Spiked pepper

The most frequently reported and characteristic constituent of Piper aduncum oil. Dillapiole has documented insecticidal, acaricidal, antifungal, antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory activity, and acts as an insecticide synergist by inhibiting insect (and mammalian) cytochrome-P450 detoxification. As a methylenedioxyphenyl phenylpropanoid (related to myristicin/safrole) it carries theoretical hepatotoxicity/genotoxicity concerns at high oral doses.

A major component of non-dillapiole chemotypes; contributes to the oil's antiprotozoal and aromatic properties.

Bicyclic monoterpene ketone contributing to the oil's aroma and topical counter-irritant/antimicrobial character in camphor-rich populations.

Oxygenated sesquiterpene reported among the dominant compounds in certain chemotypes; associated with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.

A minor phenylpropanoid that acts synergistically with dillapiole, enhancing antibacterial and insecticidal effects of the oil.

Non-volatile chromene and prenylated benzoic-acid metabolites isolated from the leaves are linked to antifungal, molluscicidal and cytotoxic activity, distinguishing the plant chemically from other Piper species.

Leaf flavonoids contribute to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity associated with traditional wound-healing use.

Traditionally the fresh leaves are macerated, chewed or heated and applied directly to cuts, wounds, ulcers, boils and insect bites as a hemostatic and antiseptic dressing ('soldier's herb', matico). Powdered dried leaf is also sprinkled on wounds.

A tea of the leaves is used in Amazonian and Andean folk medicine as a wound wash and internally for diarrhoea, stomach pain, urinary complaints and menstrual cramps. Because the oil is rich in the methylenedioxyphenyl phenylpropanoid dillapiole, concentrated oil or high internal doses should be avoided, especially in pregnancy.

Steam-distilled leaf oil (frequently dillapiole-rich) is studied chiefly as a botanical insecticide/acaricide and antiparasitic agent for external and agricultural use rather than internal medicine.

Ninety compounds were identified, dominated by piperitone (23.7%), camphor (17.1%) and viridiflorol (14.5%). The oil showed little antibacterial/antifungal activity but marked antiprotozoal potency (Plasmodium falciparum IC50 1.3 µg/mL; Trypanosoma brucei 2.0 µg/mL), alongside notable cytotoxicity (MRC-5 IC50 5.1 µg/mL).

Critical review of 59 studies concluding that oil composition is chemotype-dependent, with dillapiole the most cited component followed by myristicin, 1,8-cineole and β-ocimene. Insecticidal effects were strong against Aedes aegypti (LC50 57-200 µg/mL) and acaricidal activity notable against Tetranychus urticae (LC50 5.83-7.17 µg/mL).

Matico is among the most widely used Piper species in South American traditional medicine, applied for centuries as a wound-healing, hemostatic and antiseptic herb ('soldier's herb') and internally for diarrhoea, ulcers and urinary complaints.

Matico leaves entered European and North American medical use in the mid-19th century (appearing in dispensatories) as a styptic and hemostatic applied to bleeding wounds and used for genito-urinary and mucous-membrane complaints.