Ethnomedicinal Uses and Therapeutic Activities of Piper Guineense: A Review

• Published in: Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management 2021-11, Vol.25 (6), p.927-937
• Main Authors: Alagbe, O.A., Alagbe, G.O., Adekunle, E.A., Ayodele, O.O., Olorode, E.M., Oyediran, R.I., Oloyede, E.O., Oluwaloni, F.O., Oyeleye, A.O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1119-8362; 2659-1502; 2659-1502; 2659-1499
• DOI: 10.4314/jasem.v25i6.6

The use of medicinal plants in most developing countries as therapeutic agents for the maintenance of good health is a widespread practice. One of such plant products is Piper guineense, which is a West African spice used in many folklore medicines and has a number of verified pharmacological activities. Proximate analysis reveals that the plant contains crude protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals while preliminary phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotoscopy of the methanol leaf and seed extract of Piper guineense revealed the presence of several constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, terpenes; sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenoids, saponins and secondary metabolites such as Aromadendrene, 1,6,10- Dodecatriene,7,11-dimethyl-3-methylene and piperine, piperidine amongst other secondary metabolites. Studies have revealed that Piper guineense possess several pharmacological and therapeutic properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, aphrodisiac, anti-parasitic, antiinflammatory, anti-convulsant, molluscicidal, oestrogenic and oxytocic properties. This paper provides a review on the morphology, physicochemical and phytochemical constituents, ethnomedicinal and scientifically proven therapeutic activities of Piper guineense.