Black Pepper Is A Vine?
By: Rachel M.
Age: 18
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
By: Rachel M.
Age: 18
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Piper Nigrum, commonly known as the black pepper, is a vining plant with red berry-like fruit, that when dried, produces peppercorns. Black pepper is used in cooking worldwide and is known as the "king of spices" due to the status and notoriety that the spice has. At some point, it had a similar value as gold and was used to barter as currency. The plant is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. The black pepper plant is monopodial, meaning it grows upward from a single main stem attaching itself to nearby trees and objects with aerial roots. In its natural habitat, it can grow to be 30 ft tall. Commonly in captivity, it grows to be 10 to 15 ft.
The thing I find most fascinating about piper nigrum is the fact that the plant contains a compound called Piperine which is commonly used in many medications. Piperine is a compound found in the fruit of the plant which increases bioavailability and nutrients in many drugs because it inhibits various metabolizing enzymes. It was discovered by Hans Christian Ørsted in 1819. Hans Christian Ørsted was a Danish chemist who was credited with discovering electromagnetism and other important scientific contributions. He extracted a yellow crystalline material from the Piper Nigrum that has the molecular formula C17H19NO3. This special compound is Piperine. It is used to enhance blood circulation, salivation, and stimulation of appetite. It's also used to help treat pain, "hypotension, vascular cell modulation, and [has] anti-cancer activity" (Tiwari et al., 2020). It is known to be "…anti-infective, antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antiamoebic, antiulcer, and an antidepressant." (Tiwari et al., 2020).
To conclude, piper nigrum is not only a world-renowned spice but also contains a compound, Piperine. Said compound provides so many medicinal benefits that help improve millions of lives every day. I personally like the piper nigrum plant because of its uses in medicine and also because it is quite a beautiful plant. It's amazing to think that a plant with a 5mm fruit can have such an impact. So, the next time you add pepper to your favorite dish, remember Piperine and the impact that it has on the world.
Bibliography
Damanhouri, Z. A., & Ahmad, A. (2014). A Review on Therapeutic Potential of Piper nigrum L. (Black Pepper): The King of Spices. Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, 03(03). https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0412.1000161
Magcraft. (n.d.). Hans Christian Oersted. Magcraft. https://www.magcraft.com/hans-christian-oersted.
Tiwari, A., Mahadik, K. R., & Gabhe, S. Y. (2020). Piperine: A comprehensive review of methods of isolation, purification, and biological properties. Medicine in Drug Discovery, 7, 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medidd.2020.100027
Editor's note
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with six students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of Rachel's two-week program, she had to research, write, and present on a plant of her choice. She met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write her article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden, for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!
Wildlife In Spotlight collaborated with six students who attended the Summer High School Leadership Summit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. As part of Rachel's two-week program, she had to research, write, and present on a plant of her choice. She met with horticulturists, conservationists and other experts to explore the Garden's collections and gather information to write her article. Students were encouraged to select plants that not only interested them, but also had ecological, ethnobotanical, or economic value.
Many thanks to Lorin Boren, School Program Assistant Manager, Atlanta Botanical Garden, for coordinating and facilitating this partnership!