Ethnobotany of Piperaceae in Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand
Article Sidebar
Abstract Views: 628
File Views: 87
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract. Saensouk P, Boonma T, Jitpromma T, Chen TV, Saensouk S. 2025. Ethnobotany of Piperaceae in Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand. Biodiversitas 26: 2416-2428. This study investigates the ethnobotanical significance of Piperaceae in Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand, documenting the species diversity, traditional uses, and cultural importance of this plant family. A total of 31 Piperaceae taxa were recorded, comprising two genera: Peperomia (22 taxa) and Piper (nine species). Among these, only eight species are native, while 23 taxa are introduced, highlighting the predominance of non-native species in the area. Piper nigrum exhibited the highest Cultural Index (1.11), followed by Piper sarmentosum (0.84), Piper betle (0.66), Peperomia pellucida (0.59), and Piper retrofractum (0.5), with other taxa scoring below 0.5. The most common use category was ornamental plants (Cultural Index: 9.49), followed by vegetables and spices (1.89), herbal medicine (0.94), and cultural practices and rituals (0.51). The whole plant was the most frequently used part, especially for ornamental purposes, while the leaves were the most frequently used for therapeutic purposes. In therapeutic applications, Piperaceae plants are primarily used to treat gastrointestinal issues, followed by respiratory ailments, cutaneous conditions, and musculoskeletal and joint diseases. They also address disorders related to nutrition, blood, the cardiovascular system, and conditions affecting the ear, nose, oropharynx, oral cavity, and the endocrine system, respectively. These findings emphasize the diverse applications of Piperaceae species in local traditions, particularly their ornamental, culinary, and medicinal uses. The study provides valuable insights into the ethnobotanical knowledge of this plant family, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts in preserving both native species and traditional botanical knowledge amid changing environmental and socio-economic conditions.
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Boonma T, Saensouk S, Saensouk P. 2023. Diversity and traditional utilization of the Zingiberaceae plants in Nakhon Nayok Province, Central Thailand. Biodiversitas 24 (8): 904. DOI: 10.3390/d15080904.
Boonma T, Saensouk S, Saensouk P. 2024. Biogeography, conservation status, and traditional uses of Zingiberaceae in Saraburi Province, Thailand, with Kaempferia chaveerachiae sp. nov. Horticulturae 10 (9): 934. DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae10090934.
Callejas-Posada R. 2020. Piperaceae. In: Davidse G, Ulloa C, Hernández MHM, Knapp S (eds). Flora Mesoamericana 2. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Saint Louis.
Carsono N, Tumilaar SG, Kurnia D, Latipudin D, Satari MH. 2022. A review of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity properties of Piper species. Molecules 27 (19): 6774. DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196774.
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). 2025. Indo-Burma. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, USA. https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/indo-burma.
Friedman J, Yaniv Z, Dafni A, Palewitch D. 1986. A preliminary classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants, based on a rational analysis of an ethnopharmacological field survey among Bedouins in the Negev desert, Israel. J Ethnophamacol 16: 275-287. DOI: 10.1016/0378-8741(86)900944-2.
Heinrich M, Ankli A, Frei B, Weimann C, Sticher O. 1998. Medicinal plants in Mexico: Healers' consensus and cultural importance. Soc Sci Med 47 (11): 1859-1871. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(98)00181-6.
Islam MT, Hasan J, Snigdha HMSH, Ali ES, Sharifi-Rad J, Martorell M, Mubarak MS. 2020. Chemical profile, traditional uses, and biological activities of Piper chaba Hunter: A review. J Ethnopharmacol 257: 112853. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112853.
Islamudin A, Neneng SSA, Berna E, Hanita O, Kamarza M, Arry Y, Osamu N, Abdul M. 2019. A new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor from Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 9 (6): 257-262. DOI: 10.4103/2221-1691.260398.
Jaramillo MA, Rodríguez-Duque D, Escobar-Alba M. 2023. A new species of Piper (Piperaceae) with peltate leaves from Serranía de las Quinchas, Colombia. PhytoKeys 227: 9-24. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.227.101405.
Jitpromma T, Saensouk S, Saensouk P, Boonma T. 2025. Diversity, Traditional uses, economic values, and conservation status of Zingiberaceae in Kalasin Province, Northeastern Thailand. Horticulturae 11 (3): 247. DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11030247.
Kamsu GT, Ndebia EJ. 2024. A comprehensive review of the ethnobotanical uses, pharmacological, and toxicological profiles of Piper capense L.f. (Piperaceae). Biodiversitas 25 (3): 598-614. DOI: 10.3390/ddc3030034.
Martínez-Bautista BG, Bernal-Ramírez LA, Bravo-Avilez D, Samain M-S, Ramírez AJM, Rendón-Aguilar B. 2019. Traditional uses of the family Piperaceae in Oaxaca, Mexico. Trop Conserv Sci 12: 1-22. DOI: 10.1177/1940082919879315.
Mathieu G. 2020. Endemic Peperomia (Piperaceae) novelties from eastern Madagascar. Candollea 75: 75-82. DOI: 10.15553/c2020v751a7.
National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). https://ndi.fda.moph.go.th/uploads/file_news/202410091466330775.xls.
Nayaka NMDMW, Sasadara MMV, Sanjaya DA, Yuda PESK, Dewi NLKAA, Cahyaningsih E, Hartati R. 2021. Piper betle (L): Recent review of antibacterial and antifungal properties, safety profiles, and commercial applications. Molecules 26 (8): 2321. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082321.
Numpulsuksant W, Saensouk S, Saensouk P. 2021. Diversity and ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Ban Hua Kua, Kae Dam District, Thailand. Biodiversitas 22 (10): 4349-4357. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d221027.
Pearson J, Jackson G, McNamara KE. 2023. Climate-driven losses to knowledge systems and cultural heritage: A literature review exploring the impacts on Indigenous and local cultures. Anthropocene Rev 10 (2): 343-366. DOI: 10.1177/20530196211005482.
Pei S, Alan H, Wang Y. 2020. Vital roles for ethnobotany in conservation and sustainable development. Biodiversitas 23 (6): 399-400. DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2020.12.001.
Plant of the World Online (POWO). 2025. Plant of the World. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/.
Queiroz G, Guimarães EF. 2020. Peperomia (Piperaceae) no leste metropolitano do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Rodriguesia 71: e02512018. DOI: 10.1590/2175-78602020711420xx.
Radh SS, Nampy S. 2018. Peperomia ekakesara: A new species of Piperaceae from Mathikettan shola National Park, Kerala, India. Phytotaxa 364 (3): 283-288. DOI: 10.11646/Phytotaxa.364.3.8.
Saensouk P, Boonma T, Saensouk S. 2021. Curcuma siamensis (Zingiberaceae, Zingibereae), a new species of Curcuma subgen. Ecomata from Southeastern Thailand. Biodiversitas 22 (12): 5239-5246. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d221201.
Saensouk P, Saensouk S, Hein KZ, Appamaraka S, Maknoi C, Sonthongphithak P, Koompoot K, Sonthongphithak P, Boonma T, Jitpromma T. 2025. Diversity, ethnobotany, and horticultural potential of local vegetables in Chai Chumphol Temple Community Market, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand. Biodiversitas 26 (3): 243. DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11030243.
Saensouk P, Saensouk S, Maknoi C, Setyawan AD, Boonma T. 2024. A horticultural gem unveiled: Curcuma peninsularis sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Peninsular Thailand, previously misidentified as Curcuma aurantiaca Zijp. Horticulturae 10 (9): 950. DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae10090950.
Saisor N, Prathepha P, Saensouk S. 2021. Ethnobotanical study and utilization of plants in Khok Nhong Phok Forest, Kosum Phisai District, Northeastern Thailand. Biodiversitas 22 (10): 4336-4348. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d221026.
Salehi B, Zakaria ZA, Gyawali R, Ibrahim SA, Rajkovic J, Shinwari ZK, Khan T, Sharifi-Rad J, Ozleyen A, Turkdonmez E, Valussi M, Tumer TB, Monzote FL, Martorell M, Setzer WN. 2019. Piper species:
A comprehensive review on their phytochemistry, biological activities, and applications. Molecules 24 (7): 1364. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071364.
Silva L, Queiroz GD, Silva DD, Silva ND, Guimarães E. 2024. Three new species of Peperomia Ruiz & Pav. (Piperaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Authorea 1: 1-10. DOI: 10.22541/au.170664240.05329223/v1.
Su F, Qin X-W, Fan R, Yan L, Ji X-Z, Hao CY. 2024. Piper motuoense, a new species of Piperaceae from Xizang, China. PhytoKyes 238: 85-94. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.238.115494.
Sudmoon R, Tanee T, Wongpanich V, Nat B, Chaveerach A. 2012. Ethnobotany and species-specific molecular markers of some medicinal Sakhan (Piper, Piperaceae). J Med Plant Res 6: 1168-1175.
Suwanphakdee C, Hodkinson TR, Chantaranothai C. 2022. New species and a revision of the genus Peperomia (Piperaceae) in Thailand. Thai For Bull Bot 50 (2): 104-119. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2022.50.2.11.
Suwanphakdee C, Simpson DA, Hodkinson TR, Chantaranothai C. 2020. A synopsis of Thai Piper (Piperaceae). Thai For Bull Bot 48 (2): 145-183. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2020.48.2.08.
Suwanphakdee C, Simpson DA, Hopkinson TR. 2024. Piperaceae. In: Chayamarit K, Balslev H, Newman MF, Barfod AS, Esser H-J, Simpson DA, Parnell JAN (eds). Flora of Thailand Vol. 16, Part 3. The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok, Thailand.
Tardío J, Pardo-De-Santayana M. 2008. Cultural importance indices:
A comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Southern Cantabria (Northern Spain). Econ Bot 62: 24-39. DOI: 10.1007/s12231-007-9004-5.
Trujillo W, Trujillo ET, Ortiz-Morea FA, Toro DA, Jaramillo MA. 2022. New Piper species from the eastern slopes of the Andes in northern South America. PhytoKeys 206: 25-48. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.206.75971.
Yadav V, Krishnan A, Vohora D. 2020. A systematic review on Piper longum L.: Bridging traditional knowledge and pharmacological evidence for future translational research. J Ethnopharmacol 247: 112255. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112255.