Biological Properties of Essential Oils from the Piper Species of Brazil: A Review

Abstract

Piperaceae, a Latin name derived from Greek, which in turn originates from the Arabic word babary-black pepper, is considered one of the largest families of basal dicots, found in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. The species that belong to this family have a primarily pantropical distribution, predominantly herbaceous members, occurring in tropical Africa, tropical Asia, Central America and the Amazon region. The Piperaceae family includes ive genera: Piper, Peperomia, Manekia, Zippelia and Verhuellia.Brazil has about 500 species distributed in the Piper, Peperomia and Manekia genera. The Piper genus, the largest of the Piperaceae family, has about 4000 species. Within the Piper genus, about 260-450 species can be found in Brazil. Piper species have diverse biological activities and are used in pharmacopeia throughout the world. They are also used in folk medicine for treatment of many diseases in several countries including Brazil, China, India, Jamaica and Mexico. Pharmacological studies of Piper species point toward the vast potential of these plants to treat various diseases. Many of these species are biologically active and have shown antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticidal, antiinlammatory, antinociceptive, enzyme inhibitor, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, piscicide, allelopathic, antiophidic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, amebicide and diuretic possibilities.

Essential Oils from Neotropical Piper Species and Their Biological Activities

“…For example, a decoction of the leaves of P. cavalcantei is considered by native Amazon people as excellent antipyretic and analgesic [ 6 ]; P. marginatum , which is used by indigenous communities in Central America, the Antilles, and South America for gastrointestinal problems [ 7 ]; and P. umbellatum that is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory in Brazil, to treat wounds in Cuba, and to treat fever in Peru [ 8 ]. In the literature, there have been many studies about Asian Piper species, but a large proportion of the information has been generated from Latin American species, pointing to an enormous diversity of chemical compounds associated with its diversity of biological activities [ 9 , 10 ]. In tropical countries, many species of Piper are used by traditional societies by their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and have large potential for the pharmaceutical industry [ 11 ].…”

“…Piper species produce a number of metabolic classes with diverse biological activities [ 10 ]. The essential oils extracted from different organs of many specimens is constituted mainly of monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g., α-pinene, myrcene, limonene, α-terpinene, p -cymene), oxygenated monoterpenoids (e.g., 1,8-cineole, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, borneol, camphor), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (e.g., β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, α-cubebene), oxygenated sesquiterpenoids (e.g., spathulenol, ( E )-nerolidol, caryophyllene oxide, α-cadinol, epi -α-bisabolol) and phenylpropanoids (e.g., safrole, dillapiole, myristicin, elemicin, ( Z )-asarone, eugenol) (see Appendix A and Appendix B ) [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Piper Essential Oils Inhibit Rhizopus oryzae Growth, Biofilm Formation, and Rhizopuspepsin Activity

“…The tea of the decoction of Piper hispidum leaves is useful for the treatment of malaria. Piper marginatum is used as a tonic, carminative, stimulant, diuretic, and sudorific agent against stomach, liver and gallbladder pain, toothaches, and snake and insect bites [ 1 ]. Regasini et al [ 2 ] related trypanocidal activity of the Piper tuberculatum extract.…”

Piperaceae do nordeste brasileiro II: estado de Alagoas

“…Em Alagoas é um arbusto abundantemente encontrado no interior e borda de floresta ombrófila, com solo bem drenado e próximo a cursos d'água. Popularmente conhecido como "pimenta-de-macaco" ou "aperta-ruão", é comumente utilizado no tratamento de doenças ginecológicas, problemas gastrointestinais, infecções em geral e reumatismo (Takeara et al 2017;Mgbeahuruike et al 2017). No nordeste brasileiro também recebe o nome de "pimentadarda", sendo utilizado contra doenças venéreas e infecções do trato urinário (Agra et al 2007).…”

“…Componentes químicos encontrados no óleo essencial de P. aduncum apresentaram atividade contra protozoários (Plasmodium falciparum, T. brucei, T. cruzi, Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. donovani e L. infantum), ação inseticida (contra larva dos mosquitos Anopheles marajoara, Aedes aegypti e contra ovos da lagarta da soja Anticarsia gemmetalis (Lepdoptera, Erebidae), agindo como um bioinseticida vegetal), antihelmintica (contra Haemonchus contortus), fungicida (principalmente contra Cryptococcus neoformans), antibacteriana (contra Escherichia coli), antioxidante, anticâncer, antiviral, e acaricida, podendo ser usado no controle do carrapato do gado -Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, que causa grandes prejuízos à pecuária (Takeara et al 2017;Mgbeahuruike et al 2017;Pohlit et al 2006;Krinski et al 2018;Silva et al 2017).…”