Piper umbellatum
Piper umbellatum, commonly known as the Umbrella Pepper, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its aromatic properties, it is traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to treat respiratory ailments, digestive issues, and inflammation. Its unique chemical profile offers significant potential for modern pharmacological research and development.
- Scientific name: Piper umbellatum
- Family: Piperaceae
- Native range: Africa
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. Specifically, its taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Piper.
| 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, known scientifically as Piper umbellatum, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Vietnam, it is referred to as Lân hoa gié (vi), while in Chinese-speaking regions, it is called 台湾胡椒 (zh) and specifically 臺灣胡椒 (zh-tw) in Taiwan. In Malayalam, it is known as അട്ടനാറി (ml), and in Singapore, it is commonly called Mvupo (sg).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vi | Lân hoa gié | Wikidata |
| zh | 台湾胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 臺灣胡椒 | Wikidata |
| ml | അട്ടനാറി | Wikidata |
| sg | Mvupo | Wikidata |
| pwn | ljivanger | Wikidata |
| yue | 大圓葉胡椒 | Wikidata |
| es | Piper postelsianum | Wikidata |
| es | Pothomorphe umbellata var. glabra | Wikidata |
| es | Pothomorphe umbellata var cuernavacana | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence is documented in the country of Ghana. It can also be found growing within the borders of Guinea. Furthermore, the species inhabits the tropical landscapes of Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its geographical range extends into Nigeria, completing its regional distribution.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | 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 | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Piper umbellatum, utilizes its leaves as the primary part for medicinal purposes. These leaves are typically characterized by their distinct shape and texture, often being harvested to extract bioactive compounds used in traditional remedies. In various herbal practices, the leaves are employed for their therapeutic properties, serving as a key component in treatments for various ailments.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Piper umbellatum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, saponins, steroids, sterols, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| steroids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Piper umbellatum has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial, Antiparasitic.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiparasitic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipyretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Sedative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Piper umbellatum has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, burns, diarrhea, fever, hepatobiliary disorders.
- Total uses
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 12
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| oxidative stress | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| burns | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatobiliary disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kidney | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| onchocerciasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |