A review of Pippali (Piper longum Linn.) w.s.r. of Rasayan effect. Received: / Revised Accepted: / Published:

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1 Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences ISSN: ; CODEN: JPBSEV Published by Atom and Cell Publishers All Rights Reserved Available online at: Review Article A review of Pippali (Piper longum Linn.) w.s.r. of Rasayan effect Bhavna Singh 1 and S.D. Upadhyaya 2 1 Reader, Department of Dravyguna, Himalayayiya Ayurvedic Medical College, Majarigrant, Dehradoon 2 Director Shree Hansa Ayurveda Bhawan (Research Cell), Haridwar, India Received: / Revised Accepted: / Published: ABSTRACT Pippali Piper longum Linn has been used in Ayurvedic system of medicine against various disorders since Vedic era. Pippali is a sanskrit word and its etymology is Piparti palayati purusham poorayati cha Kshinan dhatuniti means that which nourishes and rejuvenates the human body. In Arthava veda Pippali is mentioned as Rasayana. According to Ayurveda, Rasayan is which gives strengthen all the tissue of the body, prevent aging and disease. Pippali has been reported to possess immunomodulatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity also. Further, the use of Pippali as a bioavailability enhancer has immensely increased its importance in the field of Ayurveda and modern science also. Pippali Rasayan and Pippali vardhman Rasayan are the famous formulations described by Acharya Charak. This review will facilitate to gain all about the ancient scientific and authentic knowledge with special reference of Rasayan karma of Pippali and the necessary information about the enormous modern pharmacological activities of pippali which will insist researchers for future research to protect human beings from several types of diseases. Key words: Pippali, Brihattrayi, Nighantus, Rasayana, Yakshama INTRODUCTION Earthen hemisphere is gifted with varieties of large number of medicinal herbs. Herbs are natural remedies for the disease with higher safety profile and efficacy. India has an ancient heritage of traditional herbal medicine in form of Ayurveda. Ayurvedic classics have many efficacious herbs. Among them a very important drug is Pippali. It is just like a boon of nature for humanity. Hindu mythology reveals that Pippali has its origin during Samudra manthana along with Amrita. In Arthava veda Pippali is mentioned as Rasayana, means the drug which nurtures the Sapta Dhatu and prevents aging and different diseases. Pippali is commonly known as long pepper and its scientific name Piper longum Linn. It is belonging to the family of Piperaceae. It is a slender, aromatic, perennial climber, with perennial woody roots. Its roots have also medicinal properties and known as Pippali mulam. It is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, throughout the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Middle Eastern countries and the Americas. It is said that the Roman emperors valued it even more highly than black pepper due to its high commercial and economical importance 1. Piper longum is a common Indian dietary spice which has been shown to possess a wide range of therapeutic utilities in the traditional Indian medicines. The fruits contain 1% vol. oil, resin, alkaloids Piperine, piperlongamine,. The pungency of the fruits is mainly due to the piperidine alkaloid. Fruits also contain Calcium-130, phosphorus-190, and iron-62.1mg/100gm. Roots contain Piperine, Piperlongamine, or Piplartine and Dihydrostigmassterol 2 In ayurveda different pharmacological actions of Pippali are described such as Rasayan, Vrishya, Medhya, Dipan, Pachana, Jvaraghana, Kasaghana and it is indicated for the various diseases like Shvas-Kasa, Udara, Jvara, Kushtha, Gulma, Udara, *Corresponding Author Address: Dr.Bhavna Singh, Reader, Department of Dravyguna, Himalayayiya Ayurvedic Medical College, Majarigrant, Dehradoon, India

2 Prameha, Arsha, Pandu, Krimi roga etc 3. It is also used as anti-dote in snake biting and scorpion sting. 4 In Brihattrayi it is frequently used in Kasa (cough), Shvasa (asthama), Hikka (hiccough), Yakshma (tuberculosis) and all allied disease of respiratory system. Root of p. longum is used in the treatment of insomnia. Modern researches have proved that pippali has many pharmacological activities like Antibacterial, Anti-inflamatory, Insecticidal, Antimalarial, CNS stimulant, Antitubercular, anthelmintic, hypoglycaemic, Antispasmodic, cough suppressor, anti-giardial, immunostimulatory, Hepatoprotective, Antinarcotic, Antiulcerogenic etc 5. Pippali with piperine as an important active principle exhibits potent antiinflamatory activity and this has been studied extensively in the conditions of Rajyakshma and Aamvata. Piperlongumine is other compound believed to have an anti-tumor effect. 6 Many Clincal studies have revealed that it is very effective in the treatment of bronchial asthama in children. Long pepper also exhibits antibacterial activities its isolates are active against gram positive bacteria and moderately active against gram negative bacteria. Piperlongamine activate against Bacilli subtilis and Piperine against staphylo coccusaureus. 7 P.longum has efficiently protected the MI. Khushbu Chauhan et al. 2010, has reported that MeP.longum significantly prevents the damage induced by Isoproterenol on histopathological and biochemical changes in rat model of Myocardial Infarction. 8 It has also TXA2 receptor antagonistic action thereby having thrombolytic activity. It has been reported to possess immunomodulatory, antiasthamatic, hepatoprotective, hypocholestremic and antiinflammmatory activities. It also acts as an aphrodisiac and strengthens reproductive functions and energizes the reproductive organs. Pippali is a highly valuable drug and being a bioavailability enhancer it is one of the essential ingredients in the most of the compounds described in Ayurveda. In Ayurvedic formulary of India, Pippali is being used in 324 formulations and it is one of the ingredients of Trikatu churna 9. Material and methods: Detailed and critical review of following classical text: 1. Brihattrayi: Charak samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtang Sangraha and Ashtang hridaya 2. Nighantus:Dhanvantari nighantu, Madanpal nighantu, Kaideva nighantu and Bhavaprakash nighantu and Raja nighantu 3. Research papers. 10 Discussion: Vedic literature: Pippali has been used in India since Vedic period. In Arthava veda Pippali is mentioned as Rasayana, Ksipta bhesaji, Atividdha bhesaji and Vatikrita bhesaji. Sayana quotes that it is useful in the treatment of Dhanurvata, Akshepaka etc. One context from Jaminiya Brahmana delineate that the Guru Vasisatha consumed Pippali to attain health and wealth. In Kaushika Dharamsutra Pippali and Sarsapakhanda are advocated for administration to neonates along with other herbs. This process is claimed to be Medhya. It is enumerated among the Bhesaja gana of Arthava Parisista. According to Keshava Paddhati it is indicated for Vata vikaras. All these references indicate that Pippali is very old drug known to Indians for a longtime and its antiquity goes beyond years 10. Brihattrayi: Pippali has been extensively quoted by Brihattrayi among dasaimani Mahakashayas and ganas respectively. Acharya Charaka described it frquently in Dipaniya Mahakasaya, Kanthaya Mahakasaya, Sula prashaman Mahakasaya, Kasahara Mahakasaya, Hikkanigrahan Mahakasaya. Charak used pippali in various rasayan formulations and seeing its importance used single herb as a formulation such as pippali rasayana and Vardhmana pippali rasayana. Besides it Charaka restricted the excessive use of Pippali (Ch.vi.1/12-13), in this context Cakrapani clarifies that the restriction is limited in diet and not for medicinal usage. It is quite interesting to note that Vagbhata in Ashtanga Hridaya did not mention pippali in classification. Acharya Susruta and vagbhatta quote Pippali dvaya as Pippali and Gaja Pippali. 12,13 Caraka did not describe Pippali dvaya, but he mentioned about Gaja pippali. 14 Pharmacology of pippali is described in Brihattrayi, Charaka described Ardra pippali is guru and snigdha and Sushka pippali is katu, ushna, vrishya and kaphavatahara 15. Acharya Sushruta state that it is pitta avirodhi 16. Vagbhat state pippali sar guna yukta( mild purgative) 17, and indicated Pippali specifically for Pliharoga (splenomegaly). Acharya Charak and Sushrut both included Pippali in Virechana dravya 18. According to charak Pippalimula is the drug of choice or best for Aganimandya and aanaha 19. Thus it is seen that pippalimula is recommended especially in disorders due to agnimandya as arsha, udara, gulma, shool, etc. Panchkola is the famous compounds of pippali phala and moola described by vagbhatta in Ashtanga Hridya, Sutra sthana, (6/165).

3 Nighantus: Nighantu is the texts of Ayurveda science which is pharmacopoeia of medicinal herbs and gives detail accounts of drugs during the medieval time. Dhanvantari Nighantu state pippali is a rasayana and bear katu ras, madhur vipaka and sheet virya. Its mool is ushna virya 20. In Madanpal nighantu pippali is described as laghu guna, atiushna virya and indicated in the treatment of Kushtha, Gulma, Arsha, Pliharoga, and prameha roga 21. Madanpal and kaideva both described guna of ardra pippali as Sheeta, guru, madhur, snigdha and kaphakari. Kaideva followed madanpal but in reference of virya he state pippali as Anushna virya 22. Bhava prakash gives a detailed account of pippali, according him, It is very effective drug for Rasayana, Vajikarana and Medhya karma. he state it as Pitta prokpani. Bhavaprakash indicated first time, pippali with madhu in the treatment of Medoroga, and guda pippali in chronic fever 23. Bhavaprakasa ascribes different therapeutic properties to Pippali depending upon the anupana. Taken with honey Pippali specifically reduces medas (fat) and accumulations of kapha, and is stated to be a good treatment for fever, cough and bronchitis. And taken with twice the amount of jaggery it is suited to the treatment of chronic fever, dyspepsia, asthma, heart diseases and intestinal parasites. Raja nighantu provides four varieties of Pippali- 1. Pippali 2. Gaja Pippali 3. Simhali Pippali 4. Vana Pippali and described gunakarma of all varities separately 24. Bhavamishra quoted the fruit of Cavya or Chavika as Gajapippali 25. Rasayyan: Rasayan is the seventh division of the eight divisions of Ayurved. It means the attaining the excellent Sapta dhatu rasa etc. The Rasayan drugs and formulations provides longevity, memory, intelligence, freedom from disorders, youthful age, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, oratory, optimum strength of physique and sense organs, respectability and brilliance. It enhanced aphrodisiac power also. Rasayan drugs also act as immunomodulator and antioxidants. Rasayan is also known as rejuvenation therapy. Rasayan is a broad term and the modern terms as antioxidant and immunomodulator may be include under rasayan. Many studies have revealed the potential of antioxidant and immunomodulator activity and also lent scientific justification to the traditional use of plant Pippali. Piper longam was studied for their Adaptogenic properties as whole aqueous extracts were administered orally to the experimental animals. Then these animals were exposed to variety of chemical, physical and biological stressors. This plant was found to provide protection against these stressors, as judged by using the markers of stress 11 response. In the cisplatin induced alterations in the gastrointestinal motility model, these plants exerted the normalizing effects. The plant also reversed the effect of cisplatin on gastric emptying. 26 Immunomodulatory and antitumour activities of Piper longum are also reported in mice. 27 Anu. S,et.al. 2013, was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of piper longum fruit extracted using different solvents and their aqueous extracts. Also this herb have been used also as antibacterial agent, hence the activity was also carried out against other organisms such as Escherichia coli ATCC (LB M1655) strain.it has been found to possess antioxidant activity which neutralizes harmful effects of excessive free radicals produced in the body 28. CONCLUSION A careful, critical and unbiased study of the classical Ayurvedic texts show that Pippali is undoubtedly an important rasāyana dravya and widely used remedy in Ayurveda. Pippali has Katu rasa, Laghu, Snigdha and tikshna guna, Madhura vipaka, and Anusna virya, due to this pharmacodynamics Pippali performs many therapeutic functions and it is recommended by ayurvedic physicians in various diseases. It is widely used in spleen disorders, liver disorders, respiratory disease, fever, anorexia, dyspepsia, malabsorption, hemorrhoids, chronic fever, anemia, oedema and paralysis etc. It is a plant of high commercial and economical importance and its use as a bioavailability enhancer can be explored in various formulations. Pippali Khanda, Pippalyasava, Trikatuchurna, Gudapippali, panchakola etc. are some important formulation of pippali. Pippali rasayana 29 and vardhmana pippali rasayan 30 are also very famous formulations described by Brihattrayi. Pippali could be attributed to the presence of flavonoids, Alkaloids, tannins, saponin glycosides and phenolic compounds. It is already repoted that naturally occurring phenolic compounds have immunomodulatory activity. The objective of Ayurveda is described by Acharya charak प रय जन च स यस वस थस य स व स यरक षणम त रस य ववक रप रशमन च Ch.Su 30/26 That means the objective of Ayurveda is to preserve health and to cure diseases. First objective to preserve health is achieved best by rasayana and vajikaran dravyas, which seek to enable the subject to maintain his steady-state equilibrium, extend his longevity and increase his re-productivity. Second objective is to be achieved by Samshodhana and Samshamana dravya. According to acharya charak ones who are desirous of rasayan effect should take pippali in numbers of five, seven, eight, or ten with honey and ghee for a year. These alleviate cough, wasting, phthisis, dyspnoea, hiccup, throat

4 disorder, piles, disorder of grahani, paleness, intermittent fever, disorder of voice, chronic rhinitis, swelling, gulma and vatabalasaka thus is pippali rasayana. Vardhamana pippali rasayana is the formulation in which pippali is used in total number of one thousand in ten days. It is bulk promoting beneficial for voice and life span alleviates spleen enlargement sustains age and promotes intellect. So we find that Acharya 12 Charaka indicated the use of pippali single drug as a whole remedy in form of pippali rasayana and vardhmana pippali rasayana Therefore, the review of pippali as a Rasayan or anti oxident revealed that it is a best rasayan and indicated for the treatment of various diseases and due to its tikshna guna and katu, tikta rasa it is a Samshodhana dravya also. It is thus seen that pippali as a single drug is able to fulfill the objective of Ayurveda. REFERENCES: 1. Maitreyi Zaveri etal. 2010, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, Volume 5, Issue 1, November December. 2. (Neelam & Krishnan Swamy Kamla, 2001 Nutritive Value of Pepper in: Pepper Market Review, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, May,. 3. Pandey Gyanendra,2012. Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga: 62-63, Varansi:Chaukhamba 4. P. Manoj et.al Recent Studies on Well known Spice, Piperlongum Linn. Natural Product Radiance vol.3 (4) July- Aug. 5. Khushbu Chauhan et al. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences Effect of Piper longum linn on Histopathological and Biochemical changes in Isoproterenol induced Myocardial Infarction in rats. July September 2010 RJPBCS Volume 1 Issue 3 Page No Maitreyi Zaveri etal. 2010, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, Volume 5, Issue 1, November December 7. Reddy et.al. 2001, Antibactirial Activity of isolates from p. longumand Taxus baccata, Pharm Biol,,39 (3) Khushbu Chauhan et al. 2010, Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences Effect of Piper longum linn on histopathological and biochemical changes in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. July September, Volume 1 Issue 3 Page No Mamta kumara et.al Antiinflammatory Activity of Two Varieties of Pippali. Ayu, apr-jun, Vol 33, Issue 2, p Shastry j.l.n., 2012, Dravyagunavigyana 2, Varanasi, Chaukhamba Orientalia, 12. Ashtanga Samgraha, Chikitsa sthana, (A.H.ci.3/133; ci.8/45 & ci.9/105): edited by Dr, Ravi Datta Tripathi, 2005, Delhi, Chaukhambha Samskrita Pratishthana Sushruta Samhita, (Su.ci.37/36), edited by Vaidya Yadavji Trikamji Acharaya, Narayan Ram Acharaya. 2007, Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 14. Agnivesha, Charaka, Dridhabala, Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa sthana, (Ch.ci.12/39 & ka.7/14), edited by Shastri Rajeshvardatta, 2005 Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy; 15. Ibidem, Charaka Samhita, Sutra sthana,(27/297). 16. Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana, (Su.su.46/23), edited by A Vaidya Yadavji Trikamji Acharaya, Narayan Ram Acharaya Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 17. Ashtanga Hridya, Sutra sthana, Annaswaroop vigyaniya adhyaya: 6/164: edited by Dr Brahmanand Tripathi, 2005 Delhi: Chaukhambha Samskrita Pratishthana Vaidhya Bapalal, 2005 Nighantu Adarsha, Pippalyadi varga, Pippali, p.no.354, Varanasi: Chaukhambha Bharati Academy;. 19. Ibidem, Charaka Samhita, Sutra sthana, (25/40). 20. Mahendra Bhaugika, Dhanvantri Nighantu, (Shatapushpadi varga.73-75) commented & Edited by Ojha Jharkhandey and Mishra Umapati,.2004 Varansi: Chaukhamba Subharti Prakashana. 21. Madanpal, Madanpal Nighantu: Shunthyadi Varga-13-14, Edited by Pandey Gyanendra, Varansi, Chaukhamba Orientalia; 22. Kaideva, Kaideva Nighantu, Aushdhi Varga: 1165, Edited by Sharma P.V., & Sharma G.P.,.2006, Varansi: Chaukhamba Orientalia; 23. Bhavaprakasha, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga: 56-58, Edited by Pandey Gyanendra,.2012, Varansi:Chaukhamba. 24. Narhari Pandit, Raja Nighantu, Pippalyadi varga-1, Edited & commented by Tripathi Indradeva, 2006, Varansi:Chaukhamba Krishna Das Academy. 25. Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga: 56-58, Edited by Pandey Gyanendra, 2012,Varansi:Chaukhamba Rege Nirmala N, Thette Urmila M, Dahanukar Sharadini A. Phytother Res 1999; 13:

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