Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed. Peppercorns, and the ground pepper derived from them, may be described simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit) and white pepper (ripe fruit seeds). Black pepper is native to south India, and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. Currently Vietnam is the world's largest producer and exporter of pepper, producing 34% of the world's Piper nigrum crop as of 2008.
Dried ground pepper has been used since antiquity for both its flavour and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world's most traded spice. It is one of the most common spices added to European cuisine and its descendants. The spiciness of black pepper is due to the chemical piperine, not to be confused with the capsaicin that gives fleshy peppers theirs. It is ubiquitous in the modern world as a seasoning and is often paired with salt.
Source: Wikipedia
Pepper gets its spicy heat mostly from piperine derived both from the outer fruit and the seed. Black pepper contains between 4.6% and 9.7% piperine by mass, and white pepper slightly more than that. Refined piperine, by weight, is about one percent as hot as the capsaicin found in chili peppers.
Chemical Structure and Name:
Black pepper (or perhaps long pepper) was believed to cure illness such as constipation, diarrhoea, earache, gangrene, heart disease, hernia, hoarseness, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, liver problems, lung disease, oral abscesses, sunburn, tooth decay, and toothaches. Various sources from the 5th century onward also recommend pepper to treat eye problems, often by applying salves or poultices made with pepper directly to the eye. There is no current medical evidence that any of these treatments has any benefit; pepper applied directly to the eye would be quite uncomfortable and possibly damaging. Nevertheless, black pepper, either powdered or its decoction, is widely used in traditional Indian medicine and as a home remedy for relief from sore throat, throat congestion, cough, etc.
Pepper is known to cause sneezing. Some sources say that piperine, a substance present in black pepper, irritates the nostrils, causing the sneezing. As a folk medicine, pepper appears in the Buddhist Samaññaphala Sutta, chapter five, as one of the few medicines allowed to be carried by a monk. It’s OK to use black and white pepper in food amounts if you are pregnant. But taking larger amounts might be unsafe. There is concern that black pepper in large amounts might trigger a miscarriage. Also, avoid putting pepper on your skin. Not enough is known about the safety of using topical pepper during pregnancy. Pepper might have a burning aftertaste. Taking large amounts of black and white pepper by mouth, which can accidentally get into the lungs, has been reported to cause death. This is especially true in children.
- Lithium interacts with pepper.
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with pepper.
- Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein Substrates) interacts with pepper.
- Phenytoin (Dilantin) interacts with pepper.
- Propranolol (Inderal) interacts with pepper.
- Rifampin interacts with pepper.
- Theophylline interacts with pepper.
| Nutrient | Average amount in 100g of product | Unit | |
| Proximates | |||
| Water | 12.46 | g | |
| Energy | 251 | kcal | |
| Protein | 10.39 | g | |
| Total lipid (fat) | 3.26 | g | |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 63.95 | g | |
| Fiber, total dietary | 25.3 | g | |
| Sugars, total | 0.64 | g | |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | 443 | mg | |
| Iron, Fe | 9.71 | mg | |
| Magnesium, Mg | 171 | mg | |
| Phosphorus, P | 158 | mg | |
| Potassium, K | 1329 | mg | |
| Sodium, Na | 20 | mg | |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.19 | mg | |
| Vitamins | |||
| Thiamin | 0.108 | mg | |
| Riboflavin | 0.18 | mg | |
| Niacin | 1.143 | mg | |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.291 | mg | |
| Folate, DFE | 17 | µg | |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 27 | µg | |
| Vitamin A, IU | 547 | IU | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.04 | mg | |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 163.7 | µg | |
| Lipids | |||
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.392 | g | |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.739 | g | |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.998 | g |
Disclaimer:
Side effects, traditional and medicinal uses are stated in different web resources. | The list of Food Additives/Preservatives/Ingredients included in this section and listed is subject to change as chemicals are added or removed by the Regulatory Authorities. FoodChem or Nyro Research Foundation cannot guarantee that this list is complete. | Government approvals and other regulatory details are subject to change. | This entry was added in good faith for public awareness. For current updated details please check with relevant authorities. | This blog is intended to be of general interest and public awareness which may or may not compliment studies from various sources. | In case of any health concerns please consult appropriate professionals and experts.| The content provided on this web site is for informational purposes only. | This information should not be considered complete or up to date and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation or advice of a legal, medical or any other professional. | The data has been compiled from many sources including traditional hearsay. | Some of it is ancestral. Some of it has not been tested in any laboratory.
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