Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

490 Piper chaba Hunter non-Blume.
P
Administration of the leaf extract resulted
in decreased tumour burden and
tumour incidence and a delay in the
onset of mammary tumour in Wistar
rats.
The alcoholic extract of the leaf stalk
is reported to show antispermatogenic
and antiandrogenic effect in male albino
rats.
The essential oil exhibited hypotensive,
cardiac as well as respiratory depressant
and cardiotonic properties.
The leaf showed antifungal and antibacterial
activity. The antiseptic activity
is attributed to chavicol.
Dosage ◮ Leaf—10–15 ml juice. (API,
Vol. III.)
Piper chaba Hunter non-Blume.
Synonym ◮ P. retrofractum Vahl.
P. officinarum DC.
Family ◮ Piperaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Moluccas,
cultivated in Indonesia, also in
India.
English ◮ Java Long Pepper.
Ayurvedic ◮ Gajapippali (spikes of
Scindapsis officinalis, Araceae, are
also known as Gajapippali), Chavya,
Chavika.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Chevuyam.
Action ◮ Similar to P. longum
and P. nigrum. Fruits—stimulant,
carminative; used in haemorrhoidal
affections; as a tonic, afterchildbirth.
Roots—chewed or
brewed in decoction for colic,
dyspepsia and gastralgia.
Key application ◮ In diseases of the
spleen, chlorosis, diseases of the
abdomen. colic, worm infestation.
(The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of
India.)
Java long pepper is similar in composition
to black pepper; it contains
less piperine and volatile oil (piperine
4.5 and volatile oil 1.5%).
The stem is used as a substitute for
Piper longum root. It contains the alkaloids
piperine and piplartine. Betasitosterol,
glycosides, glucose and fructose
and mucilage have also been reported.
Active principles show muscle
relaxant property.
Piper cubeba Linn. f.
Family ◮ Piperaceae.
Habitat ◮ Native to Indonesia;
cultivated in Assam and Karnataka.
English ◮ Cubeb, Tailed Pepper.
Ayurvedic ◮ Kankola, Kakkola,
Kankolaka, Takkola, Koraka,
Kolaka, Kashphala, Sheetalchini,
Chinoshana.
Unani ◮ Kabaabchini, Habb-uluruus.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Valmilagu.
Action ◮ Fruit—Carminative,
diuretic, expectorant. Used for
coughs, bronchitis, asthma, urinary
tract infections, amoebic dysentery.
Stimulates genitourinary mucous
surfaces. Oil—antibacterial, used in
genitourinary diseases and cystitis.
Key application ◮ In dysuria. (The
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.)