MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Importance and chemical composition

• Long pepper is a slender aromatic climber whose spike is widely used in ayurvedic and unani systems of medicine particularly for diseases of respiratory tract.
  


• Pipalarishta, Pippalyasava, Panchakola, Pippalayadilauha, and Lavana bhaskar churan are common ayurvedic preparations made out of the dry spikes of female types.
  


• Ittrifal fauladi, Angaruya-i-kabir and Majun Khadar are well known Unani preparations of long pepper. Its roots also have several medicinal uses.
  


• The root is useful in bronchitis, stomach ache, diseases of spleen and tumors.
  


• Fruit is useful in bronchitis, stomach ache, diseases of spleen and tumors.
  


• The spikes of this plant contain piperine and piplartine alkaloids.
  


• The roots and fruits are used in palsy, gout and lumbago. Long pepper acts as a general tonic and hematinic and widely used in Ayurveda as good rejuvenator (Rasayana).