Piper wallichii
Piper wallichii, commonly known as Long Pepper, is a versatile medicinal plant belonging to the Piperaceae family. Renowned in Ayurvedic medicine, its pungent fruit offers potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and digestive benefits. Widely used to treat respiratory ailments and enhance metabolism, this aromatic spice remains a cornerstone of traditional healing.
- Scientific name: Piper wallichii
- Family: Piperaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Piperales, falling into the family Piperaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Piper, specifically as the species Piper wallichii.
| 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 wallichii, is recognized by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to by the names 石南藤, 石胡椒, 石南藤 (Simplified), and 石南藤 (China), while in Thai, it is commonly called พลูแก.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 石南藤 | Wikidata |
| th | พลูแก | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 石南藤 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 石南藤 | Wikidata |
| zh | 石胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh | 石药 | Wikidata |
| zh | 峨嵋胡椒 | Wikidata |
| zh | 南藤 | Wikidata |
| zh | 毛山蒟 | Wikidata |
| zh | 到老嫩 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is specifically documented in the state of Assam. Furthermore, the species is also widely distributed throughout Bangladesh. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Piper wallichii, utilizes its specialized morphological structures for growth and support. The stems of this species serve as the primary structural framework, allowing the plant to climb and navigate its environment effectively. Whether referring to the collective stems of the organism or a single individual stem, these parts are essential for transporting nutrients and water throughout the plant's system.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| stem | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Piper wallichii has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-syringaresinol, 3,4-methylenedioxy-benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid, N-p-coumaroyltyramine, aristolactam A II.
- Total chemicals
- 13
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (-)-syringaresinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3,4-methylenedioxy-benzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-p-coumaroyltyramine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aristolactam A II | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cepharanone B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydropiperlonguminine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| futoamide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| futoenone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Piper wallichii has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cerebral infarction, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cerebral infarction | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |