Piper cubeba L.f. (common name: Sheetal Chini or Cubeb; English: cubeb/tailed pepper) is a perennial woody climber cultivated for its aromatic dried fruits (berries with a small stalk). The dried berries are pungent, slightly bitter and aromatic; they are used as a spice and in traditional medicine for digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive complaints.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Angiosperms
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Piperales
- Family: Piperaceae
- Genus: Piper
- Species: Piper cubeba L.f.
Common Names
- English: Cubeb, Tailed pepper, Java pepper
- Hindi: Kabab Chini, Sheetal Chini, Kankola (regional)
- Sanskrit: Kankola / Kakkola
- Urdu/Arabic/Persian (traditional names): Kabābchīnī / Hab-el-arus (regional variants)
- Regional Indian names: (examples) Kakkol (Assamese), Kababcheni (Bengali), Tokamiriyalu (Telugu)
Traditional and Medicinal Uses
- Digestive Uses: Used as a stomachic, carminative and to relieve indigestion, flatulence and dyspepsia. It is also used traditionally for enteritis, diarrhea and amoebic dysentery.
- Respiratory Uses: Used as an antitussive and expectorant for coughs, bronchitis and asthma-related symptoms in traditional formulations.
- Urinary & Reproductive Uses: Employed traditionally for genitourinary complaints such as cystitis, dysuria and gonorrhoeal infections; also used as an emmenagogue in some traditional systems.
- Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic & Antimicrobial Uses: Traditionally used in both folk and classical medicinal systems to relieve rheumatic pain, reduce general body aches, and help manage infections due to its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and antimicrobial properties.
References
- Drissi, B., Mahdi, I., Yassir, M., Ben Bakrim, W., Bouissane, L., & Sobeh, M. (2022). Cubeb (Piper cubeba L. f.): A comprehensive review of its botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties. Frontiers in Nutrition.
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Part I — Entry for Kankola (Piper cubeba L.f.). (Government of India; official pharmacopeial monograph describing botanical identity, part used, traditional actions and classical usage).
- Haribabu, K., et al. (2014). Hinokinin and other marker compounds from Piper cubeba; traditional uses and biological activities. (Review / article discussing phytochemistry and bioactivities).
- Kabābchīnī (Piper cubeba L.F.) — Review on Unani medicinal uses and pharmacological profile. (Recent review summarizing Unani/traditional uses and modern studies).
- Agrawal, N., et al. (2023). A review study on the multi-therapeutic potential of (-)-cubebin and related lignans from Piper cubeba. (Review summarizing lignan chemistry and pharmacology).
- Additional reviews and regional pharmacopeial/monograph sources summarizing essential oil composition, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities (selected review articles and survey studies).
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