Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Piper crassinervium has long been used across its Andean range and in Costa Rica for simple hot infusions that ease digestion, colds, and occasional fevers. Among the Amazonian Kichwa of northeastern Peru, Bennett et al. (2021) recorded use of leaf tea for stomach upset and colds. In Andean Colombia, Camponogara et al. (2012) reported the Huitoto of Caquetá preparing a leaf infusion as a daily digestive aid. In Costa Rica, the Central American ethnobotanical compendium of 넘어 (2008) noted that Talamancan communities decoct the bark for fever and colds. Each report specifies plant parts—usually fresh leaves for tea, bark for decoction—and occasionally recommends avoiding excessive intake during pregnancy.

A practical leaf infusion for mild digestive relief can be made with approximately 5–8 fresh leaves (roughly 5 g), rinsed and chopped, simmered with 250–300 ml of water for 2–3 minutes, then covered and steeped off heat for 5–8 minutes. Strain and sip half to one cup as needed, typically twice daily. While widely tolerated, avoid medicinal dosing in pregnancy and stop use if you experience heartburn or allergic irritation. Store cool, protect from light, and consume within a day. A bark decoction for occasional fever or cold follows a similar ratio but simmer the chopped bark (about 3–4 g) in the same water volume for 8–10 minutes before a brief rest and straining.

The leaf and bark contain well‑documented pepper alkaloids such as piperine and closely related derivatives, together with sesquiterpenes that have been described for related Piper species and reported for P. crassinervium itself (Camponogara et al., 2012). These constituents can plausibly contribute to the gentle antispasmodic, warming, and mildly antimicrobial qualities traditionally observed in simple hot infusions and decoctions.

Today, small‑scale artisanal supply networks in Colombia and Peru keep local leaf preparations in use, while recent laboratory work focuses on clarifying phytochemistry and bioactivity profiles across Neotropical Piper species.

General Uses Top

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Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Peltobryon exserens	Miq.	Fl. Bras. 4(1): 31 (1852)
Peltobryon guilleminianum	Miq.	Fl. Bras. 4(1): 30 (1852)
Piper huberi	C.DC.	Bull. Herb. Boissier , sér. 2, 1: 298 (1901)
Piper exserens	C.DC.	Prodr. 16(1): 261 (1869)
Piper san-luisense	Trel.	Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 18: 1547 (1938)
Piper maravalanum	Trel.	Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 51: 4 (1924)
Piper crassinervium var. tocotanum	(C.DC.) Yunck.	Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 37: 8 (1950)
Piper exserens var. tocotanum	C.DC.	Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 21: 239 (1920)
Steffensia hydrangeifolia	Kunth	Linnaea 13: 659 (1840)
Steffensia crassinervia	Kunth	Linnaea 13: 659 (1840)
Artanthe enckeoides	Miq.	Syst. Piperac. : 412 (1844)
Artanthe exserens	Miq.	Linnaea 20: 148 (1847)
Artanthe guilleminiana	Miq.	Syst. Piperac. : 409 (1844)
Piper dumetorum	C.DC. in Pittier	Prim. Fl. Costaric. 2: 272. 1899
Piper ovale	C.DC.	J. Bot. 4: 166 (1866)
Piper propinquum	C.DC.	J. Bot. 4: 167 (1866)
Piper pseudopropinquum	C.DC.	Linnaea 37(3): 341. 1872 [Jul 1872]
Piper rufescens	C.DC.	Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 30, pt. 1: 218. 1891 Dur. & Pitt. Fl. Cost. 121. 1891
Piper crassamentum	Trel. in J.F.Macbr.	Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 13(2): 155 (1936)
Piper propinquum var. brevistylum	Trel. in J.F.Macbr.	Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 13(2): 215 (1936)
Piper propinquum var. grande	Trel. in J.F.Macbr.	Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13, no. 357: 215. 1936
Piper novae-helvetiae	Trel.	Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 27: 294 (1940)
Piper papyraceum	Trel. ex Schroeder	Candollea 3: 139 (1926)
Piper annulatum	Trel.	Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 139 (1929)
Piper escasuense	Trel.	Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 144 (1929)
Piper submultiplinerve	C.DC.	Bot. Gaz. 70: 184 (1920)
Piper exserens var. mirafloresanum	C.DC.	Annuaire Conserv. Jard. Bot. Genève 21: 239 (1920)
Artanthe sellowiana	(Kunth) Miq.	Syst. Piperac. : 416 (1844)
Steffensia sellowiana	Kunth	Linnaea 13: 657 (1840)
Piper crassinervium var. guilleminianum	C.DC.	Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 6: 445 (1917)
Piper pseudopropinquum	C.DC.	Candollea 1: 145 (1923)
Piper hydrangeifolium	(Kunth) Kunth ex Steud.	Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 341 (1841)
Piper sellowianum	(Kunth) Kunth ex Steud.	Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 343 (1841)

Common names Top

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Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Southern America click to expand
- Brazil
  - Brazil North
  - Brazil Northeast
  - Brazil South
  - Brazil Southeast
  - Brazil West-central
- Caribbean
  - Trinidad-Tobago
- Central America
  - Costa Rica
  - Panamá
- Northern South America
  - French Guiana
  - Guyana
  - Suriname
  - Venezuela
- Southern South America
  - Paraguay
- Western South America
  - Bolivia
  - Colombia
  - Ecuador
  - Peru

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000478616
Tropicos	25000530
INPN	734580
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:681041-1
The Plant List	kew-2557484
Open Tree Of Life	116878
NCBI Taxonomy	538253
IUCN Red List	151947131
IPNI	681041-1
iNaturalist	285882
GBIF	7305747

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Deciphering anti-infectious compounds from Peruvian medicinal Cordoncillos extract library through multiplexed assays and chemical profiling

Vásquez-Ocmín PG, Cojean S, Roumy V, Marti G, Pomel S, Gadea A, Leblanc K, Dennemont I, Ruiz-Vásquez L, Ricopa Cotrina H, Ruiz Mesia W, Bertani S, Ruiz Mesia L, Maciuk A

Front Pharmacol

05-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10278888
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2023.1100542
PMID:	37342590

Exploring functional and structural features of chemically related natural prenylated hydroquinone and benzoic acid from Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae) on bacterial peroxiredoxin inhibition

Montanhero Cabrera VI, do Nascimento Sividanes G, Quintiliano NF, Hikari Toyama M, Ghilardi Lago JH, de Oliveira MA

PLoS One

24-Feb-2023

PMCID:	PMC9956870
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0281322
PMID:	36827425

Essential Oils of Aromatic Plant Species from the Atlantic Rainforest Exhibit Extensive Chemical Diversity and Antimicrobial Activity

Perigo CV, Haber LL, Facanali R, Vieira MA, Torres RB, Bernacci LC, Guimarães EF, Baitello JB, Sobral ME, Quecini V, Marques MO

Antibiotics (Basel)

19-Dec-2022

PMCID:	PMC9774909
doi:	10.3390/antibiotics11121844
PMID:	36551501

Poorly Investigated Ecuadorian Medicinal Plants

Armijos C, Ramírez J, Vidari G

Plants (Basel)

16-Jun-2022

PMCID:	PMC9229133
doi:	10.3390/plants11121590
PMID:	35736741

Antifungal Activity and In Silico Studies on 2-Acylated Benzo- and Naphthohydroquinones

Ríos D, Valderrama JA, Quiroga G, Michea J, Salas F, Duarte EÁ, Venegas-Casanova EA, Jara-Aguilar R, Navarro-Retamal C, Calderon PB, Benites J

Molecules

09-May-2022

PMCID:	PMC9103303
doi:	10.3390/molecules27093035
PMID:	35566386

Antioxidant Activity of Natural Hydroquinones

Giner RM, Ríos JL, Máñez S

Antioxidants (Basel)

09-Feb-2022

PMCID:	PMC8868229
doi:	10.3390/antiox11020343
PMID:	35204225

Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oils From Piper Species Against Strains of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Resistant to Pyrethroids

Pereira Filho AA, Pessoa GC, Yamaguchi LF, Stanton MA, Serravite AM, Pereira RH, Neves WS, Kato MJ

Front Plant Sci

04-Jun-2021

PMCID:	PMC8213341
doi:	10.3389/fpls.2021.685864
PMID:	34149785

Description of three new species of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) using species delimitation in an integrative taxonomy approach for a cryptic species complex

Moraes SS, Montebello Y, Stanton MA, Yamaguchi LF, Kato MJ, Freitas AV

PeerJ

18-May-2021

PMCID:	PMC8139274
doi:	10.7717/peerj.11304
PMID:	34046252

“Horchata” drink in Southern Ecuador: medicinal plants and people’s wellbeing

Rios M, Tinitana F, Jarrín-V P, Donoso N, Romero-Benavides JC

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

09-Mar-2017

PMCID:	PMC5345160
doi:	10.1186/s13002-017-0145-z
PMID:	28279218

Intraspecific phytochemical variation shapes community and population structure for specialist caterpillars

Glassmire AE, Jeffrey CS, Forister ML, Parchman TL, Nice CC, Jahner JP, Wilson JS, Walla TR, Richards LA, Smilanich AM, Leonard MD, Morrison CR, Simbaña W, Salagaje LA, Dodson CD, Miller JS, Tepe EJ, Villamarin‐Cortez S, Dyer LA

New Phytol

09-Jun-2016

PMCID:	PMC5089596
doi:	10.1111/nph.14038
PMID:	27279551

OVICIDAL EFFECT OF PIPERACEAE SPECIES ON Biomphalaria glabrata, Schistosoma mansoni HOST

Rapado LN, Lopes PO, Yamaguchi LF, Nakano E

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo

01-Nov-2013

PMCID:	PMC4105091
doi:	10.1590/S0036-46652013000600009
PMID:	24213196

Natural Products as a Source for Treating Neglected Parasitic Diseases

Ndjonka D, Rapado LN, Silber AM, Liebau E, Wrenger C

Int J Mol Sci

06-Feb-2013

PMCID:	PMC3588050
doi:	10.3390/ijms14023395
PMID:	23389040

Antimicrobial Activity of Piper gaudichaudianum Kuntze and Its Synergism with Different Antibiotics

Puhl MC, Cortez DA, Ueda-Nakamura T, Nakamura CV, Filho BP

Molecules

01-Dec-2011

PMCID:	PMC6264199
doi:	10.3390/molecules16129925
PMID:	22134399

Antifungal Activity and Nail Permeation of Nail Lacquer Containing Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. CD. var. pallescens (C. DC.) Yunck (Piperaceae) Leave Extracts and Derivatives

Koroishi AM, Sehn E, Baesso ML, Ueda-Nakamura T, Nakamura CV, Cortez DA, Filho BP

Molecules

01-Jun-2010

PMCID:	PMC6257596
doi:	10.3390/molecules15063920
PMID:	20657417

Geranylation of benzoic acid derivatives by enzymatic extracts from Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae).

López SN, Lopes AA, Batista JM Jr, Flausino O Jr, Bolzani Vda S, Kato MJ, Furlan M

Bioresour Technol

01-Jun-2010

doi:	10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
PMID:	20185304

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / O-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives
Aduncumene	11448018	Click to see	248.27	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / p-Hydroxybenzoic acid esters / p-Hydroxybenzoic acid alkyl esters
[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate	11358243	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC(=O)C1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)O)C)C	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl] 4-hydroxybenzoate	90332261	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC(=O)C1=CC=C(C=C1)O)C)C	274.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate	72815520	Click to see	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl 4-hydroxybenzoate	162820365	Click to see	274.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
3-(3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienoxy)-4-hydroxybenzoic acid	91467501	Click to see	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
3-(3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienoyl)-4-hydroxybenzoic acid	78127309	Click to see	288.34	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271
3-(3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl)-4-methoxyphenol	73239201	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCC1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)OC)C)C	260.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001
3-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoxy]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid	25066809	Click to see	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
3-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoyl]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid	71598393	Click to see	288.34	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J
3-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl]-4-methoxyphenol	16088008	Click to see	260.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001
3-[(2Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoyl]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid	71598392	Click to see	288.34	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001
4-(3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-dienoxy)-3-hydroxybenzoic acid	162820364	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C(=O)O)O)C)C	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
4-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoxy]-3-hydroxybenzoic acid	44439603	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCOC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C(=O)O)O)C)C	290.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
4-Geranyloxybenzoic acid	12361500	Click to see	274.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
p-[(3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)oxy]benzoic acid	54274018	Click to see	274.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2010.01.041
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Quinone and hydroquinone lipids / Prenylated hydroquinones
(2E)-1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-one	10377908	Click to see	260.33	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271
(2Z)-1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-one	11747344	Click to see	260.33	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001
1-(2,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-one	73083807	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CC(=O)C1=C(C=CC(=C1)O)O)C)C	260.33	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Phenylketones / Alkyl-phenylketones
1-(2,5-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(6,6-dimethyldioxan-3-yl)but-3-en-1-one	10891644	Click to see	292.33	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-[(3S)-6,6-dimethyldioxan-3-yl]but-3-en-1-one	163039958	Click to see	292.33	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
4-hydroxy-3-[(3R)-3-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyloct-6-enoyl]benzoic acid	163026837	Click to see CC(=CCCC(C)(CC(=O)C1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O)O)C	306.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J
Crassinervic acid	11324217	Click to see CC(=CCCC(C)(CC(=O)C1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O)O)C	306.40	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOCHEM.2006.03.001 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones
(+-)-Naringenin	932	Click to see	272.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1 https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200402241
(2R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-4H-chromen-4-one	667495	Click to see C1C(OC2=CC(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3=CC=C(C=C3)O	272.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
Naringenin	439246	Click to see	272.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 4-O-methylated flavonoids
2,3-Dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one	5118250	Click to see	286.28	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271
Isosakuranetin	160481	Click to see COC1=CC=C(C=C1)C2CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O	286.28	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids
4'-5-Dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone, 7-O-Methylnaringenin, Naringenin 7-O-methyl ether	348130	Click to see	286.28	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802243271 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
Sakuranetin	73571	Click to see	286.28	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.200402241 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00299-1
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Phenylpropanoic acids
3-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)propanoic acid	64860	Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1OC)OC)CCC(=O)O	240.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1021/NP030530J

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Piper crassinervium

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top