{"id":236,"date":"2021-07-28T21:19:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T21:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/?page_id=236"},"modified":"2021-08-11T16:49:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T16:49:06","slug":"piper-auritum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/garden\/plant-database\/piper-auritum\/","title":{"rendered":"Piper auritum"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientific Name: Piper<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0auritum<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Common Names:<\/strong> Hierba Santa, Hoja Santa, Mexican Pepperleaf, Root Beer Plant, False Kava, Anisillo, Acoyo, Santa Maria, Hoja de Jute, Xmakulan, Tlanecpahqu\u00edlitl (Nahuatl)
\nFamily:<\/strong> Piperaceae
\n<\/em>Native Range:<\/strong> Southern Mexico to Colombia<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Piper auritum<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0grows in tropical forests from Mexico to South America and its spicy leaves are used for various culinary and medicinal purposes.\u00a0 The leaves of P. auritum<\/em> contain safrole, which imparts a spicy flavor to its leaves, making it valuable as a seasoning. Safrole is a carcinogen and the same compound that gives sassafras root beer its spicy taste.\u00a0 Plants in the Piper<\/em> genus used as medicinal plants in cultures throughout the world, and pharmacological studies have demonstrated that they contain a variety of bioactive compounds.<\/p>\n

Medical Uses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Piper auritum<\/em> is used for a variety of medicinal purposes in Mexico, Central America and Colombia.\u00a0 The Chinatec in Oaxaca, Mexico brew the leaves to make an infusion that is given to women to facilitate childbirth or stimulate menstrual flow (Browner, 1985), and the leaf tea is also used as a digestive in Mexico. In Guatemala, a tea of P. auritum<\/em> leaves is used to ease menstrual pain and encourage lactation.\u00a0 The Yucatec Maya apply the leaves of P. auritum<\/em> directly to wounds (Caamal-Fuentes et. al, 2001). In the Antioquia and Choc\u00f3 departments of Colombia, the leaves are ground to make a poultice used for snakebites (Vasquez et al., 2013), and in El Salvador, the juice of the leaves is used to remove ticks (Schultes, 1975). \u00a0In Costa Rica, the leaves are applied directly to the head to cure headaches.<\/p>\n

Given its wide usage among indigenous groups, P. auritum<\/em> and other plants in the Piper<\/em> genus have been the subject of several pharmacological studies.\u00a0 This research has indicated antifungal, antibacterial,\u00a0 anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer,\u00a0antidiabetic<\/a>,\u00a0antiulcer<\/a>,\u00a0and antiprotozoal<\/a> properties (Gupta et al., 2013).\u00a0 The plants essential oil demonstrates antibacterial, insecticidal properties, and is effective as a repellent. \u00a0A recent study suggests that extracts of P. auritum<\/em> are effective as an anti-venom for snake bites (Rengifo-Riosa et. al, 2019).<\/p>\n

Culinary Uses<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aromatic, peppery leaves of P. auritum<\/em> are used to season soups, stews, wild meats, and other dishes in Central America and Mexico.\u00a0 In Guatemala, snail soup seasoned with P. auritum<\/em> is considered a delicacy; its local name, Hoja de Jute, reflects this usage. In the Yucatan, the large leaves of the plant are used to season tamales, and may be used as a wrapping for tamales in place of banana leaves or cornhusks (Salazar et al., 2012).\u00a0 The leaves and stems are also eaten raw in salads.\u00a0 People living along the R\u00edo Indio in central Panama use the leaves of P. auritum<\/em> as bait to catch fish.\u00a0 They use the leaves as bait in traps in small pools in the river, and allow the fish to feed on the P. auritum<\/em> leaves for two weeks so that their flesh is seasoned by the flavorful leaves (Joly, 1981).<\/p>\n

Botanical and Other Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Nashville, P. auritum<\/em> grows as a small shrub, but in its native range and other tropical areas it can grow up to 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) tall.\u00a0 The plant spreads via rhizome roots that send up new shoots.\u00a0 Seeds of P. auritum<\/em> are dispersed by bats, birds and rodents in its native range (Denslow and Nelson, 2000).\u00a0 P. auritum<\/em> grows from sea level up to 1200 meters (4000 feet).<\/p>\n

P. auritum<\/em> is an invasive species in Florida, Hawaii, and other areas of the United States, where it threatens to decrease local biodiversity. Brought to Florida as an ornamental plant, it has spread and displaced native forests due to its rapid growth and formation of dense thickets.\u00a0 In Hawaii, P. auritum<\/em> was accidentally planted as true kava (Piper methysticum) <\/em>in the 1990s and is referred to as \u2018awa<\/em> or false kava.<\/em> The two plants can be distinguished easily as only P. auritum<\/em> leaves display the anise-like smell when crushed or rubbed, and their leaves have different vein patterns.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

CABI: Invasive Species Compendium. Piper auritum<\/em>. https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/isc\/datasheet\/41359. Accessed 23 February 2019.<\/p>\n

Browner, C.H. Plants used for reproductive health in Oaxaca, Mexico. Economic Botany<\/em>,\u00a039\u00a0(1985); pp.\u00a0482-504.<\/p>\n

Caamal-Fuentes, Edgar and Luis W. Torres-Tapia, Paulino Sim\u00e1-Polanco, Sergio R. Peraza-S\u00e1nchez, and Rosa Moo-Puc. Screening of plants used in Mayan traditional medicine to treat cancer-like symptoms. Journal of Ethnopharmacology<\/em><\/a>, Volume 135, Issue 3<\/a> (2011); pp. 719-724.<\/p>\n

Denslow JS, Nelson D, 2000. \u201cEscape and Spread of Piper Auritum Kunth on Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.\u201d Impact assessment. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (online: http:\/\/www.hear.org\/pier\/piaurr.htm<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Duke, James A with Mary Jo Bogenschutz-Godwin and Andrea R. Ottesen. \u00a0Duke\u2019s Handbook of Plants of Latin America. <\/em>CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2009.<\/p>\n

Durant-Archibold, Armando A. Santana, Ana Isabel. Gupta, Mahabir P. \u201cEthnomedical uses and pharmacological activities of most prevalent species of genus Piper in Panama: A review.\u201d Journal of ethnopharmacology,<\/em> vol. 217, no. 11 (2018); pp. 63-82.<\/p>\n

Joly, Luz Graciela. \u201cFeeding and Trapping Fish with Piper auritum<\/em>. Economic Botany, <\/em>vol. 35, 4 (1981); pp. 383-390.<\/p>\n

Kaua\u2019i Invasive Species Committee: False Kava. https:\/\/www.kauaiisc.org\/kiscpests\/false-kava\/<\/a> Accessed July 3, 2020.<\/p>\n

Gutierrez, Rosa Martha Perez.\u00a0 Effect of the hexane extract of Piper auritum<\/em> on insulin release from beta-cell and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Pharmacogn Mag<\/em>,\u00a08\u00a0(2012); pp.\u00a0308-313.<\/p>\n

Mgbeahuruike, E.E. and T. Yrj\u00f6nen, H. Vuorela, and Y. Holm.\u00a0 Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants: Focus on Piper<\/em> species.\u00a0 South African Journal of Botany<\/em>, 112 (2017); pp. 54-69.<\/p>\n

Monzote L.,\u00a0M.\u00a0Garc\u00eda,\u00a0A.M.\u00a0Montalvo,\u00a0R.\u00a0Scull,\u00a0M.\u00a0Miranda. Chemistry, cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activity of the essential oil from Piper auritum. Mem\u00f3rias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz<\/em>,\u00a0105\u00a0(2010), pp.\u00a0168-173.<\/p>\n

Rengifo-Riosa, Angie Marcela and Luis Miguel Mu\u00f1oz-G\u00f3mezam Fabio Antonio Cabezas-Fajardo, Jimmy Alexander Guerrero-Vargas. Edematic and coagulant effects caused by the venom of Bothrops rhombeatus neutralized by the ethanolic extract of Piper auritum<\/em>. Journal of Ethnopharmacology<\/em><\/a>, 242<\/a> (2019).<\/p>\n

Salazar, Carmen and Daniel Zizumbo-Villareal, Stephen B. Brush, and Patricia Colunga-Garc\u00eda Mar\u00edn. Earth Ovens (P\u00edib) in the Maya Lowlands: Ethnobotanical Data Supporting Early Use.\u00a0 Economic Botany<\/em>, 66 (2012); pp. 285\u2013297.<\/p>\n

Schultes, Richard Evans.\u00a0 DE PLANTIS TOXICARIIS E MUNDO NOVO TROPICALE COMMENTATIONES XII: Notes onbiodynamic piperaceous plants. Rhodora<\/em>, Vol. 77, No. 810 (1975), pp. 165-170<\/p>\n

V\u00e1squez, Julieta and Silvia L. Jim\u00e9nez, Isabel C. G\u00f3mez, Jessica P. Rey, Ana M. Henao, Daniela M. Mar\u00edn, Jefferson O. Romero, and Juan C. Alarc\u00f3n. Snakebites and ethnobotany in the Eastern region of Antioquia, Colombia \u2013 The traditional use of plants.\u00a0 Journal of Ethnopharmacology,<\/em> 146 (2013); pp. 449-455.<\/p>\n

Initial research and description of Piper auritum<\/em> provided by Alethea Chaney as part of a first-year seminar, ANTH 1001-01 (Spring 2019).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scientific Name: Piper\u00a0auritum Common Names: Hierba Santa, Hoja Santa, Mexican Pepperleaf, Root Beer Plant, False Kava, Anisillo, Acoyo, Santa Maria, Hoja de Jute, Xmakulan, Tlanecpahqu\u00edlitl (Nahuatl) Family: Piperaceae Native Range: Southern Mexico to Colombia Piper auritum\u00a0grows in tropical forests from Mexico to South America and its spicy leaves are used for various culinary and medicinal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"parent":212,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/236\/revisions\/237"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/clacx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}