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The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic responses of Colossoma macropomum exposed to short-term baths using the essential oil of Piper divaricatum (EOPD) as an anaesthetic-like agent in different doses (40, 60, and 80 μL L

Piper rubrifolium W. Trujillo-C. & M.A.Jaram. sp. nov., Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, trail to Tarqui, La Ruidosa ravine, 1°52’8”N, 75°39’40”W, 2027 m, 16 July 2014 [fr], W . Trujillo et al. 3139 (holotype COAH!]. Diagnosis:— Piper rubrifolium is closely related P.sabaletasanum Trel. &Yunck.(1950: 104), P.spoliatum (1950: 118) and P. cajambrense. It differs from P. cajambrense and P. spoliatum in having smooth internodes and petioles (vs. internodes and petioles with epidermal warty outgrowths in the latter). It can also be easily differentiated from P. sabaletasanum by its smooth leaves vs. bullate leaves in the latter. Piper rubrifolium has young leaves that are red on the underside, another trait that characterizes this species. Shrub to 4 m tall. Internodes smooth, green to red, glabrous to puberulent, idioblasts not evident in any part of the plant. Prophylls lacking. Petioles uniform in shape and size along all axes, 4–6 cm long, vaginate along their entire length, smooth, glabrous to puberulent, green to burgundy colored. Leaf blades chartaceous, brown when dry and red when fresh on the underside in young leaves, 12.5–16 × 29–37 cm, variable in shape along axes; on monopodial axes, blade ovate, medially symmetric, base lobate, with lobes 1–1.5 cm long, symmetric, and not overlapping the petiole, sinus open, equilateral, basal insertion symmetric; on sympodial axes, blade elliptic, medially symmetric, base auriculate, lobes asymmetric, the shorter lobe 0.7–3 cm long, the other lobe 2–2.2 cm longer, the longer one partially overlapping the petiole, sinus closed, inequilateral, insertion symmetric; leaf blade smooth, glabrous to puberulent on the abaxial surface, eciliate; pinnately nerved from the lower half to 3/4 of the midvein; secondary veins 4–5 pairs, festooned brochidodromous, with spacing decreasing and angle increasing towards the base; tertiary veins randomly reticulate to percurrent; apex acuminate. Inflorescences and infructescences simple spikes, terminal, erect; peduncles 3–4 cm long, glabrous, green; flowering rachis 9–14 cm and fruiting rachis 25–28 cm long, fruits densely grouped along the rachis. Floral bracts cucullate, triangular when seen from above, 0.6–0.8 × 0.3–0.5 mm, glabrous on the adaxial surface and margin, not forming bands around the spike. Flowers with four stamens, filaments 0.8–1.2 mm long, anthers 0.10–0.16 × 0.08–0.12 mm, longitudinal dehiscent, with two thecae, with connective not protruding, glabrate; stigmas 3, 0.03–0.07 mm long, sessile. Fruits one-seeded berries, globose, 2–4 × 1.8–4 mm, glabrous, partially immersed in the rachis, with stigmas persistent, 0.03–0.07 mm long, sessile, green when alive and black when dry. Seeds ovoid, dark brown. Distribution:— Piper rubrifolium is endemic to the eastern cordillera of the Andes along the slopes towards the Amazon basin at 1500–2000 m elevation, in the Tropical montane rain forest (TMrf). Habitat and ecology:—It is a shade-loving species growing in the understory of rainforests. Phenology:—Flowering and fruiting specimen were collected in July. Etymology:—The name Piper rubrifolium is derived from the Latin rubrum meaning red and folia meaning leaves, referring to burgundy color underneath on young leaves. Conservation status:— This species is known from three specimens representing two populations. Its habitat is threatened by deforestation and expansion of the agricultural frontier. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 398 km 2 and its area of occupancy (AOO) is 12 km 2, which, together with the continuing decline in quality of the habitat, suggests that it is Endangered [EN B1 a+ B2 a]. Phylogenetic relationships:— Piper rubrifolium belongs to the Macrostachys clade (Jaramillo et al. 2008). In our phylogeny this species forms a monophyletic group with taxa known to occur in the Chocó region, i.e., P. spoliatum, P. sabaletasanum, and P. cajambrense (Figure 1). Comments:— Piper rubrifolium is red on the abaxial surface of immature leaves and mature petioles, the petioles and internodes are smooth without epidermal warty outgrowths, and the leaf base has short lobes which are the most important characteristics that separate Piper rubrifolium from similar species. Key to Piper rubrifolium and related species in the Macrostachys clade 1. Leaves bullate........................................................................................................................................................... P. sabaletasanum – Leaves smooth....................................................................................................................................................................................2 2. Petioles with epidermal warty outgrowths.........................................................................................................................................3 – Petioles smooth (without epidermal warty outgrowths)................................................................................................ P. rubrifolium 3. Leaves oblanceolate, narrowed to the base...................................................................................................................... P. spoliatum – Leaves broad–elliptic, wide at the base....................................................................................................................... P. cajambrense Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, trail to Campo Hermoso Alto, 3rd tunnel, 1°44’56”N, 75°44’36”W, 2037 m, 19 March 2020 [sterile], W . Trujillo & L. Sandoval 4029 (UMNG-H!). Putumayo, Mocoa, road Sibundoy-Mocoa at El Mirador, 1°04’11”N, 76°44’41”W, 2000 m, 9 July 1998 [fl], H . Mendoza & F. Quevedo 6035 (HUAZ!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on pages 276-279, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856, {"references":["Jaramillo, M. A, Callejas-Posada, R., Davidson, C., Smith, J. F., Stevens, A. C, Tepe, E. J, Editor, C. & Plunkett, G. M. (2008) A phylogeny of the tropical Genus Piper using ITS and the chloroplast intron psbJ - petA. Systematic Botany 33: 647 - 660. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 036364408786500244"]}

Piper cuniculorum Trel. & Yunck., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 234. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Putumayo, Colombia–Ecuador border, near the confluence of the San Miguel and Conejo rivers, 300 m, J . Cuatrecasas 10906 (holotype US!, isotype ILL!). = Piper papillicaule Trel. & Yunck., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 224. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Putumayo, Colombia– Ecuador border at the intersection of rivers San Miguel and Conejo, 300 m, J. Cuatrecasas 10917 (holotype US!, isotype COL!) syn. nov. Comments:—In the The Piperaceae of northern South America (Trelease & Yuncker 1950) both P. cuniculorum Trel. & Yunck. (1950:234) and P. papillicaule Trel. & Yunck. (1950:224) are described as having leaves that are less than 20 cm long, pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein, and glabrous on both sides. Both species were separated from other species in the diagnosis and the key by the combination of having 4–5 secondary nerves on each side, bracts peltate and short-fringed, and 10 cm long spikes. In addition, other characters are shared by the two species, for example, both have glabrous leaves, discrete papillae on the internodes as seen on type specimens, even if not mentioned in the description, and they are pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein, their spikes are 2–4 mm thick × 10 cm long and their fruits are obpyriform with sessile stigmas. Detailed examination of the two type collections revealed their similarities except for the length of the internodes (2–6 cm long in P. papillicaule vs. 1.5–3.5 cm long in P. cuniculorum), which is a character that varies with age of the branch or the nodes. Additionally, the type specimens of both P. cuniculorum and P. papillicaule were collected at the Colombia – Ecuador border at the junction of the rivers San Miguel and Conejo. Our conclusion is that there are no consistent morphological characters that justify a separation of two species, and thus P. papillicaule is synonymized under P. cuniculorum. Since both names were published in the same publication, we selected P. cuniculorum as the accepted name because it has the most complete type specimen. Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed along the slopes of the Andes towards the Amazon in Colombia and Ecuador, at 300–1100 m elevation in Tropical premontane wet forests (TPwf). It is a heliophilous species that grows along roadsides. Additional specimens examined: — COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, near Universidad de la Amazonia, 1°36’23.45”N, 75°39’59”W, 270 m, 14 September 2009, J . Alzate 8 (HUAZ!); First bridge in urban area, middle basin of Hacha river, 1°38’707”N, 75°36’978”W, 318 m, 28 March 2005, C . Blanco et al. 267 (HUAZ!). Puerto Rico, trail to San Rafael, Buena Vista farm, 1340 m, 1°54’21.7”N, 75°15’40.4”W, 23 March 2002, J . Díaz et al. 370 (COAH!); Trail to La Estrella, Pensilvania farm, 550 m, 1°56’14.5”N, 75°12’32.3”W, 22 March 2002, M . Correa et al. 3040 (COAH!). San Vicente del Caguan: Road from Neiva to trail to Campanas, 725 m, 2°33’50”N, 74°45’26”W, 04 January 2011, W . Trujillo et al. 1801 (COAH!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on page 279, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856, {"references":["Trelease, W. & Yuncker, T. G. (1950) The Piperaceae of northern South America. University of Illinois Press, Indiana, 434 pp"]}

Piper morelianum Yunck., Svensk Botanisk Tidskrift 51: 532. 1957. Fig. 11. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Morelia, 300 m. K . Sneidern, 1195 (holotype S!). = Piper calanyanum var. sardinanum Trel. & Yunck., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 67. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, Cerro de La Sardina, 500 m, J. Cuatrecasas 8900 (US!). syn. nov. Comments:—In The Piperaceae of northern South America, Trelease and Yuncker published P. calanyanum var. sardinanum Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 67) based on a specimen collected at Florencia in the Department of Caquetá, Colombia, giving the following diagnostic characters: “subshrub, 1–2 m tall, upper leaves 4–5 cm wide × 15–18 cm long, lower leaves to 7.5 cm wide × 20 cm long, upper petioles short and winged by the decurrent blade”. Detailed examination of the type specimens of P. calanyanum Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 66) and P. calanyanum var. sardinanum, the latter species has long apiculate spikes, a character not shared by the typical variety P. calanyanum var. calanyanum. Yuncker described P. morelianum Yunck. (1957: 532) based on a specimen collected at Morelia in the same Department of Caquetá, Colombia, approximately 20 km to the southwest from the type locality of P. calanyanum var. sardinanum. In the diagnosis, Yuncker recognized in P. morelianum the morphological similarity with P. parapeltobryon Trel. ex Gleason (1931: 356), and he pointed to the following differences: “but differs in its leaf shape and acute to obtusish rather than wedge-shaped base and with the petiole vaginate to the blade.” These differences are notable, but Yuncker missed the similarities of P morelianum with P. calanyanum var. sardinanum. When examining the type specimens for both taxa they share the persistent petiolar margin, a decurrent leaf base on the petiole, secondary nerves irregularly spaced, prophylls 2–2.5 cm long, and long apiculate pendular spikes. Specimens of P. morelianum, that we collected in the Department of Caquetá over the past few years, were all found in the understory and at forest edges, and they all had red peduncles and adaxially lustrous leaves. Based on this collective evidence we conclude, that P. calanyanum var. sardinanum should be treated as a synonym P. morelianum. Piper calanyanum and P. morelianum are part of the Peltobryon clade (Fig. 1, Jaramillo et al 2008), a group of shrubs with pinnately nerved leaves along the entire midvein length, spikes erect or pendular, flowers forming banded patterns around the spikes. However, these species are not closely related. Distribution and Habitat:— Piper morelianum is distributed along the eastern slopes of the Andes towards the Amazon in Colombia. It is a local endemic, known only from the Department of Caqueta at elevations of 500–1100 m. It is a shade-loving species growing in the understory. Additional specimens examined: — COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Albania, trail to Florida 1, El Porvenir farm, 13 March 2010, W . Trujillo et al. 1359 (HUAZ!). Belén de los Andaquies, Parque Bosque Microcuenca La Resaca, 1°26’23.5”N, 75°53’24.5”W, 482 m, 11 October 2007, W . Trujillo 1086 (COAH!, HUAZ!); Road from los Ángeles to trail to las Verdes, 450–650m, 1°35’21”N, 75°52’7.3”W, 22 June 2011, W . Trujillo et al. 1978 (COAH!). Curillo, trail to Los Conquistadores, 240 m, 1°1’16.8”N, 75°54’50”W, 29 April 2010, W . Trujillo et al. 1651 (HUAZ!). Florencia, Research center Macagual, 1°37’N, 75°31’W, 260 m, 1 June 2012, M . Gordillo 029 (HUAZ!); San Antonio de Atenas, Embera Chami indigenous camp, 1°44’58”N, 75°34’50”W, 600 m, 19 March 2012, D. Castro et al. 47 (HUAZ!); Trail to La Estrella, 01°36.377’N, 75°34.824’W, 390 m, 18 October 2003, M . Correa et al. 3729 (HUAZ!); Las Brisas farm, trail to Santander, road to Morelia, 450–550 m, 1°31’59”N, 75°42’23”W, 30 June 2010, W . Trujillo et al. 1672 (COAH!). La Montañita, trail to Itarca, 330 m, 1°32’34.5”N, 75°28’19”W, 26 April 2011, N . Castaño et al. 3140 (COAH!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on pages 280-281, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856, {"references":["Gleason, H. E. (1931) Botanical Results of the Tyler-Duida Expedition. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 58: 356.","Jaramillo, M. A, Callejas-Posada, R., Davidson, C., Smith, J. F., Stevens, A. C, Tepe, E. J, Editor, C. & Plunkett, G. M. (2008) A phylogeny of the tropical Genus Piper using ITS and the chloroplast intron psbJ - petA. Systematic Botany 33: 647 - 660. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 036364408786500244"]}

Piper oteguanum W. Trujillo-C. & M.A.Jaram., stat. nov., nom. nov., Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Río Orteguaza, 2 August 1926, G . Woronow & S. Juzepczuk 6364 (holotype ILL!). Basionym:— Piper cajambrense var. caquetanum Trel. & Yunk., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 27. 1950. Shrubs 3 m tall, loosely branched. Internodes 8–10 cm long on monopodial axes, 5–7 cm long on sympodial axes, smooth, light green in fresh specimens and yellow when dry, glabrous, idioblasts not evident in any part of the plant. Prophylls not developed. Petioles (8–)12–15(–17.5) cm long, margins vaginate for ½ to 4 / 5 of the length of the petiole, glabrous, slightly canaliculate. Leaf blades uniform in shape and size along all axes, (32–)35–48(–53) × (16–)20–(33–) 37 cm long including the basal extension, elliptic, base cordate, inequilateral on both monopodial and sympodial axes, sinus closed, with one lobe (5–) 7–9 cm long and exceeding the other, the longest lobe rotundate and fully overlapping the petiole, the shorter one rotundate and shorter than the petiole, base insertion symmetric, blade basally and medially symmetric, glabrous on both sides, coriaceous, pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein with one or two minor veins along the distal third, 6–7 pairs of secondary nerves, festooned brochidodromous, the three or four proximal pairs diverging between the base and the lower third, the fifth and sixth pair diverging from the distal third; higher order veins reticulate, apex acuminate, leaf blade fresh dark green above, light green below in living material, light yellow to olive green when dry. Inflorescences and infructescences simple spikes, terminal, pendulous; peduncles 6–7 × 2–3 mm, glabrous, light green; rachis (27–) 33–43 cm long; fruits sessile, densely arranged. Floral bracts cucullate at anthesis, triangular to rectangular when seen from above, 1.8–2.1 × 0.7–0.9 mm, forming bands around the rachis, fimbriate. Flowers with four stamens, filament 4.1–4.6 mm long, anthers 0.5 × 0.2 mm, with two thecae, with longitudinal dehiscence and a pellucidly dotted connective; stigmas three, on a 0.4–0.7 mm long style. Fruits drupes, pyramidal, apically obtuse, 2.4–2.6 × 1–1.3 mm, immersed in rachis, papillate to rugulose, with aristate, 0.6–0.9 mm long style, 3–4 stigmas to 0.6 mm long, glabrous, black when dry and light green in fresh material. Taxonomic history:— Piper cajambrense var. caquetanum Trel. & Yunk. (1950: 27) was published by Trelease and Yuncker (1950) based on a specimen from the municipality La Montañita on Río Orteguaza, department of Caquetá in Colombia (G. Woronow & S. Juzepczuk 6364, ILL). Based on examination of the original herbarium material and new field collections made in the vicinity of the type locality, we provide morphological and molecular evidence that suggest P. cajambrense var. caquetanum should be treated as a separate species. It can be distinguished from the typical variety, P. cajambrense var. cajambrense , in having glabrous leaves and petioles without epidermal warty outgrowths. The geographic distributions of the two entities are distinct; P. cajambrense var. cajambrense occur in the rainforests of the Pacific region of Colombia below 50 m elevation, whereas P. cajambrense var. caquetanum , here elevated to species as P. oteguanum, occurs in the premontane forest and foothills on the Amazonian slope of the Andes.Apart from our own collections from Colombia, it is also known from two locations in Ecuador. Since the epithet “ caquetanum ” is already in use as Piper caquetanum Yunck. (1957: 530), a new name is presented. The new epithet, oteguanum, honors the Otegua indigenous people who inhabited the headwaters of the Orteguaza River in Caquetá, and from which the river derives its name. The Otegua lived in the region during the 16th century and the Spanish conquest. The type specimen of this species was collected in a locality on the Orteguaza River. Distribution:— Piper oteguanum is distributed along the Amazonian slope of the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador, at 600–1500 m elevation in the Tropical premontane wet forest (TPwf). Habitat and ecology:—It is a shade-loving species in the understory of well-preserved and secondary forests. Phenology:—Flowering specimens were collected in February, August, and October and fruiting specimens were collected in May, July, and October and. Conservation status:—This species is known from eight collections representing three subpopulations. The locations are threatened by deforestation and expansion of the agricultural frontier. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 2695 km 2 and area of occupancy (AOO) is 20 km 2, which, together with the continuing decline in quality of its habitat, suggests that it is Endangered [EN B1a+B2a]. Phylogenetic relationships:— Piper oteguanum belongs to the Macrostachys clade, which is a group of shrubs or treelets with sheathing petioles 2/3 or entire length on monopodial and sympodial branches, pinnately nerved leaves, and mostly long inflorescences with densely arranged flowers forming bands around the rachis, flowers with four long stamens (Jaramillo et al. 2008). Piper oteguanum together with P. obtusilimbum C. DC. (1905: 105), P. marsupiiferum Trel. (1936: 189), and P. cochleatum Sodiro (1905: 203) form a monophyletic clade with strong support (Figure 1, BS=99). Species in this subclade are distributed in northwestern Amazonia in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. These taxa have a strongly asymmetrical leaf base, with one side of the leaf forming a pronounced lobe that overlaps the petiole. Piper oteguanum is distinct from the others in having glabrate leaves. Furthermore, our phylogenetic reconstructions shows that P. cajambrense, from the Pacific coast of Colombia, is not closely related to these Amazonian taxa (Figure 1). On the contrary, P. cajambrense shares a recent common ancestor with other species distributed in the Pacific lowlands of Colombia such as P. spoliatum Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 118) (Figure 1, BS=85). Comments:—The four species in the Macrostachys clade to which P. oteguanum is related have stylose fruits and long stigmas. Piper oteguanum differs from P. obtusilimbum and P. cochleatum in having glabrous leaves and it differs from the similar P. marsupiiferum in having smooth leaves vs. bullate leaves. Key to Piper oteguanum and related species in the Macrostachys clade 1. Leaves bullate........................................................................................................................................................... P. marsupiiferum – Leaves smooth....................................................................................................................................................................................2 2. Abaxial leaf surfaces, petioles, and internodes glabrous............................................................................................... P. oteguanum – Abaxial leaf surfaces, petioles, and internodes pubescent.................................................................................................................3 3. Peduncles 4–5 cm long, rachis> 8 cm long............................................................................................................... P. obtusilimbum – Peduncles 2.5 cm long, rachis P. cochleatum Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá Belén de los Andakíes: Parque Natural Municipal Andakí, La Mina, Las Verdes canyon, 1°37’50”N, 75°54’23”W, 730 m, 1 February 2017 [fl], N . Castaño et al. 9322 (COAH!). Florencia: Trail to Sucre, Finca campamento Sucre, 1°46’52”N, 75°39’5.1”W, 1050 m, 5 July 2012 [fr], W . Trujillo & C. Malambo 2406 (COL!); El Caraño, Las Brisas farm, 1°44’14.7”N, 75°40’35.3”W, 1116 m, 18 October 2013 [fl], W . Trujillo et al. 3007 (COL!); El Caraño, Las Brisas farm, 1°44’14.5”N, 75°40’35.4”W, 1100 m, 10 May 2012 [fr], W . Trujillo & O. Perdomo 2075 (COAH!, COL!); El Caraño, trail to Quindío, 550 m, 16 July 2014 [fr], W . Trujillo et al. 3183 (COL!); El Caraño, trail to Sucre, 1076 m, 1°47’5.8”N, 75°38’50.5”W, 8 July 2014, W . Trujillo et al. 3189 (COL!). ECUADOR: Napo-Pastaza, between Tena and Archidona, 9 October 1939 [fr], E . Asplund 9176 (NY!); Napo, Misahualli, along Misahualli river, 1°02’S, 77°40’W, 12 August 1990 [fl], B . Bennett 4489 (NY!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on pages 273-276, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856, {"references":["Trelease, W. & Yuncker, T. G. (1950) The Piperaceae of northern South America. University of Illinois Press, Indiana, 434 pp","Jaramillo, M. A, Callejas-Posada, R., Davidson, C., Smith, J. F., Stevens, A. C, Tepe, E. J, Editor, C. & Plunkett, G. M. (2008) A phylogeny of the tropical Genus Piper using ITS and the chloroplast intron psbJ - petA. Systematic Botany 33: 647 - 660. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 036364408786500244","Sodiro, L. (1905) Contribuciones al conocimiento de la Flora Ecuatoriana. Anales de la Universidad Central del Ecuador 19: 192 - 204. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 45473"]}

Piper caguanense W. Trujillo-C. & M.A.Jaram. sp. nov., Figs. 2, 3, 4. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, San Vicente del Caguán, road to Neiva, trail to Las Morras, 1031 m, 2°26’30”N, 74°47’2”W, 4 January 2011 [fr], W . Trujillo-C. & M. Calderón 1812 (holotype COAH!, isotype HUA!). Diagnosis:— Piper caguanense differs from the morphologically similar P. miguel-conejoanum Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 287) by the scabrous leaves with evident idioblasts vs. smooth leaves without evident idioblasts in P. miguel-conejoanum. Shrub, 1.5 m tall. Internodes 5–9 cm, smooth, reddish, pubescent, with evident idioblasts throughout the plant except on the connective of the anthers. Prophylls 1.8–2.2 cm, green, pubescent, caducous. Petioles uniform in shape and size along axes, 0.5–1 cm long, vaginate at the base, smooth, pubescent. Leaf blades coriaceous, dark green above, fresh green below, brown when dry, uniform in shape and size along axes, 12–17 cm × 5.5–8.8 cm, ovate, blade medially symmetric, base rounded, equilateral, insertion asymmetric; leaf blade pubescent on both surfaces with trichomes (1–) 1.5–2 mm, scabrous above, ciliate; pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein; secondary veins 4–5 pairs, eucamptodromous, with spacing decreasing and angle increasing towards the base; tertiary veins percurrent; apex acuminate. Inflorescences and infructescences simple spikes, terminal, erect; peduncles 4–4.5 cm long, pubescent, green; fruiting rachis 7–9 cm × 0.2 cm, fruits densely grouped along the rachis. Floral bracts cucullate, triangular when seen from above, 0.3–0.5 × 0.3– 0.3 mm, glabrous on the adaxial surface, margin fimbriated, forming bands around the spike. Flowers with three stamens, filaments 0.3–0.5 mm long, anthers 0.15–0.35 × 0.1–0.3 mm long, longitudinally dehiscent, with two thecae, with connective not protruding, glabrate, idioblasts not evident; stigmas 3, 0.05–0.2 mm long, sessile. Fruits rectangular in lateral view, laterally compressed, green when fresh and brown when dry, 0.8–1.2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, glabrous, partially immersed in the rachis, with stigmas persistent 0.05–0.2 mm long, sessile. Seeds rectangular, laterally compressed, yellow. Distribution:— Piper caguanense is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Andes towards the Amazonas basin in Colombia at 600–1200 m elevation in Tropical premontane wet forests (TPwf). Habitat and ecology:— Piper caguanense is a shade-loving species growing in the understory of well-preserved and secondary forests. Phenology:—Flowering samples were collected in March. Fruiting specimens were collected in October, January, and February. Etymology:—The species is named for the type locality at San Vicente del Caguán, in Caquetá where the Caguán river is born. Conservation status:— This species is known from four specimens representing two subpopulations. The locations where it occurs are threatened by deforestation and expansion of the agricultural frontier. The area of occupancy (AOO) is 8 km 2 which is small and together with the continuing decline in quality of habitat, suggests that this new species is Critically Endangered [CR B2 a]. Comments:— Piper caguanense exhibits the traits of the Radula clade which has leaves that are pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein and spikes with bracts forming bands around the rachis (Jaramillo et al. 2008). After several intents we were not able to obtain ITS sequences for this species, thus, molecular evidence is lacking to confirm its phylogenetic position. Piper caguanense and P. miguel-conejoanum are both villous shrubs with long peduncles but Piper caguanense has scabrous leaves with evident idioblasts whereas P. miguel-conejoanum has smooth leaves without evident idioblasts. Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, trail to Sucre, 1076 m, 1°47’50”N, 75°38’50”W, 18 October 2020, W . Trujillo & F. Hoyos 4123 (COAH!); same locality, 12 December 2020, W . Trujillo et al. 4133 (COAH!); same locality, 24 September 2020, F . Hoyos & W. Trujillo 039 (COAH!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on pages 267-270, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856, {"references":["Jaramillo, M. A, Callejas-Posada, R., Davidson, C., Smith, J. F., Stevens, A. C, Tepe, E. J, Editor, C. & Plunkett, G. M. (2008) A phylogeny of the tropical Genus Piper using ITS and the chloroplast intron psbJ - petA. Systematic Botany 33: 647 - 660. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 036364408786500244"]}

Piper cuniculorum Trel. & Yunck., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 234. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Putumayo, Colombia–Ecuador border, near the confluence of the San Miguel and Conejo rivers, 300 m, J . Cuatrecasas 10906 (holotype US!, isotype ILL!). = Piper papillicaule Trel. & Yunck., The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 224. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Putumayo, Colombia– Ecuador border at the intersection of rivers San Miguel and Conejo, 300 m, J. Cuatrecasas 10917 (holotype US!, isotype COL!) syn. nov. Comments:—In the The Piperaceae of northern South America (Trelease & Yuncker 1950) both P. cuniculorum Trel. & Yunck. (1950:234) and P. papillicaule Trel. & Yunck. (1950:224) are described as having leaves that are less than 20 cm long, pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein, and glabrous on both sides. Both species were separated from other species in the diagnosis and the key by the combination of having 4–5 secondary nerves on each side, bracts peltate and short-fringed, and 10 cm long spikes. In addition, other characters are shared by the two species, for example, both have glabrous leaves, discrete papillae on the internodes as seen on type specimens, even if not mentioned in the description, and they are pinnately nerved from the lower half of the midvein, their spikes are 2–4 mm thick × 10 cm long and their fruits are obpyriform with sessile stigmas. Detailed examination of the two type collections revealed their similarities except for the length of the internodes (2–6 cm long in P. papillicaule vs. 1.5–3.5 cm long in P. cuniculorum), which is a character that varies with age of the branch or the nodes. Additionally, the type specimens of both P. cuniculorum and P. papillicaule were collected at the Colombia – Ecuador border at the junction of the rivers San Miguel and Conejo. Our conclusion is that there are no consistent morphological characters that justify a separation of two species, and thus P. papillicaule is synonymized under P. cuniculorum. Since both names were published in the same publication, we selected P. cuniculorum as the accepted name because it has the most complete type specimen. Distribution and habitat:—This species is distributed along the slopes of the Andes towards the Amazon in Colombia and Ecuador, at 300–1100 m elevation in Tropical premontane wet forests (TPwf). It is a heliophilous species that grows along roadsides. Additional specimens examined: — COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, near Universidad de la Amazonia, 1°36’23.45”N, 75°39’59”W, 270 m, 14 September 2009, J . Alzate 8 (HUAZ!); First bridge in urban area, middle basin of Hacha river, 1°38’707”N, 75°36’978”W, 318 m, 28 March 2005, C . Blanco et al. 267 (HUAZ!). Puerto Rico, trail to San Rafael, Buena Vista farm, 1340 m, 1°54’21.7”N, 75°15’40.4”W, 23 March 2002, J . Díaz et al. 370 (COAH!); Trail to La Estrella, Pensilvania farm, 550 m, 1°56’14.5”N, 75°12’32.3”W, 22 March 2002, M . Correa et al. 3040 (COAH!). San Vicente del Caguan: Road from Neiva to trail to Campanas, 725 m, 2°33’50”N, 74°45’26”W, 04 January 2011, W . Trujillo et al. 1801 (COAH!).

Piper mituense Trel. & Yunck. The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 382. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Vaupés, Mitú, 200 m, 14 September 1939, E. Pérez Arbeláez & J. Cuatrecasas 6810 A (holotype US!). = Piper metanum var. villibracteum Trel. & Yunck. The Piperaceae of northern South America 1: 343. 1950. Type:— COLOMBIA: Meta, Mitú, at Vaupés boundary, 200 m, 14 September 1939, E. Pérez-Arbeláez & J. Cuatrecasas 6810 (holotype US!). syn. nov. Comments:— Piper mituense Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 382) was described from the collection E. Pérez Arbelaez and J. Cuatrecasas 6810 and P. metanum var. villibracteum Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 343) was described from E. Pérez-Arbelaez and J. Cuatrecasas 6810A. The two collections were made at the same locality and on the same day. The protologue of P. mituense highlighted: “the villous twigs, pinnately nerved, oblong-elliptic leaves, and short spikes with substylose ovaries characterize this species”, while for P. metanum var. villibracteum the authors note: “Differs from the species in having somewhat less pubescent twigs, slightly thicker leaves, and with the floral bracts rounded and densely long-fringed”. In addition, P. metanum is remarkably different from the variety because it has spikes 4–6 cm long and erect (vs. spikes 1–1.8 cm long and pendulous). The protologues do not recognize the similarity between the two taxa discussed here. After a detailed examination, we conclude that there are no notable morphological differences that allow considering the two specimens as belonging to different species, for which reason we propose to synonymize the variety P. metanum var. villibracteum under the species P. mituense, giving priority to the species name. Distribution and habitat:— Piper mituense is distributed in the Amazon of Colombia and Ecuador, at elevations below 500 m. It is a shade-loving species growing in the understory. Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Albania, trail to Florida 1, El Porvenir farm, 13 March 2010, W . Trujillo et al. 1358 (HUAZ!). Florencia, trail to Sebastopol, 5 September 2010, L . Zúñiga 02 (HUAZ!); Center Macagual, Monitoreo research station, 30 June 2008, M . Correa et al. 6648 (HUAZ!); San Martin, trail to El Venado, Macagual Research Center of Universidad de la Amazonia, 246 m, 01°29’59.3”N, 75°39’21.9”W, 30 September 2011, M . Correa 7120 (HUAZ!). Milán: Bombay, La Juansoco canyon, 230 m, 1°13’54.9”N, 75°29’30.3”W, 18 September 2007, W . Trujillo et al. 713 (HUAZ!, COAH!). ECUADOR: Napo, Añangu, south bank of Río Napo 95 km downstream from Coca, 246 m, 0°32’S, 76°23’W, 4 July 1985, H . Balslev et al. 60620 (AAU!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on page 280, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856

Piper laperdizense W. Trujillo-C. & M.A.Jaram. sp. nov. Figs. 2, 5, 6. Type:— COLOMBIA: Caqueta Florencia, trail to Tarqui, Gabinete, 1°52’50.5”N, 74°40’56”W, 2400 m, 4 January 2022 [fr], W . Trujillo & F. Hoyos 4449 [holotype COL!, isotypes COAH!, HUA!]. Diagnosis:— Piper laperdizense can be separated from related lianescent species P. novogranatense C. DC. (1869: 313) and P. brachypodon C. DC. (1869: 327) by its pinnatinerved leaves from the lower third vs. leaves pinnatinerved from the lower half or up to ¾ of the blade. It can be differentiated from P. dryadum C. DC. (1891: 221) by its glabrous leaves (vs. leaves pubescent). Additionally, P. laperdizense can be easily differentiated from P. ottoniifolium C. DC. (1866: 213) by having pinnatinerved leaves, secondary nerves> 2 pairs, branched from the lower third (vs. leaves plinerved, secondary nerves up to 2 pairs, branched near the base). Finally, P. laperdizense differs from P. cavendishioides Trel. & Yunck. (1950: 85) by its leaves with no evident idioblasts, base acute, bracts triangular-cucullate vs. leaves with red-idioblasts evident, base rounded, abruptly acute, bracts rounded-subpeltate. Lianescent shrub, reaching 3m high. Internodes 2.5–6 cm long, smooth, green, glabrous, idioblasts not evident in any part of the plant. Prophylls 2.8–3.5 cm long, green to white, glabrous, caducous. Petioles (0.5–) 0.8–1.2 cm long, vaginate at the base, smooth, glabrous. Leaf blades coriaceous, green when alive above, almost glaucous below, olivaceous when dry, uniform in shape and size along all axes, 3.3–5.5 × (10–) 11–14 cm, blade elliptic, medially symmetric, base acute, smooth, glabrous on both surfaces, eciliate, pinnately nerved from the lower third of the midvein, three pairs of secondary veins, eucamptodromous, with spacing decreasing and angle increasing towards the base, tertiary veins randomly reticulate, apex acuminate. Inflorescences and infructescences simple spikes, terminal, erect; peduncles 0.7–1 cm long, glabrous, green; flowering rachis 4–6 cm, fruiting rachis 5–8 cm long. Floral bracts cucullate at anthesis, triangular when seen from above, 0.2 × 0.1 mm, not forming bands around the rachis, fimbriate. Flowers with 3 stamens, filaments 0.4–0.7 mm long, anthers 0.3 × 0.3 mm, with two thecae, with longitudinal dehiscence and a glabrous connective; stigmas three, sessile. Fruit obpyriform, 1.4–1.8 × 0.4–0.6 mm, immersed in rachis, glabrous, stigmas 3, to 0.1 mm long, sessile, light green in fresh material and brown when dry. Distribution:— Piper laperdizense is endemic to the eastern cordillera of the Andes in Colombia along the Amazon slope at 2000–2400 m elevation, in the Tropical montane rain forest (TMrf). Habitat and ecology:—It is a shade-loving species growing in the understory of montane rain forest. Phenology:—Flowering specimens were collected in December and fruiting specimens in January. Etymology:—The type specimen was collected in the municipality of Florencia in Caquetá. The epithet laperdizense refers to the name “La Perdiz”, which is an old name of the settlement that would later become the city of Florencia. Conservation status:— This species is known from four specimens that were all collected in the same population. The location where it occurs is threatened by deforestation. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 74 km 2 and area of occupancy (AOO) is 12 km 2, which is small, which together with the continuing decline in quality of its habitat, suggests that it is Critically Endangered [CR B1 a+ B2 a]. Comments:— Piper laperdizense has glabrous, elliptic leaves that are 10–15 cm long and have acute bases and spikes that are 5–10 cm long. It can be separated from the other morphologically similar species because it is lianescent with smooth and green internodes and petioles. Key to Piper laperdizense and related species 1 Leaves pinnatinerved up to ¾ of the blade............................................................................................................ P. novo-granatense – Leaves pinnatinerved from the lower third or from the lower half....................................................................................................2 2 Leaves pinnatinerved from the lower third........................................................................................................................................3 – Leaves pinnatinerved from the lower half................................................................................................................... P. brachypodon 3 Rachis of the infructescence P. dichroostachyum – Rachis of the infructescence> 2.5 cm................................................................................................................................................4 4 Internodes and leaves pubescent........................................................................................................................................ P. dryadum – Internodes and leaves glabrous or puberulent....................................................................................................................................5 5 Leaves plinerved, secondary nerves 2 pairs, branched near the base......................................................................... P. ottoniifolium – Leaves pinnatinerved, secondary nerves> 2 pairs, branched from the lower third...........................................................................6 6 Leaves with red-idioblasts evident, base rounded, abruptly acute, bracts rounded-subpeltate.............................. P. cavendishioides – Leaves with no evident idioblasts, base acute, bracts triangular-cucullate.................................................................. P. laperdizense Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA: Caquetá, Florencia, Gabinete, near Caqueta Huila border, km 39 along old road Florencia-Guadalupe, 2400 m, 1°52’50.5”N, 75°40’56”W, 29 August 2020 [fl], W . Trujillo & F. Hoyos. 4103 (UMNG!); same locality, 13 December 2020 [sterile], W . Trujillo & F. Hoyos. 4131 (COAH!, UMNG!). Old road Florencia–Neiva, 1°52’7”N, 75°40’14”W, 2070 m, 13 December 2020 [Fl], W . Trujillo et al. 4142 (COAH!, HUA!)., Published as part of Trujillo, William, Jaramillo, M. Alejandra, Toro, Diego & Balslev, Henrik, 2023, Over- and under-described: new species, new synonyms, and a new name in the megadiverse genus Piper (Piperaceae) on the east Andean slopes, pp. 263-284 in Phytotaxa 601 (3) on pages 270-273, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.601.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/8141856

The effects of Piper malacophyllum (C. Pesl) C. DC extracts and its isolated compounds were analysed in a mouse model of primary dysmenorrhoea (PD). Female Swiss mice (6-8 weeks old) on proestrus were intraperitoneally treated with estradiol benzoate for 3 days, to induce PD. Twenty-four hours later, animals were treated 24 h later with vehicle, plant extract, gibbilimbol B, 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide, mixture of 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide and 4,6-dimethoxy-5-Z-phenylbutenolide, or ibuprofen. One hour later, oxytocin was injected and the numbers of abdominal writhing were counted. Then, mice were euthanized and uteri were collected for morphometrical and histological analyses. The effects of P. malacophyllum in inflammation were investigated in mouse peritoneal neutrophils culture stimulated with LPS or fMLP (chemotaxis and mediator release). Finally, uterus contractile and relaxing responses were assessed. Similar to ibuprofen, P. malacophyllum extract and isolated compounds reduced abdominal writhing in mice with PD. Histology indicated a marked neutrophil and mast cell infiltrate in the uterus of PD animals which was attenuated by the extract. The compounds and the extract reduced neutrophil chemotaxis and inflammatory mediator release by these cells. Reduced TNF levels were also observed in uteri of PD mice treated with P. malacophyllum. The extract did not affect spontaneous uterine contractions nor those induced by carbachol or KCl. However, it caused relaxation of oxytocin-induced uterine contraction, an effect blunted by H1 receptor antagonist. Overall the results indicate that P. malacophyllum may represent interesting natural tools for reliving PD symptoms, reducing the triad of pain, inflammation and spasmodic uterus behaviour.

The new genus Tarsobaenus and three new species—Tarsobaenus letourneauae, T. piper and T. hansoni—are described from Costa Rica. Tarsobaenus is distinguished by the broad, subulate form of the plical excavation along the elytral suture, the lower margin of which is modified into a broad flattened flange; serrulate apical elytral margins; and the conspicuously large, shiny body. Two of the species are associates of Piper plants and their pharaoh ant symbionts. We provide a key to the three species of Tarsobaenus.

The morphological and microscopy were combined with DNA-barcoding, together with rapid TLC for the characterization of Piper betle (PB), P. nigrum (PN), P. retrofractum (PR), P. sarmentosum (PS), and P. wallichii (PW), five medicinal Piper plants announced in the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia (THP). The authentic plants collected from various locations and voucher Piper products bought from commercial sites in Thailand were studied. The reproductive parts of authentic plants were subjected to ensure their morphological characters. Using sequencing analysis and genetic divergence for analyzing discriminatory performance, ITS2 was selected from eight candidate DNA markers to authenticate the origin of Piper crude drugs together with microscopic and TLC profiles for examining their characters, admixtures, adulterants, and substituents. PB and PR exhibited unique characters of the species, with no admixture, adulteration, and substitution. PN showed no variable characters of morphology and genetics. However, the microscopy could illustrate some commercial products of PN sold in Thailand have been adulterated with rice starch and roasted rice. In the herbal trade, PS has been sold in the form of mixed leaf, root, and stem more than the isolated part, but there is no variable character of the species. PW has shown more than one character of species explained by microscopic, chemical components, and genetic data. In conclusion, the conventional and molecular pharmacognostic data combined with chemical profile of authentic five Piper plants could be applied to indicate the plant origin and clarify the situations of admixture, adulteration, and substitution of the commercial Piper products launched in Thailand.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Thirty-five herbal formulations used in this current work are utilized as anti-cariogenic agents in Thai traditional medicine. Acidogenic properties play a crucial role in the initiation of dental caries caused by Streptococcus mutans, and a quorum sensing (QS) system is an associated virulence factor in dental caries. Aim of the study The current work aimed to determine the anti-acidogenic effect of these polyherbal formulas against S. mutans and explore their anti-QS activity using Chromobacterium violaceum as a biosensor. Materials and methods Ethanol and water extracts from the formulas were evaluated for their anti-acidogenic effects using glycolytic pH drop assays. Qualification and quantification of anti-QS activity indicated by the level of violacein production in C. violaceum were performed using paper disc-diffusion and flask incubation assays, respectively. Results Among the extracts tested, THF-DC 02 and THF-DC 04 significantly inhibited the acidogenesis of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the cell viability. THF-DC 20 and THF-DC 29 sharply reduced the violacein production of C. violaceum, indicating the promising anti-QS activity of these extracts. Conclusion The findings of the present study, preliminarily propose that the polyherbal formulas THF-DC 02, THF-DC 04, THF-DC 20, and THF-DC 29 produce promising anti-acidogenic or anti-QS activities. The anti-acidogenic effect of THF-DC 04 may possibly act by interrupting streptococcal membrane enzymes via its herbal components: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd., Albizia myriophylla Benth., Avicennia marina subsp. eucalyptifolia (Valeton) J.Everett and Ocimum tenuiflorum L. The anti-QS activity of THF-DC 20 and THF-DC 29 could be due to their herbal ingredients, including Piper betle L., Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., Terminalia chebula Retz., and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry.

Corona virus pandemic outbreak also known as COVID-19 has created an imbalance in this world. Scientists have adopted the use of natural or alternative medicines which are consumed mostly as dietary supplements to boost the immune system as herbal remedies. India is famous for traditional medicinal formulations which includes ‘Trikadu’—a combination of three acrids, namely Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum and Piper longum which have antioxidant properties that boost our immune system hence acting as a strong preventive measure. In this study, AutoDock 4.0 was used to study interaction between the phytocompounds of Trikadu with RNA-dependent polymerase protein and enveloped protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analysis of the results showed that coumarin, coumaperine and bisdemethoxycurcumin showed strong bonding interactions with both the proteins. We can conclude that Trikadu has the potential molecules; hence, it can be incorporated in the diet to boost the immune system as a preventive measure against the virus. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12010-021-03793-5.

Currently, black pepper commands the leading position among all the spices as a spice of great commercial importance in all the world trade and finds its way into the dietary habits of millions of people worldwide. Black pepper is biologically known as Piper nigrum and contains piperine as the main active chemical constituent. This paper highlights various general methods for extracting piperine from the crude drug such as maceration extraction, hydrotropic extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and extraction with ethanol & dichloromethane Ionic fluid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction, etc. In this review, piperine and its analogs exhibit numerous pharmacological activities and synthetic schemes of insecticidal activity, anti-cancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-diabetic activity, anti-hyperlipidemic activity, antifungal activity, narcotic activity, etc. and its structure-activity relationship. The biochemistry of piperine has also been summarized in the presented article. This very exhaustive review details the complete information about piperine, its derivatives, and further processing. Furthermore, the current study summarises recent research that has linked piperine to its use as a treatment for a variety of ailments.

Piper puerense C.Y. Hao & F. Su, sp. nov. (Figs. 1–2) Type: — CHINA. Province Yunnan: Puer County, Simao District, Taiyanghe National Natural Reserve, tropical montane rain forests, ca. 1585 m, 22°35’56.51”N, 101°06’51.30”E, 4 May 2020, C.-Y. Hao 2020054 (holotype HITBC!; isotypes HITBC!, Herb. of SBRI!). Diagnosis:— The new species is morphologically similar to P. curtipedunculum, but can be distinguished by the stems (densely roughly pubescent when young, glabrous when mature vs. glabrous), leaf blades (ovate, 8.5–12 cm × 4.3–6.5 cm vs. ovate or narrowly ovate to elliptic, 9–14 × 4–8 cm), female inflorescence length (12–18 cm vs. 9–14 cm), male inflorescence length (20–30 cm vs. 13–15 cm), bracts diameter (1–2 mm vs. 0.5 mm), infructescence (15–22cm vs. 8–15cm), peduncle (1.5 cm, nearly 2 times larger than the petiole vs. 0.5–1cm, subequal to petiole), and fruit diameter (1.0– 1.5 mm vs. 0.7–1.0 mm). Woody climbers, more than 5 m high, dioecious. Stems pale green, black brown when dry, 0.6–1.2 mm thick, finely ridged when dry, densely pubescent when young, glabrous when mature, with climbing adventitious roots. Leaves chartaceous, glandular, adaxial surface dark green, abaxial surface pale green. Leaf blade on the monopodial branches ovate to cordate, 5.0–8.0 cm long, 3.5–6.0 cm wide, base cordate to auriculate, symmetric or slightly asymmetric, apex acute; adaxial surface glabrous; abaxial surface pubescent, especially on the veins; veins 7, reticulate veins conspicuous, multiplinerve, apical pair arising 0.5–1.5 cm above base, alternate, reaching leaf apex, others basal; petioles 1.0–2.0 cm long, pubescent, prophyll ca. 1/3 as long as petioles or longer. Leaf blade on the sympodial branches ovate, chartaceous, glandular, 8.5–12 cm × 4.3–6.5 cm; leaf blade base oblique, usually one side broad and rounded, other side narrow and cuneate, bilateral difference 2–4 mm; leaf blade apex attenuate to acuminate, glabrous; veins (7–)9, reticulate veins conspicuous, multiplinerve, apical pair arising 2.5–4.0 cm above base, alternate, reaching leaf apex, others basal, glabrous; petioles 0.5–1.0 cm long, sheathed at base only, glabrous. Inflorescence a pedunculate spike, leaf-opposed, solitary, pendulous, cylindrical; the fertile rachis pubescent, with densely compacted flowers; floral bracts orbicular, ca. 1–2 mm diameter, peltate, glabrous, stalk 0.5–1.5 mm long. Male inflorescences 20–30 cm long, 3–4 mm diameter, green when young, white when mature; peduncles 1.0–2.0 cm long, glabrous. Male flowers with 2 stamens; filaments short; anthers subglobose, 2-locular with lateral dehiscence. Female inflorescences 12.0–18.0 cm long, 3–4 mm diameter, green when young, light yellow when mature; peduncles 1.0–2.0 cm long, glabrous. Female flowers with ovary globose, distinct; style short, persistent and stiff-pointed; stigma ovoid, apex acute, 3-lobed. Infructescences 15–22 cm long, 0.5–0.7 cm diameter, glabrous, pendulous, cylindrical, with an echinate appearance from the persistent styles. Berry obovate, 1–1.5 mm in diameter, partly connate to rachis, glabrous, green. Seed dark brown when mature, ellipsoid, 0.9–1.2 mm long × 0.7–1.0 mm wide, smooth. Phenology:— Flowering from March to July; fruiting from June to November. Etymology:— The epithet refers to its distribution, Puer County in Yunnan province. Distribution and habitat:— Piper puerense is currently known only from Puer County of Yunnan Province in China (Fig. 3). It occurs in wet subtropical and tropical montane forest at elevations of 1500–2200 m, and often climbs on trees or rocks close to streams. Conservation status:— Piper puerense is classified as Critically Endangered (CR B2a, IUCN 2012). The total area of occupancy is less than 5 km 2 and only two populations are known, despite extensive fieldwork in the area by the first author. The suitable habitats for P. puerense on the mountain slopes are endangered due to the deforestation of those regions. Taxonomic affinities:— The species that is morphologically most similar to this new plant is P. curtipedunculum C. De Candolle, which can be found in S. Guizhou, SE to SW Yunnan (Tseng 1979). After comparison with the specimens and the literature (De Candolle 1868, Tseng 1979), we found that P. puerense can be clearly differentiated from P. curtipedunculum by several characteristics, as summarized in Table 1. Additional specimens examined (Paratypes):— CHINA. Puer of Yunnan Province: Jingdong County, Wuliangshan National Nature Reserve, ca. 1895 m, 24°29’21.44”N, 100°42’46.84”E, 7 October 2020, C.-Y. Hao 2020067 (HITBC!)., Published as part of Su, Fan, Ji, Xun-Zhi, Wu, Bao-Duo, Qin, Xiao-Wei & Hao, Chao-Yun, 2022, Piper puerense, a new species of Piperaceae from Yunnan, China, pp. 159-165 in Phytotaxa 575 (2) on pages 161-162, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.575.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7413223, {"references":["Tseng, Y. Q. (1979) Materials for chinese piper. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 17 (1): 32 - 36.","De Candolle, C. (1868) Piperaceae. In: De Candolle, A. (Ed.) Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis, Vol. 16 (1). Masson, Paris, 347 pp"]}

Piperis Longi Fructus, made from the mature and immature fruit spikes of Piper longum, is a commonly used Mongolian medicine. In recent years, researchers have gradually deepened the research on ethnic medicines and found that Piperis Longi Fructus has significant effects in adjusting blood lipids and anti-cancer. Its new chemical components and pharmacological activities are also constantly updated. Subsequently, the development and application of Piperis Longi Fructus have attracted extensive attention. Thus, it is quite urgent to establish and improve a quality evaluation system for the medicine. On the basis of summarizing the chemical components and pharmacological effects of Piperis Longi Fructus and understanding the new concept of quality marker(Q-marker), the components which can be used as its Q-markers were analyzed from the aspects of the genetic relationship, traditional medicinal effects and properties, rules of compounding and compatibility, absorbed components and testability. The research can provide reference for the establishment of a quality evaluation system for Piperis Longi Fructus.

Research conducted to meet the needs of standard compounds in practical and research activities. The use of standard compounds improves the quality of a study. Piperine is the main secondary metabolite compound of the alkaloid group contained in Black Pepper Piper nigrum L. The isolation method used is reflux and recrystallization methods. The reflux process in absorbing piperine compounds with diethyl ether solvent will help break down the cell walls to absorb the compounds optimally. Recrystallization was repeated 7-8 times until the crystals were pale yellow. The purity test used the TLC test with a solvent ratio of n-hexane and chloroform 6:4 with an Rf value of 0.04 cm. GCMS confirmation of 85% purity, UV-Visible spectroscopic test maximum wavelength 343 with absorbance 0.865 and FTIR test confirmed wave number 928 cm-1 (CO), 996 cm-1 ((CH bending of trans –CH=CH-), 1028 cm-1(=COC sym. st.), 1250 cm-1 (=COC asym. st.), 1440 cm-1 (methylenedioxy CH2bending), 1581 cm-1 (arom. C=C st.), 1631 cm-1 (-CO-N-). Based on the confirmed test results, the isolated compound is piperine from the alkaloid group. Piperine compounds can be used as standard compound preparations for testing the purity of compounds in research and chemistry lab work on natural ingredients.

BACKGROUND Sitophilus zeamais is one of the most economically impactful pests, attacking various grains and processed foods. Control of this insect has been achieved using synthetic insecticides, exacerbated and careless use of which has led to the development of resistant insect populations, toxicity to non-target organisms and environmental contamination. In this study, Piper corcovadensis leaf essential oil (PcLEO) and its major compound, 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene (BMDB), were investigated as alternative insecticidal agents against S. zeamais. RESULTS Characterization of PcLEO showed the presence of 40 compounds. The major components were the phenylpropanoid BMDB (35.77%) and the monoterpenes α-pinene (14.95%) and terpinolene (6.23%). PcLEO and BMDB were toxic by fumigation (half-maximal lethal concentration [LC50 ]: 9.46 and 0.85 μl L-1 of air, respectively), by contact (half-maximal lethal dose [LD50 ]: 9.38 and 6.16 μg g-1 of insect, respectively) and ingestion (LC50 : 16.04 and 14.30 mg g-1 , respectively). In the ingestion test, both PcLEO and BMDB promoted the loss of insect biomass and had a strong deterrent effect. In addition, both were able to inhibit trypsin and α-amylase activities. CONCLUSION PcLEO and BMDB exhibited insecticidal activity against S. zeamais, with a toxic effect by fumigation, contact and ingestion, in addition to food deterrence and inhibiting trypsin and α-amylase activities, suggesting their potential for use in the control of this pest.

Background: Piper longum, a traditional plant used for regenerative medicine commonly known as the long pepper, is used to treat many pathological conditions. Piper longum is used as a source for obtaining the production of various nanoparticles and testing their efficacy. Piper longum has many beneficial activities, such as antifungal, anti-amoebic, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressants activities. Silver nanoparticles are widely and commonly used for its antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms. Our study aimed to synthesize Piper longum based silver nanoparticles and to investigate its anti-oxidant property. Materials and Methods: Piper longum plant extract was prepared and silver nanoparticles extract was synthesized. DPPH assay was then performed to assess the free radical scavenging activity of the Piper longum silver nanoparticle extract. The further analysis was that the formation of brownish-red color observed was evident, resulting in thesynthesization of silver nanoparticles. Results: Brown discolouration represents formation of silver nanoparticles and the antioxidant activity was noted to be from 60% to 70% from 10 to 50μL. But when compared to standard vitamin C values the Piper longum silver nanoparticles showed less antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The Piper longum mediated silver nanoparticles showed remarkable and considerable antioxidant activity but when compared with the standard sample values the antioxidant activity was low.

A study was conducted to find out the influence of weather factors, soil temperature and soil moisture on the incidence of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. induced collar rot disease in betelvine (Piper betle L.), during 2016 to 2018. Fourteen soil and weather factors, taken from the agrometeorological observatory located at instructional farm of Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith and recorded from a nearby betelvine boroj, were subjected to multiple regression, binary logistic regression and canonical discriminant analysis to develop a suitable disease forewarning model. The binary logistic model, Y(0/1) = 5.899 + 0.865 (Tmax) – 0.569 (SM) + 0.097 (BRHmin) was able to predict the disease risk with 78 per cent accuracy and correctly classified 94 per cent of cases during model validation in 2018. The weekly averages of maximum temperature (Tmax), soil moisture (SM) and minimum relative humidity inside the boroj (BRHmin) were found to be the most significant predictors of disease incidence, in this model. The soil moisture at 69 - 72 per cent of field capacity, minimum temperature of 25 - 27oC, maximum temperature of 33 - 36oC, average soil temperature of 28 - 30oC, minimum relative humidity of 60 - 72 per cent inside the boroj and maximum relative humidity of 83 - 89 per cent inside the boroj were found to be highly congenial for collar rot disease incidence in betelvine under coastal saline zone of West Bengal.

The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Plant Science and Biotechnology Department, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State to investigate the insecticidal potency of three spices powder namely black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale L.), and true green (Ellectaria cardamom L.), against wheat weevil (Tribolium castaneum) on stored wheat grain. Spices powder was added separately to 20g of wheat grain in plastic containers at four dosages 0.15, 0.27, 0.37, and 0.5% (w/w) while control had no spices powder. Twenty insect pests (Tribolium castaneum) were introduced into each container. Mortality counted in each treatment was recorded after 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. All treatments were replicated three times. Variations were significantly observed in the overall effect of different plant powders on the mortality of weevils extracted from wheat kernel. Weevils treated with Piper nigrum powder exhibited the highest mean mortality (16.37), followed by Ellectaria cardamom (16.05) and lastly Zingiber officinale (13.82). from the result obtained, it is evident that the spice powders possessed insecticidal properties which if fully extracted could be used in post harvest treatment of wheat grain on storage

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Black pepper, the fruits of Piper nigrum L., is well known as “the king of spices” and used as seasoning and condiments globally. In addition to being an important food additive, black pepper is also used as a traditional medicine to treat vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, among others. Piperine is a major pungent alkaloid identified in the fruits of P. nigrum (black pepper), whose content is at a range of ~5–13%. Black pepper and piperine have shown protective effect on CVDs. Scope and approach Literature search was conducted to systematically review the cardiovascular protective effect of both black pepper and its major bioactive constituent piperine. Key findings and conclusions Black pepper was reported to regulate lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidation status in CVDs. Piperine exhibited beneficial effect by targeting many processes associated with atherosclerosis. Piperine is able to prevent lipid peroxidation, oxidized low-density lipoprotein uptake in macrophages, lipid droplet formation, and adhesion of inflammatory cells to endothelial monolayer, promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages, as well as improve lipid profile. Besides, piperine may ameliorate myocardial ischemia, cardiac injury, and cardiac fibrosis, exhibit antihypertensive and antithrombosis effect, as well as prevent arterial stenosis by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. The summarized information could provide the basis to develop black pepper or piperine as a food additive to prevent or treat CVDs.

This study evaluates the prospective use of an herbal plant Piper longum in letrozole induced polycystic ovary syndrome using a rat model. The study used female wistar rats, which were divided into 9 groups, each containing 6 animals. Group I (Control) daily received 1% Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC)as a vehicle control. Letrozole (1mg/kg) was administered by oral route for period of 21days for induction of PCOS in group (II-IX). During experimental period, vaginal smear of all females were collected daily for the estrous cycle determination. During 28 days of letrozole administration, changes in estrous cycle of females were observed and studied. This study showed that PCOS was induced. After Letrozole treatment, 6 animals from group III-IX treated orally with, standard drugs Metformin (300mg/kg/oral route), Clomiphene citrate (100mg/kg/oral route), plant drug Piper longum L. at a concentration of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 800mg/kg, drug interaction groups: Metformin + Piper longum L, 800mg/kg and Clomiphene citrate +Piper lonum L., 800mg/kg body weight and studied for consecutive estrous cycles. Vaginal smear were examined, it showed that hydro alcoholic extract of fruits of Piper longum Linn. group has potential effect on PCOS bringing estrous cycle to normalcy. Also, after Letrozole treatment ovary and reproductive weights of normal rats increased which is normalizes with plant drug treatment. Further studies of hydroalcoholic extract of fruits Piper longum Linn. need to be carried out to check other related parameters of PCOS.

Brain aging is one of the unavoidable aspects of geriatric life. As one ages, changes such as the shrinking of certain parts (particularly the frontal cortex, which is vital to learning and other c...

A new species of Piper L. (Piperaceae) from the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia and Peru, P. callejasii W. Trujillo & M. A. Jaram., is described and illustrated, and morphological comparisons with similar species are discussed. Piper callejasii is distinguished by its stigmas being sessile, rather than on a long style as in four similar species. Its conservation status is suggested to be Endangered.

Piper multinodum C.DC. belongs to the Piperaceae family, and is known as “Jaborandi-manso”. This species has no reported botanical, chemical, pharmacological and/or toxicological scientific studies, and has restricted occurrence in degraded Brazilian biomes. The Piper genus is known to be aromatic, the essential oils (EO) obtained from different organs have demonstrated significant biological activities, and can be an important tool for chemophenetic and ecological definitions. The present study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the EO from different parts of P. multinodum and their activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC, 25618). The EO were obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-MS and GC-FID. Chemical composition of the volatile mixture showed a great diversity of compounds that diverged between the vegetative and reproductive parts. The α-pinene compound was identified as being the most predominant in the leaves, infructescences and inflorescences (32.49, 67.23 and 40.23%, respectively). The branches (secondary stem) showed to be rich in sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes: α-copaene (13.24%), E-caryophyllene (12.32%), α-pinene (20.34%), and myrcene (11.23%). The chemical profile of stems and roots showed a low percentage of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, but a high percentage of arylpropanoids, with E-methyl-isoeugenol (77.58%) registered in the stems and euasarone (81.34%) in the root. The antimycobacterial activity showed the highest activities recorded for the EO from roots (78.51 µg/mL) and infructescences (85.91 µg/mL). In addition to the findings related to biological activity, the determination of chemical diversification between the different parts of P. multinodum may help to understand the ecological issues of the Piperaceae family as well as to improve the chemotaxonomic knowledge of the genus Piper. Key words: Piper multinodum; essential oils; antimycobacterial activity; chemical composition.

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc causes serious yield loss of Pippali (Piper longum Linn.). Catkin, the fruit of Pippali is directly used in medicinal industry so, use of chemical fungicides is not encourages for the cultivation of Pippali. The present study was carried out to bring orgnaic management strategy of the crop. Six native isolates of fungal and bacterial antagonists were tested against S. rolfsii and found T. harzianum was found as the best agents. In in vitro studies, sclerotial production was found drastically reduced when exposed to biocontrol agents. Result on field experiment showed that soil application of mustard oil cake (MOC) @ 1 kg/2X2 m2 plot fortified with T. harzianum @ 5 ml/m2 found effective in managing the basal rot with disease reduction upto 10.65% with increased plant growth parameters. This was followed by soil application of T. harzianum @ 5 ml/m2 with disease incidence of 14.98%.

The genus Piper (Family Piperaceae), consisting of more than 2000 species worldwide, is one of the most speciose genera of flowering plants that belong to the broad category known as basal angiosperms. Piper is known for the several medicinally and economically important species that have been used throughout their native range. Interestingly, this genus is also one of the most taxonomically challenging genera among the angiosperms. The presence of taxonomically complex as well as ecologically and economically important species makes Piper an excellent study system to address the evolution of tropical biodiversity. Being an early-diverging angiosperm genus, understanding Piper systematics and divergence patterns holds vital clues to plant evolution in the tropics. However, research on this plant group is still in a nascent stage, with the primary focus being on its medicinal importance and natural product chemistry. Its distribution, natural history, ecology, evolution and systematics remain less explored. Lack of such knowledge will impede the ongoing conservation effort and may affect the sustainable utilization of this valuable plant resource. The Indian subcontinent is an important center of Piper diversity harboring ca. 100 species, including several economically and medicinally important species such as Black pepper. Piper species in India have a high potential for future utilization; however, their conservation status and needs have not been widely reviewed. Here, we review the taxonomy, ecology and evolution, of Piper species, the threats they face, and further discuss future research directions and suggest ways forward in conserving and effectively utilizing this important plant group in India.

Pepper (Piper nigrum Linn.) is the most traded spice commodity among other spices. The problem with pepper farming in West Kalimantan is the lack of nutrient availability because plantation land is dominated by ultisol soils. Gamal leaf liquid organic diapers application is expected to increase the availability of nutrients in the growing media. The aim of the study was to determine the nutrient content of the liquid organic diapers of gamal leaves, to see the effect, as well as the best concentration and time of application on the vegetative growth of pepper plants. The study was carried out for four months, namely from January to April 2020 at the Pepper Plantation of Tengon Village, using a factorial compeletely randomized design pattern consisting of 2 factors, the concentration such as 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% control and liquid organic fertilizer application time (every time week and every two weeks). The results showed that liquid organic fertilizer of gamal leaves contained 12.7% C-organic., 0.27% N-Total., 47.03 C/N ratio., 0,25% P., and 0,29 K. The results of the research that giving Gamal leaf liquid organic fertilizer had a significant effect on shoot length, number of shoots and number of leaves of pepper plants, however, it did not significantly affect the time of emergence of pepper shoots. Liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 40% and time of application every week gave the best effect on shoot length (25.33 cm), number of shoots (4.33 shoots), and number of leaves (14.33 strands).  It was concluded that the  liquid organic diapers concentration treatment of gamal leaves had a significant effect on shoot length, number of shoots, and number of leaves of pepper plants but did not significantly affect the time of shoots emerging for pepper plants.  The best poc concentration that increases pepper plant growth is 40% with every week application.  It is recommended that further research can be carried out on the manufacture of  liquid organic diapers of gamal leaves combined with animal waste on the growth of pepper plants, with application time of 2-3 times in one week.

Biofumigation is an environmentally benign and promising technique for suppressing soil borne pathogens. The objective of the study was to find out the efficacy of biofumigation with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L., var. Pusa Mahak) against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., causing collar rot disease in betelvine (Piper betle L.). Culture of S. rolfsii, isolated from collar rot infected betelvine tissue, sclerotia of S. rolfsii and the culture of Trichoderma sp. T-Nam, a native isolate, were separately exposed to different doses of macerated fresh mustard leaf (MFML) of four phenotypic stages, without any contact. The saprophytic colonization ability of the pathogen and the collar rot disease incidence were studied in soil system under different doses of biofumigation, both alone and in combination with soil amendment with Trichoderma. The mustard leaves showed best biofumigation activity at 50% flowering stage, with IC99 values (99% inhibitory concentration) of 2.49 g and 3.86 g MFML per 127 ml air space for S. rolfsii mycelial growth inhibition and sclerotial germination inhibition, respectively. The native isolate, Trichoderma sp. T-Nam, was highly tolerant to such biofumigation treatment (IC99 value of 9.46 g MFML per 127 ml air space). The significant (p

In the present study, the extracted volatiles from dried leaf and fruit of Piper longum were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and each detected 53 constituents having 92.41% and 96.31% of the total volatiles respectively. E-nerolidol (19.56%), β-pinene (17.07%) and α-pinene (6.8%) were main constituents in leaf volatiles whereas the fruit volatiles dominated by germacrene-D (23.38%), 8-heptadecene (8.95%) and β-caryophyllene (8.20%). Antioxidant potential of the volatiles were assessed by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. The fruit volatiles revealed higher radical scavenging activities as compared to leaf. The samples were also evaluated against multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates including one non MDR fungal strain. The fruit volatiles showed a very strong activity against Acinetobacter baumannii than others whereas leaf volatiles possessed strong activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae as compared to other strains. Thus, the dried fruits can be exploited for drug development towards therapeutic purpose.

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and in Central America, it is considered one of the four most infectious diseases. This study aimed to screen the anti-trypanosomal activity of plant species from Salvadoran flora. Plants were selected through literature search for plants ethnobotanically used for antiparasitic and Chagas disease symptomatology, and reported in Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador (MUHNES) database. T. cruzi was incubated for 72 h with 2 different concentrations of methanolic extracts of 38 species, among which four species, Piper jacquemontianum, Piper lacunosum, Trichilia havanensis, and Peperomia pseudopereskiifolia, showed the activity (≤ 52.0% viability) at 100 µg/mL. Separation of the methanolic extract of aerial parts from Piper jacquemontianum afforded a new flavanone (4) and four known compounds, 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxymethoxychroman-4-one (1), 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxychroman-4-one (2), cardamomin (3), and pinocembrin (5), among which cardamomin exhibited the highest anti-trypanosomal activity (IC50 = 66 µM). Detailed analyses of the spectral data revealed that the new compound 4, named as jaqueflavanone A, was a derivative of pinocembrin having a prenylated benzoate moiety at the 8-position of the A ring. Graphic abstract

Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts of betel leaf (Piper betle L.) and areca nut (Areca catechu) against six food borne enteric pathogens viz. Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (icddr,b), Salmonella typhimurium (AIM-40, icddr,b), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ATCC 12079) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 12079), and four oral pathogens such as isolates 1 & 2 of each of the two bacteria viz. Staphylococcus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. was investigated. Ethanol extract of betel leaf produced highest zone of inhibition (18.0 ± 1.91 mm) against Staphylococcus epidermidis (icddr,b) whereas that of areca nut produced highest zone of inhibition (15.0 ± 0.816 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). But no inhibition was found against Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC AIM-40, icddr,b), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ATCC 12079) by the Ethanol extract of betel leaf. The MIC and MBC values of both ethanol extracts indicated that Gram positive organisms were more susceptible than Gram negative organisms. Highest antimicrobial activity of ethanol extracts of betel leaf was found against the isolate 1 of Staphylococcus sp. (16.5±0.5) and that of areca nut was recorded against the isolate 1 of Staphylococcus sp. (12.0±0.5) and the isolate 2 of Pseudomonas sp. (12.0±0.5). Present study reveals the potentials of both the extracts to inhibit food borne enteric and oral pathogens that could be used as food preservatives to prevent the food borne illness as well as for maintaining the oral and gut health. Bangladesh J Microbiol, Volume 38, Number 1, June 2021, pp 15-19

The utilization of plant parts that are not used is very important in order to minimize organic waste. Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) rind has antibacterial properties which can be used as raw material. The same goes for the skin of lime peel (Citrus aurantiifolia), Betel leaf (Piper betle), Aloe vera (Aloe vera) and Eucalyptus grandis leaves. Eucalyptus grandis is a product that is not harvested in Industrial Plantation Forests which are grown by the community and green Industry in North Sumatra. The part used is the plant stem which is used as a material for making pulping. The extraction process was carried out used steam distillation. In this work, the analysis of active compound used GCMS instrument. The result of the analysis showed that there was 1.8 Sineol as much as 52%. This compound was used as an antiseptic and give a fragrant aroma. This work aims to produced of natural hand sanitizers used Eucalyptus grandis as an odorant and antiseptic agent which used to prevent the transmission of Covid19 in Kotamatsum IV sub district, Medan City. The resulting product was a hand sanitizer that is safe to use and friendly to the environment. The natural hand sanitizer products can be used by the community in reducing the transmission of Covid19 and can increase people's income.

Focaccia is an Italian bread baked with herbs in a similar way to pizza, this can be utilized as a regular meal in daily basis, thus the bread prepared without cheese, it is considered as a good health supplement. The addition of herbs like Plectranthus amboinicus (Indian Borage) and Piper longum (long Pepper) to focaccia may increase the medicinal value. Borage is used as a medicine in treating contagious diseases like viral flu and cough through antiviral, antibacterial and antifebrile activity, likewise Piper longum acts as an antibacterial and have immunomodulation properties, piper longum is commonly known as Indian long pepper mostly used in siddha medicine to treat cough and respiratory disease. The upper respiratory infection mainly influence cough, sinusitis, sore throat, pharyngitis, also develop lung inflammation and this herb could be consumed in regular diet. The objective of this research is to analyze antiviral and antibacterial properties of Plectranthus amboinicus and Piper longum. Furthermore, to evaluate the Focaccia bread in addition with these herbs in preparation by sensory evaluation.

In this study we examined P. betle antibacterial property on two bacterial species namely: Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli. The extract of P. betle was prepared by mixing 2 gm of P. betle powder with 20 ml of 70% ethanol. Then, the solvent was evaporated by using vacuum evaporator and the residue was freeze dried and stored at -20 ºC. The P. betle extract divided into three different concentrations that are 50 mg/ml, 75 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml. The results revealed that the leaves of Piper betle have many benefits including antibacterial activity. The three concentrations showed an effective zone of inhibition against S. agalactiae and E. coli using Kirby-Baeur method. In addition, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) confirms the effectiveness of P. betle. This study findings indicated that P. betle extract can be a new source of antibacterial agent and an alternative antibacterial for control of S. agalactiae and to certain extant against E. coli infections.

BACKGROUND: The housefly, Musca domestica L., spreads disease by contaminating food. However, chemical insecticides used to combat houseflies can pollute the environment and can harm non-target insects and humans; this demands safer alternatives and pest control options. AIM: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Piper betle L. leaf extract as a bio-pesticide against houseflies. METHODS: This study using a factorial design with six variations in concentration (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%), four variations in contact time (15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes), and 5-day-old M. domestica adults that were bred from residential areas. RESULTS: The results show that mortality was affected by concentration (p-value < 0.000), contact time (p-value < 0.000), and the interaction between concentration and contact time (p-value = 0.0007). Of the three, concentration had the greatest effect. CONCLUSION: As such, the use of Piper betle L. extract is a suitable, cheap, and environmentally safe method for controlling M. domestica.

Improved methodological tools to hasten antimalarial drug discovery remain of interest, especially when considering natural products as a source of drug candidates. We propose a biodereplication method combining the classical dereplication approach with the early detection of potential antiplasmodial compounds in crude extracts. Heme binding is used as a surrogate of the antiplasmodial activity and is monitored by mass spectrometry in a biomimetic assay. Molecular networking and automated annotation of targeted mass through data mining were followed by mass-guided compound isolation by taking advantage of the versatility and finely tunable selectivity offered by centrifugal partition chromatography. This biodereplication workflow was applied to an ethanolic extract of the Amazonian medicinal plant

Studies show that more consumers are using natural health products in the modern world. We have noticed a growing demand in markets and the professional community for mouthwashes that contain natural compounds. The objective of this study was to assess the chemical characterization and microbiological potential of the essential oil

Antioxidants are compounds that are able to inhibit the negative effects that come from free radicals. The phenomenon of imbalanced antioxidant production and the accumulation of free radicals in cells and tissues can cause oxidative stress. Excessive free radicals that enter the body cannot be warded off by endogenous antioxidant compounds so that the required antioxidant compounds can come from the outside, which helps in the performance of endogenous antioxidants. Antioxidants that come from outside consist of synthetic and natural antioxidants; however, synthetic antioxidants are not an option because they have toxic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, the use of natural ingredients is an alternative method that is needed to create a new natural antioxidant compound.

The Caatinga is an exclusively Brazilian biome where semiarid climatic conditions promote singularities in adaptive biodiversity. Many aromatic species are found in this region possessing antifungal properties, which are attributed to their essential oils. Thus, we questioned whether essential plant oils found in the Caatinga present anti-dermatophytic potential. Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that cause one of the most prevalent mycoses globally, skin infections known as dermatophytoses (tineas). Here, we provide a comprehensive report of the available published information, analyzing the methods used to evaluate the antifungal activity, verifying the quality of the evidence and possible clinical applications, and discussing research trends in this area. The plants studied concentrated in the genera Croton (Euphorbiaceae), Lippia (Verbenaceae), Piper (Piperaceae), and Mentha (Lamiaceae). All of the studies used in vitro tests to analyze antifungal potential, and little evidence was ascertained concerning the mechanism of antifungal action. In addition, the essential oils also evidenced drug modifying activity of conventional antifungal drugs (Ketoconazole and Terbinafine). We believe that the anti-dermatophyte potential of plant essential oils occurring within the Caatinga is underestimated and that this review will encourage future chemical-pharmacological investigations into the plants within this biome.Key points• The essential oils from plants occurring in the Caatinga Biome present unknown anti-dermatophyte potential.• The studies against dermatophyte fungi concentrate on the families Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae.• In vitro assays were used to assess the anti-dermatophyte potential of the essential oils.

Sclerotium delphinii is a common pathogen that causes wilting in a number of plants. In recent years, the genus Sclerotium has been reported as one of those responsible for leaf spots in Piper nigrum in the Amazonian humid tropical regions. In 2017–2018, several black pepper plants presented symptoms of concentric leaf spots. Five isolates were obtained in this study for morphological and phylogenetic characterizations and pathogenicity test. Initially, the gene regions (ITS and LSU) were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the grouping of the five isolates with the S. delphinii reference isolate (CBS 672.71). The isolates produced sclerotia in all culture media, but some of them altered their capacity to produce sclerotia. The inoculated isolates induced irregular necrotic lesions in the pathogenicity assay using detached leaves. The symptomatic leaves were re-isolated and the fungus culture obtained. No fungus growth was observed in the leaves used as control. This study is the first record of S. delphinii causing leaf spots on P. nigrum in Brazil.

Introduction The major chemical marker of black pepper (Piper nigrum L) is piperine and its estimation is extremely important for quality assessment of black pepper. The methods for piperine quantification, to date, are laboratory based and use high end instruments like chromatographs, which require tedious sample processing and cause sample destruction. Objectives In this article, we present a simple, rapid and green analytical method based on Raman spectroscopy for the quantitative assessment of piperine. Material and methods To assess the potential of the technique, we report the complete vibrational characterisation of the piperine with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results The theoretical peaks were obtained at 1097 cm-1 , 1388 cm-1 , 1528 cm-1 , 1578 cm-1 , and at 1627 cm-1 , and this result was verified in a Raman spectrometer followed by a preliminary experiment. Twenty black pepper samples were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and used as reference data for Raman analysis. The Raman shift spectra were analysed using partial least squares (PLS) and good prediction accuracy with correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp2 ) = 0.93, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 0.13 and residual prediction deviation (RPD) = 3.9 obtained. Conclusions The results demonstrate the efficacy of the Raman technique for the estimation of piperine in the dry fruit of Piper nigrum.

Introduction: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used to prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease which is initiated due to oxidative stress. Piper betle L. is a tropical evergreen perennial vine whose leaves are widely consumed as masticator in Asia and has medicinal properties. Objectives: The present study is aimed to investigate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory property of methanolic extracts of different varieties of Piper betle leaves and chemometrically identify different bioactive ingredients in vitro and in silico. Materials and Methods: Methanol extracts of the leaves collected in February and October from eight varieties of P. betle (Chhanchi, Bagerhati, Manikdanga, Kalibangla, Bangla, Ghanagete, Meetha and Haldi) were studied for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties. Chemical components were analyzed by Gas Chromatography – Mass spectrometry and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. Active metabolites were identified chemometrically. The activities were proved in vitro and in silico. Results: All the extracts inhibited acetylcholinesterase. Statistical analysis suggested that several phenolic compounds were correlated to anti-cholinesterase activity. Piceatannol, hydroxychavicol, benzene-1,2,4-triol, and 4-methylcatechol are reported here to have such enzyme inhibitory properties. These four small molecules were further subjected to molecular docking analysis to explore their binding mechanism with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. All the four small molecules are found to interact with the targeted enzyme in similar fashion like the molecular interactions observed for the standard inhibitor, Donepezil, at the active site of acetylcholiesterase. Conclusion: Thus, consumption of P. betle leaves may have a beneficial effect in the prevention and treatment of this neurodegenerative disease.

Rare endemic ethnomedicinal plants that are indigenous to the Piperaceae family have an ancient history as traditional medicine in the treatment of diverse ailments like gastrointestinal disorders. The present research work highlights a digitally optimized, rapid, accurate and highly sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the simultaneous screening and quantification of piperine from ex-situ cultured callus, a kind of endangered Piper trichostachyon species. Analysis of piperine was performed on thin-layer chromatography (TLC) aluminum plates pre-coated with silica gel F254 as the stationary phase. Linear ascending development was carried out in a twin-trough glass chamber with a saturation pad. Developing phase comprising of n-hexane‒ethyl acetate (5:15, V/V) was put to task. Spectrodensitometric analysis of the plate was performed in absorbance mode at 342 nm using a CAMAG TLC Scanner IV. Compact bands for piperine with RF value of 0.50 ± 0.010 were recorded exhibiting a good linear relationship with R = 99.98% in the concentration range of 100‒700 ng/spot with respect to the peak area. The proposed HPTLC method was validated in accordance with the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for linearity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, limit of detection, limit of quantification, sensitivity, and specificity. The total piperine content was found to be 62.39 μg/mL in the wild plant and 41.57 μg/mL in the callus of P. trichostachyon. The chromatographic analysis concluded that the method developed and validated as a novel effort for the concurrent evaluation and comparative quantification of piperine in species of P. trichostachyon is reproducible and selective for the analysis of piperine.

Compared to chickens, ducks still have low productivity and other limitations. One of the causes of these problems might be attributed to the off-odor found in duck meat. Therefore, production performance and meat quality of ducks need to be improved. The inclusion of extracts of betel (Piper betle Linn) leaves and torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) flowers wereas done to improve production performance and meat quality of local ducks. This study was aimed at assessing the effects of the inclusion of betel leaves and torch ginger flowers in the basal rations on production performance and meat quality of local ducks in the growing phase. A completely randomized factorial design in 4 x 4 with three replicates was used. The first factor consisted of four levels of torch ginger flower solution, namely 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5%. The second factor consisted of four levels of betel leaf solution, namely 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5%. Results showed that no significant differences (P>0.05) were found in body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, mortality rate and meat quality (pH, water holding capacity, tenderness and cooking loss). It was concluded that the inclusion of extract of betel leaves and torch ginger flowers did not improve production performance and meat quality of male local ducks.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of using green betel leaf (Piper bettle Linn) extract hand sanitizer gel in reducing the number of bacterial colonies in the palms of hand. Method: In this experimental research with posttest only with control group de-sign using dental clinical clerkship students of Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Sumatera Utara. They were evenly divided into 5 groups. They were chlorhexidine gel (group 1), 1% green betel leaf extract (group 2), 3% green betel leaf extract (group 3), 5% green betel leaf extract (group 4), and use of placebo (group 5). Bacterial colonies isolated from the swabs were identified by stan-dard microbiological procedures. All statistical analysis methods were conducted using the one-way Anova and posthoc LSD tests. Results: The results of univariate analysis showed that sig