhibit pharmacological effect:

• Piperine inhibits drug-metabolising enzymes such as CYP450 enzymes, increasing the bioavailability of drugs and other nutrients.

• Piperine inhibits the NF-kB inflammation pathway leading to an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing COX-2 enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines

• Piplartine has potential “anti-cancer” effects as it selectively increases Reactive Oxygen Species production in cancer cells triggering apoptosis.

• Long pepper treatment has been seen to have reduced symptoms and improves lung function in children with asthma.

• Long pepper extracts have a larvicidal effect on Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria.

Pharmacokinetics:

In Ayurveda, Long peppers were traditionally taken alongside Trikatu whereas in Siddha it was usually taken with dry ginger or turmeric.

The active components of Piper Longum are metabolised primarily by CYP450 enzymes in the liver but Piperine increases it own bioavailability by inhibiting these CYP450 enzymes.

Piperine is excreted primarily in faeces.

Contradictions:

Avoid during pregnancy due to potential abortifacient effects.

Drug-Drug Interactions:

Inhibitors of CYP450 enzymes meaning the mean toxic dose and the mean lethal dose of drugs can be reduced.

Side Effects:

Some side effects reported include; nausea and stomach discomfort, especially at higher doses, sedation, motor impairment and drowsiness

Sample #28/43