Java Long Pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl.)

Java long pepper is one of the medicinal plants that have been exploited since time immemorial. This plant is a plant native to Indonesia which is commonly known by the name "Chilli Java. " This plant is included in the family Piperaceae, which has about 10 genera and more than 1,000 species. Latin name of the Java long pepper is Piper retrofractum Vahl. and a name synonymous P. officinarum DC. These plants is one of 5 types in the genus Piper that has economic value along with 4 other species namely P. nigrum (pepper), P. betle (betel), P. cubeba L. (cubeb), and P. longum (Indian long pepper).

Java long pepper plants in the form of plants for years, branching stems with wild, grow climbing, twining with the roots attached, length reaches 10 meters. Branching starts from the base that resembles wood. Single leaf, egg-shaped to oval, base rounded, tapered tip, flat edge, bone pinnate leaves, upper surface smooth, under surface mottled, 8.5 to 30 centimeters long, 3-13 inches wide and green. Flowers unisexual, arranged in a grain that grows upright or slightly bent, long ears of males more than females. Fruit compound in the form of grain, length round cylindrical shape, the tip somewhat smaller, uneven surfaces, stick up regularly, 2-7 cm long, 4-8 mm diameter, long-stemmed, young green, hard and spicy, then color become yellow ivory and eventually become red, soft and sweet. Plant part used is fruit, but sometimes there is a use of leaves and roots.

Fruit, leaves and roots of Java long pepper plants can be used for treatment. The old fruit can be used for the treatment of flatulence, heartburn, vomiting, diaforetik, carminative, stimulates appetite, fever, influenza, migraine, sweating bullets, gout, infection of the liver, low blood pressure, nerve weakness, difficult childbirth , and as afrodisiaka. Roots can be used for toothache, wounds, and seizures, while its leaves for mouthwash. In India, North Africa, East Africa, and Southeast Asia, Java long pepper is also used for seasoning.

Chemical compounds contained in the Java long pepper, among others, free amino acids, resins, essential oils, some types of alkaloids such as piperine, piperidine, piperatin, piperlonguminine, ß-sitosterol, sylvatine, guineensine, piperlongumine, filfiline, sitosterol, methyl piperate, essential oils (terpenoids), n-oktanol, linalool, terpinil acetate, acetic sitronelil, sitral, alkaloids, saponins, polyphenols, and resin (kavisin). The main alkaloid contained in the Java long pepper fruit is piperine.

Java long pepper is one of the plant known to have a stimulant effect on the nerve cells so as to increase stamina. Hormonal effects of this plant is known as afrodisiaka. Based on scientific research, Java long pepper used as afrodisiaka because it has androgenic effects, for the anabolic, and as an antiviral. From a literature review to say that in general the chemical constituents or chemical compounds that act as afrodisiaka are derivatives of steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and other compounds that can circulate blood. The part that is used as afrodisiaka fruit and suspected active compounds which merit afrodisiaka in the fruit is a compound piperine.