Abstract

A REVIEW ON BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF CURCUMA LONGA AND PIPER NIGRUM

Rutuja B. Tambe*, Sanjay B. Bhawar and Santosh B. Dighe

Abstract

People are using herbal medicine from centuries for safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability and lesser effects. It is due to increase of awareness and knowledge about plants. Plant and plant product utilized with varying success to cure and prevent diseases throughout history. Therapeutically interesting and important drugs can be developed form plant sources which are used in traditional system of medicine is based on empirical knowledge of observation and experience over millennia and more than 5000 plants are used in different ethnic communities in India. Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum are indigenous medicinal plants. In which Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum have large biodiversity in India. The present communication constitutes a review on biological potential of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum used in Indian traditional medicine. These plants are known to contain various active principles of therapeutic values and to possess biological activity against number of diseases.

Keywords: Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, curcumin, piperine, traditional uses, Pharmacological action.