Botanical Name: Piper cubeba Linn. f.
Family: Piperaceae
Introduction:
Latin name: Piper = Gk. pipto. Latin . piper. peper, suggested derivation from Gk – pepto to digest;. cubeba = Kabab = local name.
Names in different Indian languages
| English | Cubeb, Tailed Pepper, java pepper |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Kababchini |
| Kannada | Gandhamenasu |
| Malayalam | Valmulaku |
| Sanskrit | Kankola |
| Tamil | Valmilagu |
| Telugu | Calavamiriyalu, tokamiriyalu |
| Unani | Kabaabchini, Habb-uluruus. |
| Folk |
Synonyms
Kankola, Kakkola, Kankolaka, Takkola, Koraka, Kolaka, Kashphala, Sheetalchini, Chinoshana.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
| Charaka | |
|---|---|
| Susrutha | |
| Vagbhata |
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Morphology
A creeper with leaves 12 to 14 cms. Simple, alternate, long, oval and tapering towards the tip.
Flowers, small, homosexual and appear in bunches.
Fruits . circular, look like black pepper and appear in bunches.
They have very strong odour or pungent. It feels cool to taste. It bears flowers and fruits in autumn.
Distribution & Habitat
Native to Indonesia; cultivated in Assam and Karnataka
Chemical constituents:
sesquiterpene , lignans, cubebine, zeylenol
Properties:
Guna: laghu, rusksha
Rasa: katu. tikta;
Veerya: ushna:
Vipaka; katu
Karma –
Deepana, pachana, ruchyam, kapha nasakam
Carminative, diuretic, expectorant
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Kaphaghna vataghna
Dhatu: Rakta (anti-inflammatory) manasa (wound healing), shukra external application on the penis
Mala.: Sweda (deodorant) mutra (dysuria).
Indication:
Hridroga, vata roga, krimi,
coughs, bronchitis, asthma, urinary tract infections, amoebic dysentery
Part used:
Fruit
Dosage:
Powder 2-4 g
uses:
External Uses: Vitiates blood, stimulant. anti-inflammatory, deodorant and has wound healing properly, It is applied locally on inflamed sites. In oral dental and throat disorders. konkol is kept in the mouth It is also used in toothpowders In impotency it applied on penis, Its powder is used as a nasya in heaviness of head. Local application of its powder acts as a deodorant.
Internal uses: It improves the taste and is good appetizer, digestive and laxative, so used in various internal diseases.
In cough and asthma, it acts as an expectorant. It is a good cardiac tonic It is used in dysrnenorrhoea. amenurrlsoea loss of libido, impotency and dysuria.