Icing Grass
Peperomia pellucida · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (26 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Peperomia pellucidum, scientifically known as Peperomia pellucidum, is a succulent herb widely recognized for its medicinal properties. Often found in tropical regions, this plant is valued in traditional medicine for treating inflammation, skin ailments, and digestive issues. Its translucent leaves and small flowers make it both unique and therapeutic.
- Family
- Piperaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Essential Oils · Aerial Parts
- Common names
- Icing Grass · Pepper-Elder · 5 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Micropiper Pellucidum · Piper Pellucidum
Names
Common Names
- Icing Grass
- Pepper-elder
- Water Grass
- Clearweed
- Man to man
- Pepper elder
- Shining bush plant
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- corrimiento
French:
- Herbe couresse
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Peperomia pellucidaSynonyms
- Micropiper pellucidum
- Piper pellucidum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Piperales, it is classified under the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Peperomia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Piperaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Peperomia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several countries located within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, its range extends into the territories of Burkina Faso and Ghana. The species is also documented to exist within Guinea-Bissau. Finally, the geographical presence of this medicinal plant includes the country of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Peperomia pellucidum, is a versatile herb where the whole plant is frequently utilized in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties. When preparing decoctions or infusions, practitioners often use the whole P. pellucidum plant, ensuring that all bioactive compounds are captured. The succulent, translucent leaf is a distinctive feature of the species, serving as a primary site for nutrient storage and metabolic activity. More broadly, the aerial parts of the herb—including the stems and foliage—are the most commonly harvested components for medicinal applications. Additionally, the plant contains various chemical constituents, including certain essential oils, which contribute to its unique aromatic profile and pharmacological efficacy.| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Essential oils | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Acta medica Iranica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole P. pellucida plant | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| whole plant | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Peperomia pellucida has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dillapiole, 2,4,5-Trimethoxystyrene, 9-octadecenoic acid, Flavonoids, Isoswertisin.
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dillapiole | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2,4,5-Trimethoxystyrene | Bioorganic chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 9-octadecenoic acid | Bioorganic chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isoswertisin | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Peperomin E | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pheophorbide a methyl ester | Bioorganic chemistry (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peperomin A | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peperomin B | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peperomin C | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Peperomia pellucida has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aeromonas hydrophila, Loa loa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Streptococcus iniae.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromonas hydrophila | Current microbiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Loa loa | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Current microbiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas fluorescens | Current microbiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Streptococcus iniae | Current microbiology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bone regeneration | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fracture healing | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| measles | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| periodontitis | Biochemistry and biophysics reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanol extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| PP-EO | Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pepper Elder extract | Biochemistry and biophysics reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| crude methanolic extracts | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extract of a whole P. pellucida plant | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extractions | Journal of environmental radioactivity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infusions | Journal of environmental radioactivity (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | Acta medica Iranica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic extracts | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |