The inflorescence is a spike of 20-30 senile flowers. Pepper contains volatile oil, the crystalline alkaloids-piperine, piperidine and piperettine, and a resin. The leaves contain hentriacontane, hentriacontanone, 4-methyl triacontanone and b sitosterol. The naturally occurring alkaloid, piperine displayed CNS depressant activity in mice. Prescribed for dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhoea, used as gargle for sore throat, and as febriftige in intermittent fevers.
Unani system uses black pepper as a carminative, aphrodisiac and antispasmodic.
It is also used to relieve diarrhoea. It is commonly used as a spice all over India. Safrole occurs in black pepper. Ind. J. Pharm. Ind. J. I-Iosp.