Matico

Matico (Piper aduncum L.): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Description

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

Matico, known scientifically as Piper aduncum L., is an Amazonian shrub commonly referred to as "spiked pepper." Piper aduncum is a member of the Piperaceae (pepper) family, which contains around 3,600 species that grow widely throughout the subtropical and tropical regions of the world. One of the more well-known plants in this family is Piper nigrum, which produces the spice black pepper.

Common names for P. aduncum include spiked pepper in English, referring to its distinctive spicate inflorescence; matico in Spanish, originating from Peru where the plant's hemostatic properties were reportedly discovered by a wounded Spanish soldier who used the leaves to staunch bleeding; hierba del soldado, also Spanish for "soldier's herb," due to its traditional use in treating wounds; achotlín from Nahuatl, the indigenous language of central Mexico; and cordoncillo, a Spanish diminutive possibly alluding to its leaf venation. Additional regional synonyms recorded in taxonomic databases include bamboo piper, cow's foot, false matico, higuillo, jointwood, false kava, anisillo, pimenta-de-macaco, jaborandi-do-mato, and Santa María negra. The species has also been recorded under the synonym names Artanthe adunca and Steffensia adunca.

An important taxonomic note for consumers and researchers: gels and creams made from "matico" may contain either Piper aduncum or Buddleja globosa (Chilean matico), since both plants share similar cicatrizant and antiseptic properties, yet have a distinct set of benefits; it is important to read product labels carefully to confirm the source species.

Morphological Description

Piper aduncum is a shrub or small tree up to 7 m tall and 10 cm or more in stem diameter, with short stilt roots and medium-hard, brittle wood; foliage and twigs are aromatic. It can grow as individual plants or in thickets, with erect branches, drooping twigs, and swollen, purplish nodes. Leaves are alternate, distichous, and elliptic, 12–22 cm long, shortly petiolate, scabrid above with sunken nerves, and softly hairy beneath. The whole plant is aromatic with a distinct peppery smell, and the flowers form on drooping whitish spikes.

Geographic Range and Ecology

Piper aduncum is native to the Neotropics, with a natural range spanning southern Mexico and the Caribbean through much of Amazonian and Andean South America. Its ecological amplitude and tolerance for disturbance have facilitated secondary expansions; the species now occurs widely in parts of tropical Asia, Melanesia, and localized areas of the subtropical United States and Hawaii. P. aduncum was mostly originally found in Central and South America, where it grows throughout a large part of the Amazon and Atlantic forests. It was introduced to Asia during the 19th century and is now commonly found throughout New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Solomon and Christmas islands.

In its native range, P. aduncum is abundant and not currently threatened. Its weedy, disturbance-adapted life history buffers against overharvest for medicinal uses. Conversely, in several non-native regions — particularly Pacific islands — the species exhibits invasive potential, forming dense stands that disrupt local ecologies and complicate watershed management.

Common Forms and Preparations

Matico can be applied topically as an extract in creams and salves or consumed internally as a tea, tincture, or dietary supplement. An infusion of the leaves is often used as a wash for wounds, while crushed fresh leaves or leaf powder can also be applied topically. The leaves are used in herbal remedies in two ways: the first involves making an infusion of the leaves, which is then used to wash the bleeding area; the second method is to crush the leaves and sprinkle them onto a wound. Fresh matico leaves and fruits are available only in the tropical areas where this medicinal plant grows; however, dried matico leaves and matico powder can be purchased from online retailers, specialized health stores, and some local herbal shops.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Indigenous Amazonian and Andean Traditions

Matico has a long history of traditional use in South America, where it was valued especially for its antiseptic qualities and used to treat wounds. These uses were quickly adopted by the incoming Europeans, and the plant has maintained its role in modern herbalism. Across Amazonian Indigenous communities — including groups such as the Shipibo and Asháninka — and mestizo rural healers, matico leaves function as a frontline remedy for cuts, wounds, insect bites, and superficial skin infections. Fresh leaves are commonly chewed or macerated and applied directly as a poultice to staunch bleeding and disinfect injuries. In Peru and adjacent regions, historical uses include controlling hemorrhage, supporting ulcer care, and serving as an internal astringent.

Matico has long been used by traditional healers for wounds, kidney disorders, diarrhea, stomach pain, ulcers, rheumatism, boils, and skin infections; the tea has been used to ease menstrual cramps, to stop hemorrhaging, and as an overall health tonic. In Ecuador, it is most commonly used to promote the healing of cuts, insect bites, inflamed skin, and abrasions. In Brazil, P. aduncum — popularly known as pimenta-de-macaco and aperta-ruão — has been used in the treatment of gynecological diseases and intestinal disorders. The plant is also used in traditional Papua New Guinean folk medicine for treating wounds due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Indigenous communities in the Amazon also reported matico's insecticidal actions against the mosquito that carries and spreads yellow fever, and had long used matico leaves as a leaf rub or burned them as smoke to deter biting insects — a practice that now has solid pharmacological grounding.

The "Soldier's Herb" Origin Legend

According to legend, the plant was discovered on the part of Europeans by a wounded Spanish soldier named Matico. The natives had been using it before the arrival of Europeans, and Matico learned, presumably from the local tribes, that applying the leaves to his wounds stopped the bleeding. This folk etymology — whether entirely accurate or apocryphal — directly accounts for the common name matico as well as the Spanish synonym hierba del soldado (soldier's herb).

European Adoption and Historical Pharmacopoeial Use

Nineteenth-century European materia medica adopted matico as a recognized styptic and antiseptic — at times as a substitute for cubeb and other Piperaceae-derived agents in urogenital and wound care — reflecting trans-Atlantic pharmacognosy in an era when botanical antiseptics were ascendant. In European practice, it was used in the treatment of diseases of the genitals and urinary organs, such as those for which cubeb was often prescribed. Urban ethnobotanical markets in Andean and Amazonian cities continue to sell matico for first aid and minor infections.

3. Key Chemical Constituents and Active Compounds

Essential Oil Composition and Chemotypic Variation

The chemical composition of the essential oil of P. aduncum differs depending on geographic origin, although the phenylpropanoid dillapiole is the most cited major component, followed by myristicin, 1,8-cineole, and β-ocimene. The extent of chemotypic variation in this species is considerable: cluster analysis of essential oil compositions from across the range has revealed at least nine different chemotypes, and a single study of Cuban material identified camphor (17.1%), viridiflorol (14.5%), and piperitone (23.7%) as the main components.

A total of 38 essential oil compositions of P. aduncum from the published literature have been treated as operational taxonomic units, with 35 main essential oil compounds identified across these compositions, including α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, borneol, terpinen-4-ol, piperitone, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, valencene, bicyclogermacrene, myristicin, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, viridiflorol, dill apiole, and α-cadinol, among others.

Brazilian populations, particularly those from Manaus (capital of Amazonas state), exhibit particularly high contents of dillapiole, ranging from 31.5–97.3% of the total essential oil. The dillapiole-rich chemotype predominant in Amazonian populations, where dillapiole constitutes 35–90% of the oil, is considered responsible for much of the oil's characteristic bioactivity profile. A study of Ecuadorian material found the main constituent was dillapiole at 45.9%. In material from Papua New Guinea, the major component was identified as dill apiole or 4,5-dimethoxy-6-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole (43.3%), together with minor components β-caryophyllene (8.3%), piperitone (6.7%), and α-humulene (5.1%). In general, between 23 and 68 compounds have been reported in P. aduncum essential oils, with a higher percentage of monoterpenes.

Non-Volatile Phytochemical Classes

Previous phytochemical studies of P. aduncum have reported the isolation of chalcones, dihydrochalcones, flavanones, chromene, phenylpropanoids, and benzoic acid derivatives, some of which have been studied as cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and insect repellent agents. Modern research has confirmed the presence of a range of medically active compound classes in the plant, including flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, heterocycles, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and benzenoids.

A 2016 study published in Planta Medica isolated from P. aduncum leaves four new compounds — acacetin 8-C-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (1), 7-methoxyacacetin 8-C-[β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (2), 7-methoxyacacetin 8-C-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (3), and 4‴-O-acetylacacetin 8-C-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (4) — along with ten known compounds. Hexane leaf extracts have also been characterized: major constituents found in hexane extracts of P. aduncum leaves included germacrene B (33.1%), valencene (14.5%), β-cadinene (9.1%), and α-humulene (8.1%).

Five new prenylated p-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives with antimicrobial and molluscicidal activity have been isolated from Piper aduncum leaves, further demonstrating the chemical breadth of this species' secondary metabolite profile.

Key Individual Compounds of Pharmacological Interest

• Dillapiole: The predominant phenylpropanoid in most Amazonian chemotypes, dillapiole is defined as the major chemical constituent, classified as an arylpropanoid. Its antifungal, antibacterial, larvicidal, insecticidal, and molluscicidal activities have been confirmed by many research papers. Published work cited in the literature has also assessed the anti-inflammatory activity of dillapiole and some semisynthetic analogues (Parise-Filho et al., Pharmaceutical Biology, 2011).
• 2′,6′-Dihydroxy-4′-methoxychalcone (DMC): DMC isolated from Piper aduncum inflorescences shows significant activity in vitro against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, which was improved by encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo.
• Flavonoid C-glycosides: The effects of isolated acacetin glycosides on lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-α in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were evaluated; compounds 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, and 11–13 inhibited the production of both IL-12 p40 and IL-6, with IC50 values ranging from 0.35 ± 0.01 to 1.40 ± 0.04 µM and 1.22 ± 0.02 to 3.79 ± 0.10 µM, respectively.
• Cardamonin: Bioguided fractionation of crude extract of P. aduncum led to identification of cardamonin as an active compound; cardamonin at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µM caused 100% mortality, tegumental alterations, and reduction of oviposition and motor activity of all adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni, without affecting mammalian cells.
• β-Caryophyllene, germacrene B, nerolidol, spathulenol: Sesquiterpene constituents found in various chemotypes with documented antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Good antibacterial activity of hexane leaf extracts against Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus cereus may be explained by the chemical constituent germacrene B.
• Isovitexin: Isovitexin is a glycosylated flavonoid present in plants such as Piper aduncum, which is traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections; the interaction of isovitexin on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has been explored through molecular docking.

4. Pharmacological Properties and Scientific Evidence

Overview and Evidence Base

The established pharmacological profile of Piper aduncum spans anti-parasitic, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antitumor, and anticancer properties, indicating further therapeutic potential in treating infections and cancers. However, a critical limitation must be stated at the outset: several pharmacological activities of P. aduncum have been reported, most notably in the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer; however, information regarding its safety and efficacy in humans is lacking, and further study is needed to examine its benefits in a clinical setting. There is a significant lack of human clinical studies assessing the safety and efficacy of Piper aduncum, highlighting a need for further investigations. The following sections characterize each domain of evidence, distinguishing preclinical (in vitro and animal) findings from any human data.

4a. Antimicrobial Activity

The broad spectrum of in vitro antimicrobial activities against species such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus is considered strong evidence of the potential of P. aduncum extracts, fractions, and active chemical constituents applied to several skin diseases; these in vitro activities are very relevant for validating potential drugs in the dermatology field.

The essential oil of P. aduncum has strong antimicrobial activity against many common microorganisms that cause wounds to become infected, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa; in one study, the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) value of isolated compounds for P. aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and S. aureus was reported to be more than 100 µg/mL.

An Ecuadorian study found that antimicrobial assays performed on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, dermatophytes, and phytopathogenic fungi showed no mutagenic activity in Salmonella assays, indicating potential genotoxic safety, and P. aduncum exhibited significant antifungal activity inhibiting growth of specific strains at 500 µg/mL concentrations.

Strength of evidence: Antimicrobial activity is well-established at the in vitro level across multiple study groups and countries. No human clinical trials testing matico as an antimicrobial agent have been published.

4b. Anti-Inflammatory Activity

In folk medicine, P. aduncum is used as an anti-inflammatory, for wound healing, treating rheumatic afflictions and diarrhea, and as an antiseptic. Laboratory investigations have begun to clarify mechanisms. Four new flavonoid C-glycosides and ten known compounds were isolated from P. aduncum leaves; the effects of these compounds on LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-α in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were evaluated, with several compounds inhibiting the production of both IL-12 p40 and IL-6 with IC50 values ranging from 0.35 ± 0.01 to 1.40 ± 0.04 µM and 1.22 ± 0.02 to 3.79 ± 0.10 µM, respectively.

The anti-inflammatory activity of dillapiole and its semisynthetic analogues has also been reported in the literature (Parise-Filho et al., Pharmaceutical Biology, 2011), cited in multiple reviews. A 2023 Peruvian study published in the Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública evaluated in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Plantago major L. and Piper aduncum L. on phospholipase A2 from the venom of the snake Lachesis muta muta.

Strength of evidence: Preclinical only (in vitro and cell-based). Specific cytokine-inhibition mechanisms have been identified but not validated in human trials.

4c. Wound Healing and Hemostatic Activity

Indigenous and mestizo communities have extensively utilized matico for its potent topical antiseptic properties and wound-healing efficacy. The plant's hemostatic reputation predates formal science: traditional application of crushed or infused leaves to wounds to staunch bleeding is documented across multiple ethnobotanical surveys in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. Matico is rich in essential oils and phenylpropanoids, and holds pivotal roles in traditional medicine, particularly field care for wounds and skin infections.

Research on the antimicrobial properties of P. aduncum essential oil against wound-infecting microorganisms such as P. aeruginosa and S. aureus provides a pharmacological basis for this use, though direct clinical wound-healing trials have not been published in the peer-reviewed literature.

Strength of evidence: Strong ethnobotanical tradition; antimicrobial basis is supported by in vitro data. No controlled clinical wound-healing trials have been published.

4d. Antiparasitic Activity (Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Schistosomiasis)

Earlier analyses of scientific reports about the essential oil from P. aduncum indicated that insecticidal and antiparasitic activities have been the most reported, with useful applications found against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the vector of dengue and yellow fever; antiparasitic effects were more studied against kinetoplastids, including Trypanosoma and Leishmania.

Leishmaniasis: A compound active against Leishmania amazonensis, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, was purified from Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) as part of a program searching for antileishmanial compounds in Brazilian plants preselected according to their chemical composition. The results presented a compound of the chalcone group that is nontoxic to various mammalian cell types at concentrations that effectively kill all intracellular parasites in vitro. Antiparasitic activity has predominantly been found against Leishmania amazonensis, with antipromastigote activity found to be between 23.8 and 25.9 µg/mL. Leaves of P. aduncum also possessed antileishmanial activity, and one study reported that the IC50 against L. braziliensis was 6.5 µg/mL in vitro. In one study, P. aduncum displayed activity against Leishmania amazonensis and was more selective for the parasite than for macrophages, with a selectivity index (SI) of 2.35 and >5.52, respectively — values greater than 1 for the standard drug pentamidine.

Malaria: Essential oil of P. aduncum has shown promising IC50 values against Plasmodium falciparum, as low as 1.3 µg/mL. The results of Cuban research support the importance of the essential oil from P. aduncum in regard to antiparasitic activity, and its effect against P. falciparum indicates that this essential oil could be a promising antimalarial agent; further studies including in vivo bioassays are needed to validate the in vitro results and to ascertain the safety of the essential oil.

Schistosomiasis: In the treatment of parasitic infections, matico has been shown to be useful in the treatment of schistosomiasis, where it has a molluscicidal action against the freshwater snail that carries the parasite, as well as against the parasite itself. Cardamonin at 25, 50, and 100 µM caused 100% mortality, tegumental alterations, and reduction of oviposition and motor activity of all adult worms of S. mansoni; confocal laser scanning microscopy showed tegumental morphological alterations and changes in the numbers of tubercles of S. mansoni worms in a dose-dependent manner, and cardamonin also inhibited S. mansoni ATP diphosphohydrolase (IC50 of 23.54 µM).

Strength of evidence: Preclinical (predominantly in vitro, some animal models). Results against Leishmania spp., Plasmodium falciparum, and Schistosoma mansoni are among the most robust in vitro findings for this species. No human clinical antiparasitic trials have been published.

4e. Insecticidal and Larvicidal Activity

The insecticidal effect of the essential oil of Piper aduncum has been evaluated against workers of the fire ant Solenopsis saevissima; the lowest median lethal concentration (LC50) in 48 hours was obtained with the oil of P. aduncum (58.4 mg/L). The major chemical constituent accounting for this activity was dillapiole (64.4%).

Dillapiole, extracted from Piper aduncum essential oil and its derivatives, has been shown to be a potential alternative to the control of Aedes aegypti, which has become resistant to synthetic insecticides. Studies found that P. aduncum essential oil has a repellent action for Ae. aegypti, with concentrations of 50–12.5 mg/mL causing 100% mortality in larvae, in addition to morphological changes.

Strength of evidence: Multiple laboratory studies confirm insecticidal and larvicidal effects. Research in this domain is among the most well-developed for the species, with interest in application for vector control of dengue and yellow fever.

4f. Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activity

A study examined the cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract of Piper aduncum leaves in Mus musculus previously administered with sodium fluoride (NaF), using the Micronucleus test and the Comet assay; the extract was administered orally in four concentrations: 150, 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg for ten days. Significant differences were found in micronucleus frequency between the highest concentrations of Piper aduncum and NaF; the Comet assay showed significant reduction of NaF-induced DNA damage in erythrocytes depending on the different concentrations of the extract evaluated; it was concluded that the methanolic extract of P. aduncum leaves has cytoprotective and antioxidant activity against sodium fluoride.

One study found no genotoxic activity in the Ames/Salmonella typhimurium (TA98 and TA100) assay with the essential oil of P. aduncum, and mutagen-protective properties were observed against the promutagen 2-aminoanthracene, likely as a consequence of microsomal deactivation.

Strength of evidence: Animal (in vivo mouse) and in vitro data only. No human trials.

4g. Anticancer and Cytotoxic Activity

Studies have evaluated the chromatographic profile and cytotoxic effect of Piper aduncum essential oil on human tumor cell lines. Gas chromatography confirmed the presence of cis-γ-cadinene (17.16%), germacrene D (17.16%), γ-elemene (14.48%), nerolidol (13.41%), α-caryophyllene (7.65%), β-caryophyllene (6.8%), and δ-cadinene (5.95%) in Peruvian material; cytotoxic activity was evaluated against MCF-7 (breast cancer), H-460 (lung cancer), HT-29 (colon cancer), M-14 (amelanotic melanoma), K-562 (myeloid leukemia), and DU-145 (prostate cancer) human tumor cell lines.

Additional studies evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of ethanol extracts of Piper aduncum (among other Peruvian plants) on the same panel of human tumor cell lines. A separate study investigated the protective effect of a Piper aduncum capsule formulation on DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats (Arroyo-Acevedo et al., Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research, 2015).

Strength of evidence: Preliminary, preclinical only (in vitro cell line studies and animal models). No human clinical trials on anticancer applications have been published.

4h. Gastrointestinal and Antidiarrheal Uses

The plant is traditionally used for treating diarrhoea in Peru. In Brazil, P. aduncum has been used for intestinal disorders. Scientific investigation of its antidiarrheal mechanism has not been independently reported in major peer-reviewed journals; the basis for this use appears to rest on traditional practice and the plant's broad antimicrobial properties rather than dedicated clinical study.

Strength of evidence: Ethnobotanical tradition; no formal clinical trial data.

5. Body Systems and Health Areas

Based on the cumulative traditional and scientific literature, Piper aduncum has been associated with the following body systems and health areas:

• Integumentary system (skin and wound care): Extensively utilized for topical antiseptic properties and wound-healing efficacy.
• Immune and inflammatory system: Demonstrated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-12 p40 and IL-6 cytokine expression in vitro by isolated flavonoid C-glycosides.
• Gastrointestinal system: Traditional use for diarrhea, stomach pain, and ulcers across multiple South American traditions.
• Urogenital system: In European practice, matico was used in the treatment of diseases of the genitals and urinary organs.
• Reproductive system: Traditional use for menstrual cramps and hemorrhage control, and reported use in gynecological conditions in Brazil.
• Musculoskeletal system: Traditional use for rheumatic afflictions across Andean traditions.
• Infectious disease: Significant anti-parasitic and antimicrobial properties demonstrated in laboratory settings.
• Oncology (preclinical interest): Cytotoxic activity against multiple human tumor cell lines in vitro.
• Vector/pest control (applied entomology): The essential oil of P. aduncum was considered a promising insecticide, acaricide, and antiparasitic in a 2021 review.

6. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

Matico can be applied topically as an extract in creams and salves, or consumed internally as a tea, tincture, or dietary supplement. The following dosages are reported strictly as stated in published sources and are not presented as recommendations:

• Oral extract (animal study): A murine cytoprotective study administered the methanolic extract of P. aduncum leaves orally at four concentrations — 150, 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg — for ten days.
• Topical/traditional wound care: The traditional preparations involve either making an infusion of the leaves for use as a wound wash, or crushing the leaves and sprinkling them directly onto a wound.
• Larvicidal (laboratory application): Piper aduncum essential oil at concentrations of 50–12.5 mg/mL caused 100% mortality in Aedes aegypti larvae in laboratory assays.
• Antileishmanial (in vitro): Antipromastigote activity against Leishmania amazonensis was found between 23.8 and 25.9 µg/mL.
• Insecticidal (in vivo, fire ant): The LC50 of the essential oil of P. aduncum against Solenopsis saevissima workers was 58.4 mg/L at 48 hours.

No standardized human clinical dosage for any therapeutic application has been established in the published peer-reviewed literature as of the time of writing.

7. Safety Considerations

General Safety Status

Although a wide number of phytocompounds — including alkaloids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins — may have cytotoxic and genotoxic properties, the natural origin and widespread use of Piper species do not guarantee their safety.

Genotoxicity Data on Dillapiole and Derivatives

Results in this domain are mixed. One study using the Ames/Salmonella typhimurium assay (TA98 and TA100) found no genotoxic activity for the essential oil of P. aduncum (dillapiole-rich), with or without S9 activation, and also observed mutagen-protective properties against the promutagen 2-aminoanthracene. However, studies on semi-synthetic derivatives raise distinct concerns: dillapiole extracted from P. aduncum essential oil and its derivatives have been shown as a potential alternative for controlling Aedes aegypti, and methyl ether dillapiole (MED) and temephos were compared for genotoxicity and developmental changes in the mosquito. Cumulative effects of genotoxic damage — including bridges, budding, nuclear fragmentation, micronucleus formation, and chromosomal breakage — were observed in the neuroblasts and oocytes of exposed mosquitoes. These genotoxic findings pertain to semi-synthetic derivatives used as insecticides against arthropods, not to the parent natural extract administered to mammals.

Interaction with Standard Drugs

Several pharmacological activities of P. aduncum have been reported in the treatment of infectious diseases; however, information regarding its safety and efficacy in humans is lacking. No formal drug-interaction studies in humans have been published. Given its reported activity as an enzyme inhibitor (tyrosinase, epoxide hydrolase) and cytochrome P450-related effects implied by the microsomal deactivation of promutagens noted in some studies, pharmacokinetic interactions with co-administered drugs are theoretically plausible but remain uncharacterized in humans.

Taxonomic Confusion and Mislabeling Risk

Because there is another medicinal herb, Buddleja globosa, also known as matico, with a distinct set of benefits, it is important to read product labels and ensure that capsules and essential oil are made from Piper aduncum. This name-sharing between taxonomically unrelated species represents a real and documented source of consumer confusion and potential mislabeling risk.

Invasive Species Considerations

In several non-native regions such as Pacific islands, the species exhibits invasive potential, forming dense stands that disrupt local ecologies and complicate watershed management. Piper aduncum is a problem in some Pacific Islands, where it can interfere with the harvesting of the related kava plant.

References

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