Objective: Piperis longi fructus is an upright and slender vine with smooth, green, and thin stems. Its fruits, which are used as drug, are fleshy and oval. It is commonly used as a spice, in pickles, foods, and beverages. The plant contains various chemical compounds, including essential oils, saponins, cyanogenic glycoside known as amygdalin, and primarily the alkaloid piperine. In traditional medicine systems, it is used for respiratory infections, muscle pain, insomnia, epilepsy, and many other conditions. Due to its broad usage and strong effects, careful attention must be given to its consumption; otherwise, it may pose risks to public health. Therefore, the analysis of this herbal drug should be conducted meticulously. This study aims to investigate the compliance of Piperis longi fructus samples purchased from the market with the standards specified in the Turkish Pharmacopoeia 2017.Material and Method: In this study, Piperis longi fructus samples obtained from 12 different herbalists were analyzed according to the monograph in the Turkish Pharmacopoeia (2017). The analysis included morphological examination, microscopic analysis, and thin-layer chromatography. Additionally, the determination of foreign matter, loss on drying, and total ash content was carried out. Finally, quantitative determination was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography.Result and Discussion: As a result of the pharmacopoeial analysis conducted within the study, none of the twelve Piperis longi fructus samples fully complied with the pharmacopoeial standards.
Karaaslan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.