Abstract

LITERATURE REVIEW OF KANKOLA (PIPER CUBEBA LINN. F.): A ROUTINELY USED SPICE WITH POTENTIAL MEDICINAL VALUES

Dr. Aniruddha Pan* and Dr. Prabir Naskar

Abstract

Kankola or cubeb (Piper cubeba Linn.f.) is an aromatic medicinal plant mostly found in Indonesia, India, Europe and North Africa. It is cultivated for its fruits, which is widely used as spice and traditional medicine especially in Ayurveda and Unani for the treatment of digestive, cardiac, urinary and respiratory disorders. Kankola is used as a single herband also as an effective ingredient of various medicinal formulations. The fruit contains significant amount essential oils, polyphenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids and lignans), alkaloids and other phytochemical constituents which are found to have anti-microbial, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, hepato-protective, nephro-protective, gastro-protective and antidiabetic activity from different research studies. Apart from medicinal use, kankola can be used as flavoring agent, food preservative, insecticides, nutritional supplement and cosmetic. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the plant and discusses the future application in promoting health and nutrition.

Keywords: Kankola, Cubeb, Piper cubeba, Kabab chini, Sital chini, hepato-protective.