African Medicinal Spices of Genus Piper

Abstract The African genus Piper is estimated to be composed of about 15 species found mostly in the tropical regions of East, Central, and West Africa. The commonest of these species are Piper guineense and Piper capense which are widespread across many African countries. P. guineense otherwise known as West African Black Pepper originate from West Africa and compared favorably with the Black Pepper ( Piper nigrum ). Several African Piper species are mainly used as spices in culinary, food, and as traditional source of medicine to treat several diseases, such as fevers, malaria, diabetes, inflammation, infections, infertility, used as an aphrodisiac, etc. This chapter focused on the taxonomical, distribution, ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal, biological, phytochemical, economic, bioprospecting, and conservation profiles of this medicinal spice with reference to some of the species found in Africa. This report is expected to provide invaluable information on the huge economic, social, and medicinal potentials of the African Piper genus.