Piper amalago

Scientific name: Piper amalago L.

Synonym: Enckea amalago (L.) Griseb.

Botanical family: PIPERACEAE

Vernacular names

(In territories with significant traditional TRAMIL use)

Dominican Republic:

anicete
anisillo
guayuyo

Jamaica:

jointer

Geographical distribution

Tropical America, from Mexico to Central America, South America and the Antilles

Botanical description

Small racemose nodose shrub or tree, 4 to 6 m long. Leaves ovate, elliptical-ovate, 4 to 14 cm long and 2 to 8 cm wide, light green on the upper side and pale green on the underside, palmate venation with 5 main veins. Inflorescence in the form of 6 to 12 cm spikes, pale green or yellowish in colour; glabrous or finely puberulent peduncle; flowers loosely grouped in the rachis without forming a band around the spike, sessile. Fruit, ovoid drupe, spiked from 1 to 1.2 mm.

Voucher(s)

García,2523,JBSD

Quesada,2794,HCR

Picking,35464,UWI

The Piper amalago fruit is a condiment of relatively widespread human consumption.

For wind and gas:

prepare a decoction with 30 grams of leaves in 4 cups (1 litre) of water, boil for 5 minutes in a covered vessel. Leave to cool, strain (filter) and drink 1 cup 3 times a day.

Preparations must never be stored for more than 24 hours, even if refrigerated.

According to the information available:

Use of the leaves for wind and gas is classified as REC based on the significant traditional use documented in the TRAMIL surveys and the toxicity studies.

If deterioration is observed in the patient or if the condition persists for more than 3 days, seek medical attention.

No data are available to recommend medicinal use during pregnancy, breastfeeding or in children younger than 12 years of age.

TRAMIL Work⁷

The aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves orally, 1 ml/animal/day/5 days (2.0 ± 0.2 mg total solids/ml), in Swiss mice (CD-1, 5 males and 5 females). The control was carried out with distilled water (1 ml/animal/day) in another 10 mice of the same characteristics. During the 10-day observation, no deaths were recorded, nor were any signs of toxicity observed. The macroscopic autopsy showed no alterations in the internal organs.

There is no information available documenting the safety of use in children, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

TRAMIL Work³

The fresh leaves contain 0.1% essential oil containing 0.043 mg/ml of anethole, which is equivalent to 0.0043 mg per 100 g of fresh plant.

The leaves contain γ-aminobutyric acid and dopamine⁴.

TRAMIL Work⁵

The aqueous extract (decoction) from fresh leaves orally (1 ml/animal (2 mg ± 0.2 mg solids/ml), 6 consecutive days in

Swiss mice (CD-1) 5 female (22.0 ± 0.71 g) and 5 male (27.0 ± 0.55 g) fasting for 6 hours before the last administration. The negative control group with the same characteristics, received 1 ml of distilled water per animal, in the intestinal transit model, with measurement one hour after the last administration, did not reveal a statistically significant modification of the intestinal transit speed.

The aqueous and ethanolic (95%) extract from fresh leaves and branches, in vitro (0.033 ml/l), isolated guinea pig ileum model, showed spasmolytic activity⁶.

Pharmacopoeia

Ed.3

References

GERMOSEN-ROBINEAU L, GERONIMO M, AMPARO C, 1984

Encuesta TRAMIL. enda-caribe, Santo Domingo, Rep. Dominicana.

PICKING D, MITCHELL S, DELGODA R, YOUNGER N, 2011

TRAMIL survey. Natural Products Institute, The Biotechnology Centre & Tropical Metabolic Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

SOLIS PN, OLMEDO D, BUITRAGO DE TELLO RE, GUPTA MP, 2000

Estudio fitoquímico y toxicológico de algunas plantas TRAMIL. Informe TRAMIL. Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña CIFLORPAN, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Panamá, Panamá.

DURAND E, ELLINGTON EV, FENG PC, HAYNES LJ, MAGNUS KE, PHILIP N, 1962

Simple hypotensive and hypertensive principles from some West Indian medicinal plants. J Pharm Pharmacol 14(1):562-566.

GARCIA-GONZÁLEZ M, BERROCAL B, MÓNERA L, SOLÉ M, ZÚÑIGA I, 2010

Velocidad del tránsito intestinal en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hoja fresca de Piper amalago L. dosis repetida. Informe TRAMIL. PRONAPLAMED. Depto de Fisiología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

FENG PC, HAYNES LJ, MAGNUS KE, PLIMMER JR, SHERRATT HSA, 1962

Pharmacological screening of some West Indian medicinal plants. J Pharm Pharmacol 14(1):556-561.

GARCIA-GONZALEZ M, LIZANO V, BERROCAL B, ZUÑIGA I, 2009

Toxicidad aguda dosis repetida, en ratones, del extracto acuoso de hoja fresca de Piper amalago. Informe TRAMIL. PRONAPLAMED. Depto de Fisiología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica.

Disclaimer

The information provided is for educational purposes only for the benefit of the general public and health professionals. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. Since some parts of plants could be toxic, might induce side effects, or might have interactions with certain drugs, anyone intending to use them or their products must first consult with a physician or another qualified health care professional. TRAMIL has no responsibility whatsoever towards the user for any decision, action or omission made in relation to the information contained in this Pharmacopoeia.

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