Piper umbellatum

Piper umbellatum is a tropical and subtropical plant species in the Piperaceae family, widely distributed in Central and South America, Africa, and parts of Asia. It is traditionally used in folk medicine for kidney disorders, diuretic purposes, stomachache, skin disorders, wounds, rheumatism, malaria, inflammation, fever, and women’s reproductive health. Phytochemical constituents include terpenes, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes (notably linalool, limonene, thymol, β-pinene, α-pinene, camphor), diterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, and unique compounds such as 4-nerolidylcatechol, uvangoletin, and wogonin. The plant and its extracts have demonstrated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anticancer, antimalarial, antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal, gastroprotective, antifungal, antidiabetic, and insecticidal properties in experimental studies. Its bioactive compounds influence various pathways, notably anti-inflammatory action by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α and IL-1β) and oxidative stress markers. Clinical use is mostly as a dietary or herbal remedy, with commercial pharmaceutical development still in early stages[1][2][4][6][7][8][10].

Other names

cow-foot leafPothomorphe umbellataKubambaDa hu jiao