Piper guineense

Piper guineense is a West African species of Piper; the spice derived from its dried fruit is known as West African pepper, Ashanti pepper, Benin pepper, false cubeb, Guinea cubeb, and called locally kale, kukauabe, masoro, etiñkeni, sasema, soro wisa, eyendo, oziza and uziza. It is a close relative of cubeb pepper and a relative of black pepper and long pepper. Unlike cubeb, which is large and spherical in shape, Ashanti pepper grains are prolate spheroids, smaller and smoother than Cubeb pepper.

Description

Piper guineense is a perennial climber with dark green leaves and fruits which are used as a spice. The plant is a vine that can climb up to 10 meters high using its roots, which are adventitious. The leaves are alternate, simple, and heart-shaped with a pointed tip and a broadly tapering base. The flowers are small and white, produced on pendulous spikes. The fruit is a small drupe.

Cultivation and uses

Piper guineense is mostly grown in the wild but also cultivated for its fruits, which are harvested, dried and used as a spice and in traditional medicine. The fruits of the Piper guineense are rich in aromatic oil and used as a flavoring for foods. In traditional medicine, the plant is used as a stimulant and for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Chemical constituents

The fruits of Piper guineense contain a volatile oil, which is dominated by monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The main constituents are β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, α-humulene and β-elemene.

See also

• Piper nigrum
• Piper longum
• Piper cubeba