Javanese Long Pepper1
Piper retrofractum known as the Javanese Long Pepper, this plant is native to Indonesia and is widely cultivated on the islands of Java and Sumatra. The part used in traditional medicine is the fruit, or chili. Empirically, ripe Javanese chili fruits are used to treat bloating, vomiting, stimulate appetite, relieve gout, reduce fever, alleviate headaches, soothe toothaches, relieve coughs, treat sexual weakness, as an aphrodisiac, and to induce sweating.2
Morphology of Javanese Long Pepper
The Javanese Long Pepper plant is a woody, climbing shrub that can reach a height of about 10 meters. Its leaves are simple and arranged alternately, ranging in shape from ovate to oblong. The flowers are small and yellow when in bloom, later producing small fruits containing seeds about 2–2.5 mm in size.3 The fruits are compound, cylindrical or elongated, and when young, they are green, hard, and spicy. Over time, the color of the mature fruit gradually turns ivory yellow and eventually becomes red, soft, and sweet.2
Javanese Long Pepper Active Compounds
Javanese Long Pepper contains 0.9% essential oil, 4-5% piperine, cayenne, palmitic acid, sesamin, piperidine, and other bioactive compounds.3
Health Benefits of Javanese Long Pepper
The piperine in Javanese chili peppers has antipyretic (fever-reducing), analgesic (pain-relieving), and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, Javanese chili peppers are traditionally used to treat flatulence, as a stimulant, and as an aphrodisiac (increasing sexual desire).2
- Aphrodisiac (Libido enhancer)
- Subject: 9 hypogonadal men aged 18-50 years (a condition where the sex glands do not produce enough hormones)
- Dosage: ethanol extract of Javanese chili 100 mg/day
- Duration: 1 month
- Results: Seven of the nine subjects experienced increased blood testosterone levels. At a dose of 100 mg/day, Javanese chili extract is a weak androgen and can increase the frequency of coitus in subjects.4
Graph of the effect of Javanese chili on spermatozoa concentration and coitus frequency in hypogonadal men.4
- Pain reliever
- Subjects: 32 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (arthritis) aged 45 - 74 years
- Dosage: Compress the affected area with a decoction of 5 g of dried Javanese chili peppers/day (divided dose 2 x daily)
- Duration: 7 days
- Results: Javanese chili compress is effective in reducing the pain scale in the elderly with rheumatoid arthritis. The compound piperine helps reduce inflammation and pain by inhibiting the formation of pain-triggering substances (prostaglandins). Meanwhile, the essential oils in Javanese chili peppers provide a warming effect that improves blood flow and helps relieve joint pain.6
Safety
Javanese chili is included in the Indonesian Original Herbal Medicine Formulary with indications for erectile dysfunction and as an aphrodisiac (libido enhancer).3To date, there have been no reports of severe toxicity in humans. Acute toxicity tests of Javanese pepper ethanol extract administered orally to mice showed an LD50 of 3.32 mg/10 g. Subchronic tests conducted over 90 days at doses of 1.25, 3.75, and 12.5 mg/200 g of mouse body weight showed no damage to vital organs.5
Keywords: Piper retrofractum; Javanese Pepper; Piperine; Fever Reducer; Aphrodisiac; Libodo Enhancer; Pain Reliever; Bloating; Gout; Appetite; Low Libido.
Footer References
- References
- Image: Vecteezy.com
- National Agency of Drug and Food Control. Medicinal Plant Series; Javanese Chili. BPOM RI; 2006.
- Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2016 concerning the Formulary of Original Indonesian Herbal Medicines. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia; 2016.
- Moeloek NH, Lestari SW, Clinical Study ofPiper Retrofractum Vahl. (Javanese Long Pepper) Extracts as an Androgenic Phytopharmaca in Male Hypogonadism. Indonesian Medical Journal. 2010; 60: 255-262.
- National Agency of Drug and Food Control. Herbal Preparation Reference. Vo 5 Ed 1. BPOM RI; 2010. ISBN 978-979-3707-54-9.
- Kadafi A., Dian AN, Della IY. Java Chilli Compress (Piper Retrofractum) Is Effective Against Pain Scale In Elderly People With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Midwifery and Nursing Journal. 2023; 5(2): 68-72.
