allspice

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Allspice
• Jamaica Pepper
• Myrtle Pepper
• Newspice
• Pimenta
• Turkish Yenibahar
• Jamaica-pepper
• clover-pepper

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pimenta officinalis var. longifolia
• Myrtus piperita
• Myrtus pimenta
• Myrtus dioica
• Eugenia pimenta var. longifolia
• Eugenia pimenta var. ovalifolia
• Eugenia pimenta
• Pimentus geminata
• Pimenta officinalis
• Pimenta vulgaris
• Caryophyllus pimenta
• Pimenta vulgaris
• Pimenta officinalis var. cumanensis
• Pimenta communis
• Myrtus pimenta var. brevifolia
• Myrtus pimenta var. longifolia
• Pimenta officinalis var. ovalifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pimenta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread and diverse geographical distribution across several major regions. In the South-Central Pacific, it can be found throughout the Society Islands. Its presence extends to the Northwestern Pacific, specifically within the Caroline Islands, as well as to the North-Central Pacific in Hawaii. Moving to the Americas, the species inhabits the Mexico Gulf region of Mexico. Finally, its range reaches the Southeastern United States, particularly in Florida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pimenta dioica is characterized by its preference for forest environments, where it thrives within complex woodland ecosystems. It is typically found inhabiting coastal and lowland forest regions, maintaining a relatively low elevational range with a mean altitude of approximately 40 m AMSL. This specific positioning within the forest strata allows the species to benefit from the moisture retention and shaded microclimates provided by dense canopy cover.

Elevational range mean:

40 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Pimenta dioica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a life form that is further specified as a phanerophyte in its structural classification. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its lush, green foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. Through these combined traits, the plant establishes a stable and enduring biological presence, characterized by continuous vegetative growth and a robust structural habit.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pimenta dioica is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, primarily existing as a substantial tree that can reach an average height of approximately 12 m. As a terrestrial species, it thrives in soil-based environments rather than aquatic or epiphytic niches, maintaining an independent existence without the need for parasitic or hemi-epiphytic relationships. The plant is structurally self-supporting, possessing a sturdy architecture that does not require climbing or vining mechanisms to maintain its stature. Its perennial nature is defined by its woody stems and branches, which provide the necessary structural integrity for its significant height and arboreal habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pimenta dioica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for most woody perennial species found in tropical and subtropical climates, allowing it to fix carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle under standard environmental conditions. The plant does not exhibit any form of succulence, maintaining standard leaf morphology and water storage mechanisms rather than specialized fleshy tissues for moisture retention. Additionally, Pimenta dioica is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil substrate for its metabolic processes and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pimenta dioica is driven by complex biological interactions involving both biotic pollination and varied dispersal mechanisms. The pollination process is characterized by a biotic syndrome, where the plant relies on living organisms to facilitate genetic exchange; specifically, it utilizes insect pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen between flowers. Following successful fertilization, the dispersal of seeds is achieved through multiple pathways. The primary natural strategy is zoochorous, where animals assist in moving the seeds, though the plant also exhibits anthropochorous dispersal, indicating that human activities play a role in its movement and distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pimenta dioica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Metabolites
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Nanotechnology

Fruit

1. Current drug targets
2. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Pimenta dioica has 156 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include eugenol, Gallic acid, LIMONENE, pimentol, quercitrin.

eugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Natural product research
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Current drug targets
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

pimentol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

quercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

1,8-Cineol

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

10-epizonarene

1. Dr. Duke

2-methyl butanol

1. Dr. Duke

2-methyl butyl acetate

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pimenta dioica has 531 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, Hypotensive, (-)-Chronotropic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Hypotensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pimenta dioica has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include DNA damage, SARS-CoV-2, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, analgesic.

Dna damage

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sars-cov-2

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Shigella flexneri

1. Journal of food protection

Shigella sonnei

1. Journal of food protection

Analgesic

1. Current drug targets

Breast cancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Gastric cancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Women's health

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Pimenta dioica has 5 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Hexane extracts, Pimenta dioica leaf extract, berries, essential oil, methanol extract.

Hexane extracts

1. Metabolites

Pimenta dioica leaf extract

1. Nanotechnology

Berries

1. Journal of natural products

Essential oil

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology