A Review on Different Sources of Piper nigrum L. Adulterants

 

Rinky Thakur¹, Ajay Kumar Meena², Amit Kumar Dixit¹, Suma Joshi⁴

¹Regional Ayurveda Research Institute for Metabolic Disorder, CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, Bengaluru,

²Captain Srinivasa Murthy Regional Ayurveda Drug Development Institute, CCRAS, Ministry of AYUSH, Arumbakkam, Chennai,

³ KAHER’s Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidalaya, Belagavi.

 

ABSTRACT:

Medicinal plants constitute an effective source of traditional Ayurvedic system, with increasing believe and demands in Ayurvedic medicines, the adulteration in medicinal plants has also became a burning problem in the pharmaceutical industry. Adulterations is a practice of substituting original or genuine drugs with similar looking drugs which have different chemical constituents and therapeutic properties, thus producing useless or harmful substance with intention of enhancement of profit. It may be due to wrong identification, deliberate mixture of other drugs, lack of knowledge about authentic plants, non availability, similarity in morphology, careless collection and any other unknown reasons. Proper identification of medicinal herbs/plants play vital role in producing authentic genuine Ayurvedic drugs. The identification of important drug is must, if someone fails to identify the genuine drug the Ayurvedic formulation goes wrong due to adulteration; efficacy and potency of medicines goes down and also leads to variety of complications, adverse effects from mild to severe life threatening conditions. Correct identification and usage of genuine drug is very important to reduce the adverse effect and maximizing consumer’s safety. In this paper different adulterated forms of Maricha (Piper nigrum L.), such as Eranda karkati (Carica papaya L.) Sandhyaaraaga (Mirabilis jalapa L.), Chavika/Kankola (Piper cubeba L. f.), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Nirgundi (Vitex Negundo) have been discussed in order to differentiate genuine drugs and adulterants through diagnostic characteristics. These could be used as an adulterant due to similar morphology, non-availability of requisite material and improper identification of genuine drugs.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ayurveda is an old traditional way of healing ailments using plant based medicines. In past with low human imprints on natural resources the ecosystem in which human existed was strong and rich. This enabled the balance to exist in equilibrium, with increase in population of a particular species (human) the equilibrium in ecosystem started shifting. The transformation of organic to inorganic and vice versa is severely affected over period of time. The natural resources are strained and few species of flora and fauna

 

have extinct with time. In the modern times with the strained natural resources human dependency has increased on synthetic drugs. The production and usage of authentic Ayurvedic medicine has reduced to a fraction. The industry is dealing with adulteration of plant based drugs. This generally happens because of various factors namely, due to lack of knowledge of manufacture, intentional adulteration to gain improve profit margin and due to lack of genuine plant based to extract medicinal values. The existence of plants used for extracting the medicinal values has reduced and modified which also leads to unhealthy method to improve production. It is a practice of adding foreign substance in place of original crude drug partially or fully which is inferior or substandard in therapeutic and chemical properties or addition of low grade or spoiled drugs or entirely different drugs similar to that of original drug adding which an intention of enhancement of profits, ^{[1, 2]} due to adulteration, faith in herbal drugs has declined.  For promotion of herbal products it has become one of the greatest drawbacks ^[3]. In adulterated drugs, it is found that the adverse event reports are due to the presence of an unintended herb^[4] In this scenario it is time to sensitize the masses about the plant based medicine systems. Our proposal through this article is to help one identify the plant properly, which includes knowing its chemical composition, botanical description, Ayurvedic properties, morphological characters and also educate masses about the possible adulterants used for manufacturing an adulterated product. Piper nigrum is the plant under study. It is one of the main ingredients of several Ayurvedic formulations. Therefore the correct identification of such important drug is must else it would lead to compromise in potency of medicine. Some herbs/plants which may be used as adulterant to Piper nigrum are-Caraca Papaya (Seed) ^[5], Mirabalis jalapa-4 o clock plant (Seed) ^{[6, 7]} Piper cubeba tailed pepper (Fruit) ^[8] Aspergus racemosa (Fruits), Vitex nigundo (Fruits). Hence in this paper attempt has been made to study properties of Piper nigrum and list out the adulterants, with morphological characters for differentiation of different sources of Piper nigrum.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A list of different drugs used in the name of Maricha (Black pepper) is prepared by referring books related to medicinal plants and published research articles. Properties and indications of these drugs were compiled from classical texts of Ayurveda. Different chemical constituents and reported pharmacological activities were compiled from published research articles. Comparative morphological characters to identify and differentiate these adulterants are also carried out and presented in a systematic manner.

 

Botanical identity of adulterants used in the name of Maricha (Piper nigrum)

So many adulterants are used in market by the name of Piper nigrum, but we are discussing here few of adulterants. All the parts used for adulteration in this paper are fruit except Eranda karkati and Sandhyaaraaga for which adulterant used are seeds details given in Table 1.

 

 

 

Table 1: Botanical identity of adulterants used in the name of Maricha (Piper nigrum)

Name	Botanical Name	Family	Part used	Uses/Pharmacological activity
Maricha	Piper  nigrum	Piperaceae	Fruit	Arthritis, asthma, diuretic, pain, piles, inflammation, leucoderma, paralysis, skin diseases, arthritis, fever, cough, antifungal, cold, colic disorder and gastric conditions and hiccough etc [9-11].
Eranda karkati	Caraca papaya Linn.	Caricaceae	Seeds	Anthelmintic, emmenagogue, carmanative, vermifuge, dyspspesia, bleeding piles, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, fungal infection etc [12].
Sandhyaaraaga (Four o’clock plant)	Mirabalis jalapa	Nyctaginacaeae	Seeds	Purgative, diuretic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, Boils, abscesses and swelling etc [13].
Kankola	Piper cubeba Linn	Piperaceae	Fruit	Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergic, analgesic, cold, colic disorder and gastric Conditions, anticancer, sedative, antibacterial effect, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, thermogenic and inhibitory effect against the hepatitis C virus etc [11, 14-18].
Shatavari	Asparagus racemosa	Liliaceae	Fruits	Antifungal, Gastric sedative, Antioxytoxic, Antiviral, Antiamoebic effect etc [19].
Nirgundi	Vitex negundo	Verbenaceae	Fruits	Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, leucoderma, enlargement of spleen, skin ulcer, fever etc [20-24].

 

 

 

Properties and Classical indications ^{[9, 12-15, 19, 20]}

The Ayurvedic properties exhibited by these plants viz. rasa, guna, veerya, vipaka, doshaghana and karma are different in terms of its effects, the rasa of maricha is katu and rasa of kankola and nirgundi is katu, tikta and erandkarkati madhur, katu, tikta; Shatavari; madhur,tikta. On the basis of guna maricha, errand karkati, kankola, nirgudi is laghu, ruksha and tikshna; Shatavari is guru, snigdha. Maricha, erandkarkati and kankola are ushna veerya;shatavari sheeta veerya. As far as vipaka is concerned maricha, kankola nirgundi possesses katu vipaka; shatavari madhur vipaka and erandkarkati madhur and katu vipaka. If the drugs with different Ayurvedic properties are used for treating different disease it doesn’t exhibit similar therapeutic effect to particular disease and shows adverse reaction. Detailed properties and classical indications are given in Table 2.

Table 2.Ayurvedic properties and Classical indication

 

Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological activities

The potency of a drug is defined by the chemical properties exhibited by it. The marked segregation on basis of chemical properties helps one in identifying the original drugs from the adulterated ones. The potency and therapeutic effect takes a hit with the adulteration in components of the drug. Here below the chemical properties and research activities are discussed for few plants

 

 

 

 

Table 3.Chemical composition and Pharmacological activities of plant

	Chemical constituents [21]	Pharmacological  Activities
Maricha [10-11]	Piperine-5 to 10%, Piperidine 5%,Peparatin,Protine,Chavicine,Volatile oil, Mucilage	Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and Antioxidant activity [22-23]
Eranda karkati	Glucoside caricin,Cryptoxanthin-48.16%,Beta-Carotene-29.56%, Thaiamine, Riboflavin, Papayain, Papin	Hepatotoxicity and Antifertility [24-25]
Kankola	Palmitic, Linolic, Oleic, Cubebinol, Cubebine, Cubelic acid	Urinary Tract Infection and Anti-depressant [26-27]
Shatavari	SaponinA4-A7,Rutin,Shatavarin,Asparagamine	Antiulcer, Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory activity [28-29]
Nirgundi	Beta-Sitosterol, Nonacosane, vitedoamine A , 6-hydroxy-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-methyl-7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2-naphthaldehyde	Antibacterial, Antioxidant , antiproliferative, Tyrosinase inhibitory and Antimicrobial activity [30-35]
Mirabilis jalapa	Stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, brassicasterol, rotenoids, Trigonelline	Antinociceptive action,  Antiovulatory and abortifacient potential [36-37]

 

 

 

 

Morphological Features of Plants ^[38]

A comparative description of maricha and its adulterants are described below for better understanding of morphological features exhibited by them so that it won’t hinder proper identification and collection process of plant. Maricha is a stout, glabrous, most branched climbing shrub and rooting at nodes. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate, entire, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, gland dotted and 3 to 5 nerves from the base and another pair little higher up. Flowers are minute in spikes, dioceous and fruiting spikes very variable in length. Chavika is perennial woody climber and rooted at nodes. Leaves simple, ovate, base cordate and tip pointed and lower surface with sunken glands. Spikes solitary, flowers dioecious. Eranda karkati is a small, soft wooded, cylindric stem bearing leaf scars, fast growing, and short lived laticiferous tree. Leaves deeply lobed, palm like with long hallow petioles. Flowers unisexual, males are in long drooping panicles and females in short clusters; fruit cylindrical with soft yellow sweet pulp. Shatavari is a thorny climbing under shrub with woody stems, climbs up to 1-3m high. Leaves are reduced to minute scales and spines. Fruits are globular, purplish black perennial climbing plant with straight and hooked spines. Sandhyaaraaga is a perennial under shrub, much branched with tuberous roots, stem woody at the base and swollen at the nodes. Leaves are opposite, ovate, entire, acuminate at the apex. Flowers in terminal cyme, involucres bracts ovate, perianth funnel shaped, tubular, petaloid and fragrant. Nirgundi is large and erect much branched shrubs with thin gray bark, grows to height of 2-5m, Leaves have five leaflets in a palmately arrangement, flowers are bluish and purple in colour. Chaste tree, Monk’s Pepper tree is large shrub that grows 3-6m and about as wide. It has long finger shaped leaves, blue-violet flowers, dark purple berry.

 

 

Morphological features of plants which can be used in name of Piper nigrum Linn.

Now-a-days due to availability of drugs, similar in morphology, color, superficial features, availability of cheaper natural substance, availability in large amount, non-identification, careless collection and many other reasons authentic drugs are being adulterated. An educated and conscious manual identification of plants and parts of a plant on basis of shape, size, color, structure, texture, taste etc is required for manufacturing of authentic Ayurvedic drugs. Detailed Morphological features of plants given in Table 4 and Seeds in Figure 2.

 

Table 4.Characteristic morphology of plant and its adulterants are illustrated. These can be used as adulterants as and when used.

Characters	P.nigrum [39]	C.papaya [21]	P.cubeba[40]	A. racemosus[41]	V. negundo[42]	M. Jalapa[43]
Shape	Ovoid or globose	Spherical	Subglobose	Globose	Rounded drupe	Ellipsoid
Size	3.5-6mm diameter	4-12mm diameter	5-7mm diameter	5-6mm diameter	1-3mm diameter	6mm diameter
Color	red to grayish brown	Ash black or black	Dusky red to slightly brown	Blackish purple	Light brown to black	Black acheme
External surface	Wrinkle, vertical lines	Sweet mucous pulp covered with loose hyaline skin and arils	Wrinkled on drying	-	Fruit:, 1/3rd  to 3/4th  of its size surrounded by a dull grey cup like, persistent calyx along with pedicel; calyx cup may show one or two vertical splits.	Rugose and ribbed
Texture	Coarse, Strongly reticulated	Thin, soft	Hard and stony	-	Smooth	-
Testa	Thin	Thick and brittle	Testa fused with pericarp	Thin, shiny black	--	(Cotyledon large sub arbicular with false pericarp fromed as anthocarp)
Taste	Pungent taste	Unpleasant	Pungent and slightly bitter	-	Not characteristic	-

   

Piper nigrum	Carica papaya	Piper cubeba
Asparagus racemosus	Mirabilis jalapa	Vitex negundo
Figure.2 Piper nigrum and its adulterants Seeds

 

DISCUSSION:

In this article the different adulterants of Piper Nigrum have been discussed. Due to easy availability, cost effective, lack of knowledge, confusion in name, similarity in color ,careless collection, size and shape, different sources of Piper nigrum  has been used as adulterant since ages. The different chemical constituents, botanical identity, physical properties and different pharmacological activities have proven experimentally and scientifically the reduction in efficacy and the potency of the medicine due to use of adulterants. This directly affects the belief in herbal medicine system. The purpose here is to make masses aware of authentic Ayurvedic drugs and prevailing adulteration in practice.

 

CONCLUSION:

In a bid to have a pure life one looks up for the natural solutions for the ailments. Adulteration of the herbal medicines affects genuinely the trust and faith of people on the herbal medicinal system. It is important to win the faith of the masses in the Ayurvedic system as we realize the true healing lies only natural ways. For which intensive study is required on various aspects of adulteration. The gap needs to be bridged through knowledge sharing and creating systematic data bases of studies conducted worldwide. It is also understood that all adulterations are not intentional malpractice. Manufacturers and suppliers are not aware about their faulty product. They to need to be sensitize about the morality and effects of their ignorance on the lives of ones in need of Medicare. Nowadays, Ayurvedic drug industries follow high quality control standards using modern techniques and instruments to maintain their quality. World Health Organization (WHO), in its publication on quality standards for medicinal plant materials, recommends rejecting any batch of raw material, which has more than 5% of any other plant part of the same plant (e.g. stem in leaf drugs), never the less if they are derived from the authentic plant. Based on these standards, adulteration whether, intentional or unintentional, should be rejected.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are very grateful to Director General and Deputy Director General, CCRAS, New Delhi for providing encouragement and Dr. Shanta T. S. for her able guidance in familiarization with the topic and sharing valuable data for completion of the article.  

 

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Accepted on 20.10.2018          © RJPT All right reserved

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2018; 11(9): 4173-4178.