REVIEW: BIOACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF BLACK PEPPER (PIPPER NIGRUM), AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR MONKEY POX ERADICATION

Abstract

Pepper is used worldwide in various sauces and dishes. It contains a major pungent alkaloid, piperine, and a potent terpenoid, limonene. These two metabolites have proven highly effective in many interesting pharmacological actions. They are widely used in various traditional medicine systems, such as Ayurvedic medicine, and exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiseptic, and other properties. Piperine and limonene have proven highly effective in enhancing pharmacological activities. They also stimulate pancreatic and intestinal enzymes that facilitate digestion. Therefore, we believe that the piperine and limonene contained in black pepper would be excellent metabolites to enrich in the fight against monkey pox. The current treatment used against M-pox would, according to research, consist of only relieving the symptoms and certain similar infections (see sub-section 3 on symptoms) presented by M-pox, but would not be able to completely eradicate it. These are tecovirimat, cidofovir and brincidofovir. And to date, there is no specific treatment, nor scientific literature on the treatment of monkeypox using black pepper. The articles available to date focus only and mainly on the virology, epidemiology and existing antiviral treatment against M-pox, without mentioning the use of black pepper as a treatment. Thus, research to find a curative treatment and not only a predictive one for the M-pox virus is very urgent, and hence the importance of this new approach. Research Methods: In this bibliographic survey, our approach focused on the literature on black pepper and monkey pox. Several results were retrieved from articles, dissertations, and theses addressing this study. These results were retrieved using Google, which was considered our search engine. In short, it was the documentary technique that was used. Regarding the results, piperine and limonene contained in black pepper have beneficial effects in the treatment of monkey pox, rather than using the vaccine, which is not reassuring.