About Piperaceae
Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, includes species that grow as small trees, shrubs, and either perennial or annual herbs. Many members of this family are used in traditional medicine by indigenous peoples to treat a wide range of illnesses. Many studies have been conducted to explore these traditional uses. A large portion of this research focuses specifically on the active compound piperine and its related compounds, which are found in many members of the family, most notably black pepper, long pepper, and betel. Research also focuses on kavalactones, the active compounds found in kava.
