Piper longumL.

(Pippali)



Common namePippali
HabitClimber
HabitatSemi-evergreen, evergreen moist deciduous forests and wastelands
Parts usedFruit

Synonyms

Sr. No. Synonyms
1Piper roxburghii (Miq.) J.Presl
2Chavica longa H.Karst.
3Chavica roxburghii Miq.
4Piper sarmentosum Wall.

Taxonomical information

KingdomViridiplantae
PhylumStreptophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderPiperales
FamilyPiperaceae
GenusPiper
SpeciesPiper longum L.

Vernacular names

SanskritMagadhi, Granthika, Pippalika
EnglishPiper root
HindiPiparamula
KannadaModikaddi, Hippali, Tippali, Modi
MarathiPimplimula
MalayalamKattuthippaliver, Tippaliveru
BengaliPipulmul
TamilKanda Tippili, Ambinadi Desavaram
TeluguModi, Madikatta
UrduFilfil Daraz

Morphology

It is perennial long, scandent or straggling shrubs, trailing either on ground or climbing on trees. Leaves are dark green in colour, ovate, acute at apex, cordate and entire margins. Male and female flowers are distinct. Male spikes are greenish-yellow in colour, 5-8 cm long whereas female spikes are yellow in colour, 1.5-3 cm long. Fruit spikes are long fleshy with berries red or black when ripen, odour aromatic and taste, pungent

Distribution

Natively found in Indo-Malayan region. It is mainly cultivated in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Within India, it is mostly cultivated in Himalayan region, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka and Kerala

Medicinal uses

Diseases of abdomen, constipation, abdominal lump, helminthiasis, diseases due to vata dosha

References

1Manoj, P., Soniya, E. V., Banerjee, N. S., and Ravichandran, P. (2004).Recent studies on well know spice Piper longum Linn. Natural Product Radiance. 3, 222-227.
2Banerjee, N. S., Manoj, P., and Das, M. R. (1999). Male-sex-associated RAPD markers in Piper longum L. Current science. 693-695.
Leaflet Map in Tab Content

Copyright © 2025