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Peperomia
pellucida, an Amazing Wild Medicinal
Herb
Dr. M. P. Mishra 2:26 PM BIODIVERSITY , MEDICINAL PLANTS

I have been seeing an amazing plant during July to December

months every year since last five years growing and completing
its life cycle in a wonderful habitat. The habitat is wonderful
because in my opinion no other plant except this one can grow in
it. How can a plant grow in conditions almost unfavorable for life
a vertical, smooth and cemented surface, not at all ready to allow
even a single drop of rain water that may flow through to it, to
rest a while? Only a very thin layer of dust can escape out of air
to settle down at this smallest area compared to the minimum
area thought to be needed by a plant to grow and develop in
it.The plant under study grows at the same place every year not
more than two or three in number. First, the plant appears like
mini translucent architecture attached to the vertical surface of
the wall just above the upper margin of the gate of an open
school lavatory. Sun rays for a very short period do visit the area
but the wall does not seem porous enough to withhold a little
water. It is a mystery. But the plant grows well. It might have
been able to reach to the great length, had it been able to inhabit
a proper place. But, I see it becomes a little greener during its
flowering and fruiting period.
In the initial phase which lasted for many years, I just kept on
observing it and wondering on every aspect of its life. At last I
posted it on my site with a request to identify it. But no one did

ever respond. Finally, I myself became able to identify it through

long and tiresome research. Now after passing through long
processes of identification, survey and research on different
aspects of the plant I have become able to know that it is
Peperomia pellucida, a medicinal herb of great values.

Image 1: Peperomia pellucida growing solitary on a vertical plastered wall

Image 2: Peperomia pellucida in the wild

Image 3: Peperomia pellucida in the wild, showing fruits and Infl.

Peperomia pellucida the plant of immense medicinal value, is variously known in

different Indian and other languages. Its names in Sanskrit are Toyakandha and
Varshabhoo. In Malayalam it is known as Mashitandu chedi. In Philippines it is known
as

Ulasiman-bato,

cua (Vietnam); pak

Olasiman-ihalas,

and

Tangontagon. it

krasang (Thailand); suna

is

known

as cng

kosho (Japan); rangu-rangu,

ketumpangan ortumpang angin (Bahasa/Malay).

Distribution
Peperomias are Herbs of tropical and subtropical regions. Most of them occur in
Central and Northern South America. Fewer species are known from Africa, Asia, and
Oceania. Different endemic species are known from the islands of the Indian Ocean,

the Pacific, and the Caribbean. It has been reported that Peperomia is native to
tropical America and Asia. It is well represented and naturalized in India too.

Although a lot of them grow as epiphytes in rainforest habitats, others are

succulents found in the high Andes. It can be found in lightly shaded and damp
areas such as nooks, walls, yards, and even on roofs. Peperomia is the largest genus
of the family of the Piperaceae.

The Plant
Now, two types of Peperomias are seen in my area P. obtusifolia and P. pellucida.
It belongs to the family Peperomiaceae. Some researchers have reported that there
are following types of Peperomias
(i).Cupid Peperomias (P. scandens variegate)
(ii).Creeping Peperomias (P. prostrata)
(iii).Watermelon Peperomias (P. arqueir)
(IV).Baby rubber plant (P. clusifolia)
(v).Desert privet (P. magnoliafolia variegate)
Peperomias can grow anywhere in filtered light conditions. The plant grown just
anywhere may be contaminated by aerial and soil pollutant like human and animal
excrement. It is reported that unfinished concrete block fences that often remain
damp are favourite habitats of this herb. It can be used for brewing and healing
purposes after being ensured that it is free from contaminants.

The plant has a threadlike but angular trailing stem. Those growing in rich habitats
do have fleshy and stout stems. Its leaves are blunt, heart shaped and in good
habitats it grows as a long shrubby looking creeping cover or as an epiphyte. The
elongated stems look like a vine with leaves rising 6 to 9 cm above the surface. Both
leaves and stems have shiny waxy surfaces.

The foliage of the plant looks ornamental. It has been reported to be a tropical
perennial. It usually does not exceed 12 in height. Flowers are tiny and
unnoticeable and grow in the form of a cord like spike. Inflorescence consists of
compact, erect spikes of minute creamy white flowers.
Some of Peperomias are epiphytes growing on rotten logs. These have thick angular
stems and fleshy leaves. Most Peperomias have tiny flowers which are packed in a
characteristic greenish or brown conical spike like an inverted catkin. A few species
have more attractive flowers such as white scented clusters of spikes produced by P.
fraseri from Ecuador.

Some species are popular house plants. A variety of cultivars of Peperomia

caperata with attractively marked foliage are widely available through horticultural
trade, and varieties of compact Peperomias can sometimes be found among
selection of plants intended for bottle gardens.

Fruits remain tiny, dot like smooth, and oval. These develop partially embedded in
the spike with their hooked beaks protruding outside.

Peperomias have long profile in succulent society of plants. However, several species
are succulent and form tubers. P. campylotrapa is a deciduous tuber forming plant
found in the cooler regions of Mexico. After flowering, the aerial growth dies away
and the tuber can survive long periods of drought. P. macrorhiza which is found in
Peru and P. monticola which is found in Mexico form a large group and can be of
interest for plant collectors. About 1000 species of Peperomias have so far been
described mainly from South America. About 17 of these are reported to be found in
Africa, and similar or less number has been reported from Asia.

Rotting, ring spots manifested as distorted foliage with chlorotic or necrotic rings
that are found on the leaves. This disease can be caused by cucumber mosaic virus

and the only treatment is to destroy the infected parts. Many Peperomias can be
propagated by leaves, or tip cutting, although the variegated and succulent species
grow

mainly

by

tip

cuttings.

Image 4: Peperomia fraseri- erect inflorescence. A horticultural variety

Image 5: Peperomia hoffmanii a horticultural variety

Image 6 : Peperomia sp. a horticultural variety

Image 7: Peperomia caperata variegata - a Horticultural variety

Traditional and Ethno- herbological Uses of the Plant

Ayurveda recommends the whole Peperomia plant as medicinal. It is described in
Ayurveda as Rasa Katu and Madhur; Guna- Lakhu, rooksha, Teekshna; and
Virya- Ushna. The plant is described to passify vitiated cough, pitta, constipation,
kidney diseases, urinary retention, disuria, urinary tract infections, emaciation,
edema and general weakness.

Through a detailed study of various aspects of the plant, it has been found that it
has a long and rich history of medicinal applications across American and Asian
countries. Ethno-botanical studies of the plant reveal that the whole plant has been
in medicinal use since long. It is crushed and mixed with water to form a mixture,
heated and administered orally to cure hemorrhage. In Bolivia, a decoction of root
has been used for the treatment of fevers. The extract of the aerial part of the plant
has been reported to be applied to cure wounds. Mufioz et al. (2000) have studied
natural bioactive compounds in the extract of Peperomia in Bolivia through

multidisciplinary approach. They have evaluated and found that the plant extract if
administered orally for a certain period can cure malaria. Khan and Omoloso have
studied anti bacterial activities of P. pellucida and they have confirmed that the plant
extract has anti-microbial properties.

P. pellucida has been used for curing various types of ailments in the past. Still it is
used for the treatment of abdominal pain, acne, boils, colic, gout, head ache, renal
disorders, rheumatic pain, breast cancer, impotence, mental disorders, and even
small pox. It has also been eaten raw or cooked to eat for the treatment of
rheumatic pain. Aziba et al. have studied the analgesic activity of the extract of
upper or the aerial part of the plant. The plant has been in use to lower cholesterol
level in blood in the Northeastern Brazil. On the other hand it has been in use to
treat protein urea and other urinary disorders. In the region of Amazon, it is in use
as cough suppressant, diuretic and for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. Dos
Santos et al. (2004) have studied the oil extracted from different species of
Peperomia in Brazilian Atlantic forests. Fatima et al. have studied the antiinflammatory and analgesic properties of Peperomias. Thus, the ethno- botanical
practices popular in different parts of the world have already been tested and
confirmed by various researchers from time to time.

Infusion and decoction of leaves and stems of fresh plant are eaten as salad for the
treatment of gout and arthritis. Various studies have confirmed the traditional
knowledge that the extract of the plant is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, depressant
of Central Nervous System, antipyretic, and anti-bacterial.

Chemical compounds isolated from Peperomia pellucida

Seeds of Peperomia pellucida yield an essential oil. This oil has been reported to
contain as many as 71 chemical compounds. Major chemical constituents of the
essential oil are sesquiterpenes.A number of chemical compounds have been
isolated by different workers from time to time. Some major categories of

compounds isolated from the plant body of different species of Peperomia are
Flavonoides like acacetin, apigenin, isovitexin, and Pellucidatin; Phytosterols like
campesterol and stgmasterol; essential oils like hydrozylated sesquiterpene; carotol
etc. The plant has also been reported to contain peperomines that are reported to
have cytotoxic or anti-cancer properties. Besides these, the plant extract also
contains Arylpropanoides like apiols having anti-fungal activities.

Medicinal Values of Peperomia pellucida

Oral administration of the extract of Peperomia pellucida in rats has been confirmed
(Arrigoni et al.2001, de Fatima et al.2004,) to interfere with the synthesis of
Prostaglandin, thus acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Oral administration of the extract of P. pellucida in rats has been confirmed to cause
analgesic activity (Aziba et al. 2001). Aziba et al. have worked on analgesic activity
of Peperomia pellucidaaerial parts in mice.

The extract of whole plant of Peperomia pellucida has been reported to check the
growth of Chloroquine- resistant Plasmodium falciparum Indo- strain by 95%. It has
also been reported that this type of extract causes total lyses of Leismania
braziliensis, L.; L. donovani; and L. amazonensis (Munoz et al., Chan-Bacab et al.
2001).

Xu S et al. have studied the bioactive compounds from P. pellucida and have
reported that the crude extract of the plant cause cytotoxicity against the cancer cell
lines HL-60, MCF-7 and HeLa.

Persons hyper sensitive to the plant may feel asthma like conditions due to strong
mustard like odor of the plant.

Crude methanolic extracts of P. pellucida has been reported to show broad spectrum
anti-microbial activity. Bojo et al. (1994) studied the anti-bacterial activity of the
extract of P. pellucida using disc diffusion methods. Similar studies by Khan et al.
(2002) also document similar results for the anti-microbial activity of P. pellucida
extract against numerous species of bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia
coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus auren.

The chloroform extract from dried leaves of P. pellucida have been reported by
Ragasa

et

al.

(1998)

to

have

antifungal

activity

against Trichophyton

metagrophytes.

From the foregoing accounts it is evident that the plant Peperomia has immense
medicinal values that demand further researches towards the development of safe
and suitable medications for the treatment of pains, inflammations, stomach
problems and even cancers. Suitable and safe medications can be prepared to treat
bacterial and those caused by protozoa like malaria and other fevers. For this the
plant should be grown on commercial basis and conserved in the wild.

In the current age of environmental pollution and habitat destruction herbs of

immense medicinal values are being unknowingly destroyed by human activities.
More extensive surveys of floras of different area, listing and investigations followed
by repeated researches are essential to conserve the property hidden in the
biodiversity of the world.