Black pepper fruit (Piper nigrum L.) as antibacterial agent: A mini-review

Abstract

Natural products have been a rich source of bioactive compounds, some of these compounds showed significant antibacterial activity. Black pepper fruit (Piper nigrum L.) is one of the most famous pungency and flavor spices in the world, it is known as the king of spices. However, its benefit is not restricted on food seasoning. It has numerous bioactive effects on the human body. One of these benefits is its noticeable antibacterial activity. This mini-review summarizes the findings of scientific studies on the antibacterial activity of black pepper fruit against 6gram negative and 7gram positive bacteria, highlights the methods used for testing the antibacterial activity and the best solvent for extraction of the plant. The findings validate the use of this spice in traditional medicine and recommend it as a source of innovative therapeutic agents against food borne pathogens and infectious diseases.