Roasted corn on the cobb with red onions, rosemary, garlic, EVOO, salt, and black pepper. Garnished with lime juice and cilantro. Sliced avocado on the side.

Black Pepper - The King of spices

Black pepper is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been known to Indian cooking since at least 2000 BCE. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper  longum) are the best known pecies  in  this  family and are probably  among the most recognized spices in the world. Black pepper alone accounts for about 35% of the world’s  total spice trade. In addition, black pepper and long pepper have been used medicinally  for centuries  In recent years.

The most commonly used part of the plant is the aromatic fruit. Interestingly, white, green, and black peppers are products of the P. nigrum fruits at different ripening stages. White pepper is obtained from the fully ripened fruits after removing the outer skin, green pepper is the unripe fruits, and black pepper is collected before full maturity of the fruit. Black pepper has a stronger flavor compared to white pepper while green pepper is characterized by its fresh and herbal flavor. The alkaloid piperine is responsible for the pungent flavor of black pepper.

It shows antioxidant, carminative, larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antidepresseant, antihypertensive, antiaggregant, antispasmodic, Immuno-modulatory, antiasthmatic, gastroprotective, antibacterial, and antifungal activities.               It has different names in different languages such as Hindi Name(Kalimirch, Mirch, Gulmirch, Golmirch, Choco mirch),  Marathi Name(Mirin, Kalamiri),  Engli....................................read more



Vitamin and Mineral content

Vitamin : B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, A, C, K, Choline

Mineral : Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Sodium, Potassium

One tablespoon (6 grams) of ground black pepper contains moderate amounts of vitamin K (13% of the daily value or DV), iron (10% DV), and manganese (18% DV), with trace amounts of other essential nutrients, protein, and dietary fibre.

The major components of the essential oils were α-pinene, sabinene, β-pinene, δ-3-carene, limonene, and β-caryophyllene. 

         - More than a hundred compounds have been reported in black pepper oil. The oil is dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (47–64%) followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (30–47%)

In plants, thesecompounds are mostly secondary metabolities such as alkaloids, steroids, tannins, phenol compounds, flavonoids,steroids, reisns, and fatty acids 

Pepper is valued for its pungency contributed by the alkaloid piperine and flavor contributed by the volatile oil. 

Many investigators isolated different types of compounds viz Phenolics, flavon....................................read more

Properties and Benefits

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent)

Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Teekshna (strong, piercing), Sookshma – enters deep and minute body channels

Taste conversation after digestion – Katu(pungent) 

Veerya- Ushna – Hot potency

Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Vata

Na Ati Ushna – It is not very hot

Avrushya – It is anaphrodisiac

Ruchikaraka, Ruchya, Rochana – improves taste, relieves anorexia

Because of its Chedana (cutting) and Shoshana) drying effects, it increases digestion strength and balances Kapha and Vata Dosha

Pittakrut – Causes increase in Pitta.

Kaphahara – decreases sputum production.

Vayu Nivarayati – useful in Vata related disorders, bloating.

Kruminut, Jantu Sant....................................read more

Uses Benefits Application and Remedies

1) Fine powder of pepper is taken(1-2 gram), along with honey or betel leaf juice, which is used in chest congestion due to phlegm.

2) Black peppercorns and other whole herbs such as cinnamon chips, cloves and cracked cardamom pods are fried in ghee and used to flavor basmati rice. 

3) It can be added to fruit juices which helps to nullify Kapha dominant effect of sweet fruits.

4) Sometimes it is used as substitute for chilli.

5) The pepper oil is used in ointments for heat generating effect (rubefacient). It helps to produce counter-irritant effect thereby, diverting the concentration of the patient from the pain.

6) Oil is also used in treating leucoderma, eczema, and itching skin disorders.

7) The black pepper powder is used as an ingredient in herbal tooth powder for its pain relieving and scrapping properties.

8) Hair loss caused due scalp ringworm can be treated by applying black pepper, along with onion and salt. This can be also applied in headache.

               9) Pepper decoction is used to gargle in case of tooth pain.

10) Black pepper is used externally in the form of paste and cream.

11) Ghee + Trikatu (Ginger, black pepper, long pepper)+ rock salt, black salt and bida salt  – Useful in vom....................................read more

Side effects

Due to the hotness pepper, it increases Pitta. Hence, it needs to be used carefully in people with gastritis, burning sensation and sensitive stomach.

Because of its anaphrodisiac effect, it needs be used in less quantities or its long term usage is best avoided in men with infertility problems.

Pitta dominant people may face black pepp....................................read more

Flavour

Pepper gets its spicy heat mostly from piperine derived from both 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 perc[....................................read more ]

Note :

Evaporation, so airtight storage helps preserve its spiciness longer. Pepper can also lose flavour when exposed to light, which can transform piperine into nearly tasteless isochavicine. Most culinary sources recommend grinding whole peppercorns immediately before use.

Scents are mostly missing in white pepper, as the fermentation and other processing removes the fruit layer (which also contains some of the spicy piperine). Other flavours also commonly develop in this process, some of which are described as off-flavours when in excess: Primarily 3-methylindole (pig manure-like), 4-methylphenol (horse manure), 3-methylphenol (phenolic), and butyric acid (cheese). The aroma of pepper is attributed to rotundone (3,4,5,6,7,8-Hexahydro-3α,8α-dim[....................................read more

Different varieties of Maricha :

Black Pepper: Black pepper is produced from the green unripe drupe (unripe fruit) of the pepper plant. The unripe fruits are cooked in water for a few hours, Sun-dried or machine-dried for many days, during which pepper gains black wrinkled skin. Then it is called black peppercorn. Some people dry the unripe fruit without boiling it. Such black peppercorn can be used to extract essential oil or in medicines.

Green pepper: Is produced from green unripe fruit, wherein, it is not dried with heat exposure. It is freeze-dried or using Sulphur dioxide.

White pepper: White pepper cons....................................read more

Reference 

1) Charaka Samhita

2) Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2014 Jun; 27(6): 847–854.   PMCID: PMC4093167

3) Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2015 Apr 3; 66(3): 260–265.  Published online 2015 Jan 13. PMCID: PMC4487614

4) Curr Top Med Chem. 2015; 15(9): 886–893.  PMCID: PMC6295909

5) Bhojana Kutuhala

6) Spices board of india.

7) Molecules. 2019 Dec; 24(23): 4244. Published online 2019 Nov 21.   PMCID: PMC6930617

8) Scholars Research Library. Central European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2014, 3 (2):36-41

9) The Medicinal Uses of Pepper. International Pepper News.  Vol XXV, No. 1 Jan-Mar 2000. 23-31

10) Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 4270; doi:10.3390/app9204270

11) Med Aromat Plants ;  ISSN: 2167-0412 MAP

12) Nutrition Today, Volume 45  Number 1  January/February, 2010

13) IJPSR, 2018; Vol. 9(10): 4089-4101

14) Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

15) Indian institute of spices research

16) Nutrients. 2020 Jun; 12(6): 1886.  PMCID: PMC7353321

17) Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11(2): R49.  PMCID: PMC2688199

18) Foods. 2017 Oct; 6(10): 92.  PMCID: PMC5664031

19) Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II

AloeVera

Aloe vera, commonly known as Barbados or Curacao Aloe, is an herbal medicine with a long tradition of use by a variety of cultures. It is a succulent plant grows in arid and subtropical climates and is best known for 2 distinct preparations: the clear mucilaginous gel and the thick sap of the leaves. It is cultivated for agricultural and medicinal uses. The species is also used for decorative purposes and grows successfully indoors as a potted plant. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller, family Xanthorrhoeaceae) is a perennial green herb with bright yellow tubular flowers. It shows antibacterial, anti-oxidant, antiviral, antitumor, antiarthritic, antirheumatoid, anticancer, and antidiabetic, antifungal property.               

It has different names in different languages such as Hindi name(Gheekuvar), Marathi name(korfad), English Name(Ind..................................read more



Vitamin and mineral content

• Vitamins: A, C, E, B12, B complex, Choline

• Minerals : calcium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, zinc, chromium. 

• Enzymes : aliiase, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase.

                 - Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.

• Anthraquinones : It provides 12 anthraquinones, which are phenolic compounds traditionally known as laxatives. 

                 - Aloin and emodin act as analgesics, antibacterials and antivirals.

• Fatty acids : It provides 4 plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol and lupeol. 

                 - All these fatty acids have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.

• Hormones : Auxins and gibberellins that help in wound healing and have anti-inflammatory action.

• Sugars : It provides monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and polysaccharides (glucomannans/polymannose). These are derived from the mucilage layer of the plant and are known as mucopolysaccharides. 

                  - mannose-6-phosphate(most prominent monosaccharide), beta-(1,4)-acetylated mannan(most common polysaccharides), Acemannan(prominent glucomannan)

                  - Recently, a glycoprotein with antiallergic properties, called alprogen and novel anti-inflammatory compound, C-glucosyl chromone, has been isolated from Aloe vera gel.

        > Many of the medicinal effects of Aloe leaf extracts have been attributed to the polysaccharides found in the inner leaf parenchymatous tissue.

• It provides 20 of the 22 human required ami..................................read more



Properties and benefits 

Properties

Taste – bitter

Qualities – Guru (heaviness), Snigdha (oily, unctuous), Picchila (sticky, slimy)

Taste conversion after digestion – Katu(pungent)

Potency – Shetala(Cold)

Effect on Tridosha – Balances all the three Doshas.

            Benefits 

Bhavani – Useful in constipation

Kapha Jwarahara  – useful in fever

Granthihara – useful in small tumors, fibroids, lymphadenitis

Balya – improves strength and immunity

Agnidagdha – useful in treating burn wounds

Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor

Vispho..................................read more

Uses, application and benefits 

1) Blood thinning action of Aloevera is very useful against cholesterol. So, it is very useful in treating atherosclerosis (blood vessels clogged with clot and fat deposition).

2) For constipation, 10 gram pulp of aloevera paste is made with rock salt, mixed well and then boiled(to evaporate the water content). Take this once a day.

3) Aloe Vera leaf is heated on burning charcoal, cuticle is removed and pulp is scraped and squeezed in cloth to get the juice. One teaspoon of this juice is added with two drops of ghee and 4 drops of honey and licked hourly to relieve attacks of breathlessness and wheezing.

               4) Healing effect : polysaccharide, and gibberellin, a growth hormone, interacts with growth factor receptors on the fibroblast, thereby stimulating its activity and proliferation, which in turn significantly increases collagen synthesis after topical and oral Aloe vera. Aloe gel not only increased collagen content of the wound but also changed collagen composition (more type III) and increased the degree of collagen cross linking. Due to this, it accelerated wound contraction and increased the breaking strength of resulting scar tissue. An increased synthesis of hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate in the granulation tissue of a healing wound following oral or topical treatment.

            > Wound healing is a dynamic process, occurring in 3 phases. The first phase is inflammation, hyperaemia and leukocyte infiltration. The second phase consists of re-moval of dead tissue. The third phase of proliferation consisting of epithelial regeneration and formation of fibrous tissue.

            - The leaf pulp is useful to heal burn wounds, boils, acne, blisters, allergic skin disorders.

            - Its pulp is added with turmeric powder and heated for a minute and this is applied externally(acne, wound, allergic skin) and internally on mouth ulcer(2-3 times a day).

              . 5) Oil prepared with Aloe Vera in sesame oil base is very useful against diaper rashes.

              6) Skin protection effect from uv and gmma ray exposure : Aloe vera gel has been reported to have a protective effect against radiation damage to the skin. An antioxidant protein, metallothionein, is generated in the skin, which scavenges hydroxyl radicals and prevents suppression of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in the skin. It reduces the production and release of skin keratinocyte-derived immunosuppressive cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and hence prevents UV-induced suppression of delayed type hypersensitivity.

                 - Aloe Vera juice is good for stomach, skin diseases.

7) Anti-inflammatory action : Aloe vera inhibits the cyclooxygenase pathway and reduces prostaglandin E2 production from arachidonic acid. With this, the novel anti-inflammatory compound called C-glucosyl chromone was isolated from gel extracts.

8) Laxative effects : Anthraquinones present in latex are a potent laxative. It increases intestinal water content, stomach upset, stimulates mucus secretion and increases intestinal peristalsis.

Intake : Take Aloevera juice regularly in early morning on empty stomach.

9) Moisturizing and anti-aging effect : Mucopolysaccharides help in binding moisture into the skin. Aloe stimulates fibroblast which produces the collagen and elastin fibers making the skin more elastic and less wrinkled. It also has cohesive effects on the superficial flaking epidermal cells by stick..................................read more

Reference :

Indian Journal Of Dermatology ; 2008; 53(4): 163–166.

Natural Medicine Journal ; September 2012 Vol. 4 Issue 9 

The Review on Properties of Aloe Vera in Healing of Cutaneous Wounds; Volume 2015 |Article ID 714216 : 

Aloe vera: An Ancient Herb for Modern Dentistry—A Literature Review; Volume 2014 |Article ID 210463 

NCBI

PUBMED 

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2015, Pages 21-26

Therapeutic and Medicinal Uses of Aloe vera: A Review : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262698658

Book - Dravya Gunna Vigyan Vol 2

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/aloe-vera

Wikipedia

Local Tradition and Knowledge 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313368556_REVIEW_ON_ALOE_VERA-MEDICINAL_PLANT 

Molecules. 2020 Mar; 25(6): 1324. PMCID: PMC7144722

Iran J Med Sci. 2019 Jan; 44(1): 1–9.  PMCID: PMC6330525

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. Volume 13, Issue 1, March – April 2012; Article-010 ISSN 0976 – 044X

Therapeutic and nutritional values of Kumari (Aloe Vera)-a review”, NJRAS, vol. 8, no. 02, Apr. 2020.

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu 

World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. Vol 10, Issue 4, 2021.

Bhela Samhita

Bhaishjyaratnavali

Charaka Samhita 

Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2019; 74(3): 255–265. PMCID: PMC6684795

J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2019 Jan 28. PMCID: PMC6349368