Black Pepper Overview of Health Benefits

B lack pepper from the Piper nigrum L. vine (Figure 1) is the most commonly used spice worldwide, and its extracts have been used as a folk medicine in a variety of cultures. Piper nigrum is used for the production of both black pepper (from the unripened fruit) and white pepper (from the dehulled mature berry). In ancient Sanskrit literature, black pepper use for medicinal purposes was documented. In India, it was one of the most commonly used herbs in Ayurvedic medicine and has been considered for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and, even more recently, of chronic malaria. Black pepper also was used for the treatment of epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine. In the Middle Ages, black pepper was recorded as being used in seasoning and for concealing the flavor of salted, cured meat. This plant is indigenous to Southern India and also is cultivated on the islands of the Malay archipelago, as well as Madagascar and other islands off the coast of Africa. Popular names for this spice depend on the source. For example, Malabar black pepper comes from the Malabar coast of southwest India, and Lampong black pepper is from Sumatra, Indonesia. Black pepper currently finds multiple uses in flavorings, in perfumes, and in insecticide formulations.