PIPER NIGRUM /MARICHAM  (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, known as a peppercorn, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter (fresh and fully mature), dark red, and contains a stone which encloses a single pepper seed. Peppercorns and the ground pepper derived from them may be described simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit), or white pepper (ripe fruit seeds).

USES:

It contains an active phenolic compound piperine seems to be the secret of pepper’s powerful health benefits against inflammation,arthritis and pain etc..,Polyphenols powerful antioxidants found in plants protect against hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.