African long pepper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African long pepper
• Ethiopian Long Pepper
• Wild Pepper
• long pepper

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cubeba capensis
• Peperomia capensis
• Coccobryon capense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Piperales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Piperaceae and the genus Piper.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Piper capense, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Its natural habitat spans several key nations, including Ghana and Guinea. Additionally, it can be found growing within the borders of Liberia. The species also maintains a presence in Nigeria, contributing to its regional importance. Finally, its geographical range extends to include the country of Sierra Leone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Piper capense is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit a diverse range of topographical environments. This species is found across a significant vertical gradient, with its presence recorded from low-lying areas at a minimum elevation of 15 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching a maximum of 1760 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range suggests an adaptable ecological niche, enabling the plant to thrive in varied climatic conditions and moisture regimes found across different mountain profiles and lowland habitats.

Elevational range max:

1760 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Piper capense is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Throughout its lifespan, it maintains a consistent physiological state as an evergreen species, retaining its foliage year-round without the seasonal shedding of leaves typical of deciduous plants.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Piper capense is characterized by a woody, shrub-like growth form that functions as an obligatory liana. This climbing plant exhibits a terrestrial habit, operating as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical dimensions, the plant displays significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, though it reaches a mean height of approximately 4 m as it climbs.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Piper capense is characterized by its metabolic processes as a perennial climber, primarily driven by its ability to perform efficient photosynthesis within its leaf structures to support rapid vegetative growth. Its nutrient acquisition strategies are focused on the absorption of minerals through a specialized root system designed to anchor the plant and uptake essential elements from the soil substrate. Regarding its interaction with soil chemistry and atmospheric gases, the plant does not possess the biological mechanisms required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it cannot convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form and must rely on available nitrates or ammonium in the soil. This reliance on external nitrogen sources dictates its nutrient cycling requirements and influences its growth patterns in nitrogen-limited environments.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Piper capense has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Piper capense has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5-Hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone, ALPHA-PINENE, BETA-PINENE, CARDAMOMIN, LICARIN A.

5-Hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Natural product communications

BETA-PINENE

1. Natural product communications

CARDAMOMIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

LICARIN A

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

LICARIN B

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lupeol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Phenols

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

SABINENE

1. Natural product communications

Activities

Piper capense has 4 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product communications
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Natural product communications

Antioxidant

1. Natural product communications

Antiproliferative

1. Natural product communications

Medicinal Uses

Piper capense has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, cancer, Cancer, appetite, bacterial infections.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations