Abstract

A new group of alkaloids emerged in 1819 following the isolation of piperine from the fruits of Piper nigrum. Since then, a large number of these compounds now referred to as piperine-type alkaloids or alkamides or piperamides have been isolated commonly from species belonging to the genus piper (piperaceae) which have worldwide geographical distribution. As a result of the traditional uses of piper species as spices in foods and in phytomedicines globally a number of their extractives and indeed the constituent amides have been screened for pharmacological properties. The biogenesis of the amides has been investigated and a number of synthetic pathways have been developed to make them readily available for biological studies. It has now been established that piperine and its analogues are potential pesticides and possess a number of medicinal properties. They are regarded as universal enhancers in pesticide and drug formulations. This review enhances our knowledge of these amides and paves way for further work.

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