Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Piper chaba Hunter, called Chui Jhal or Choi Jhal, is commonly used as a culinary (spice) herb in India and Bangladesh. It exhibits numerous important biological activities and has been widely used in traditional medicine. Aim of the study: This review focuses on the chemical and pharmacological activities of a culinary ingredient P. chaba based on information extracted from the literature to highlight its use in traditional medicine. Methods: A literature search in known databases was conducted (till September 2019) for published articles using the relevant keywords. Results: Findings suggest that, to date, a number of important phytoconstituents such as dimeric alkaloids, and alkamides have been isolated from various parts of P. chaba. Extracts from P. chaba or derived compounds exhibit diverse biological activities, such as anti-microbial, anti-leishmanial, anti-malarial, anti-parasitic, cytotoxic/anticancer, adipogenic, hepato- and gastro-protective, anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-diarrheal, depressive, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anti-hypertensive, antipyretic, anti-ulcer, and immunomodulatory effect. Among the isolated compounds, chabamides, piperine, piplartine, retrofractamides A/B, methylenedioxyphenyl)-nona-2E,4E,8E-trienoic acid, n-butyl or n-pentyl amine, piperlonguminine, pipernonaline, dehydropipernonaline, Nisobutyl-(2E,4E)-octadecadienamide, and N-isobutyl-(2E,4E,14Z)-eicosatrienamide have documented important biological effects in various test systems. Conclusions: Taken together, P. chaba may be a potential source of plant-based therapeutic lead compounds, which justify its uses in traditional medicine.