chronic fevers and for improving intellect). Applied locally on muscular pains and inflammations.
Several aristolactams and dioxoaporphines have been isolated from In dian long pepper. It also contains the long chain isobutyl amide, longamide, besides guineensine and the lignans, pluviatilol, methyl pluviatilol (fargesin), sesamin and asarinine.
Piperine is the major alkaloid ofpeppers.
Piperine is antipyretic, hypotensive, analeptic, CNS stimulant. It has been reported to exert significant protection against CC14-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. It improves drug availability in experimental animals, and is
492 Piper nigrum Linn.
used for enhancing the efficacy of co administere medicaments.
Piperine enhanced bioavailabiity of
hexobarbital, phenytoin, propranolol
and theophylline. (Sharon M. Herr.)
(Piperine is also a component of Piper
nigrum.)
N-isobutyl-deca-trans-2-trans-4-
dienamide, isolated from the fruit, ex hibite antitubercular property.
Milk extract of the fruit effectively
reduced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis
in rats. It protected guinea-pigs against
antigen-induced bronchospasm.
In China, Piper longum oil con stituent were reported to inhibit the
increase in serum total cholesterol in duce by triton in mice.
The root powder exhibited antifer tilit activity.
A related species, P peepuloides
Roxb., is known as Saamvali Peepal.
It is used specifically against obstinate
skin diseases and as a sialagogue.
Dosage Fruit—1—3 mg (API, Vol.
IV); root—1—3 g powder. (CCRAS.)
Piper nigrum Linn.
