Piper amalago
Piper amalago, commonly known as a medicinal shrub in tropical regions, holds significant value in traditional ethnobotany. Renowned for its bioactive compounds, this plant is frequently utilized in folk medicine to treat various ailments, including digestive issues and skin inflammations, offering a natural approach to holistic wellness and healing.
- Scientific name: Piper amalago
- Family: Piperaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Piperales and the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Piper and the specific species name Piper amalago.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Piperaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Piper | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Piper amalago, is known by several common names depending on the linguistic context, specifically within Chinese dialects. In traditional and botanical nomenclature, it is referred to as 糙葉胡椒 in Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), 糙葉胡椒 in standard Chinese (zh), and 糙叶胡椒 in both Simplified Chinese (zh-cn) and the simplified character set (zh-hans).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 糙葉胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 糙叶胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 糙葉胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 糙叶胡椒 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions within Mexico. Its distribution begins in the central part of the country, specifically within Mexico Central. Moving towards the eastern borders, it can also be found throughout Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the western territories of Mexico Southwest. Finally, the plant is widely documented within the tropical reaches of Mexico Southeast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Cayman Is. | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Cuba | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Dominican Republic | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Haiti | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Jamaica | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Piper amalago, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its leaves. These leaves serve as the principal component in various traditional applications, where they are often processed to harness their bioactive compounds for therapeutic purposes.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Piper amalago has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include amide, flavonoids, yangambin.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| amide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| yangambin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Piper amalago has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Diuretic, Natriuretic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Natriuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Piper amalago has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anxiety, diuretic.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |