Chavya
Piper retrofractum Vahl (syn. Piper chaba Hunter)
Chavya (Piper retrofractum Vahl (syn. Piper chaba Hunter)) is a plant drug from the Piperaceae family. Recognized in ASEAN traditional medicine systems; Piper species referenced in WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in SEARO region.
| Botanical name | Piper retrofractum Vahl (syn. Piper chaba Hunter) |
|---|---|
| Family | Piperaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Piperales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Recognized in ASEAN traditional medicine systems; Piper species referenced in WHO monographs on medicinal plants commonly used in SEARO region |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3086342 · Wikidata Q7504329 · NCBI Taxonomy 130414 |
| Sanskrit | Cavika |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Chavya |
| English | Cubeb |
| Tamil | Chavyam |
| Malayalam | Kattumulaku, Kattumulakunveru |
| Telugu | Chevy amu |
| Kannada | Chavya, Kadumenasinaballi |
| Marathi | Chavaka |
| Bengali | Chei |
| Gujarati | Chavka |
| Urdu | Kababah, Peepal Chab |
| Punjabi | Chabak |
| Oriya | Chainkath |
| Assamese | Chepaan |
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2014 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.
- 1Randomised controlled trials
- 1Other clinical studies and reviews
- 10Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Chavya |
| Latin/Botanical | Piper retrofractum Vahl (syn. Piper chaba Hunter) |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Piperine
- Retrofractamide A
- Retrofractamide C
- Piperlongumine (piplartine)
- Chabamide
- Pellitorine
- Guineensine
- Methyl piperate
How does it work?
- Bioavailability enhancement: Piperine inhibits hepatic CYP3A4 and intestinal P-glycoprotein, increasing oral bioavailability of co-administered compounds
- Anti-obesity: Piperidine alkaloids activate AMPK pathway, promoting fatty acid oxidation and inhibiting lipogenesis in adipocytes
- Anticancer: Piperlongumine induces ROS-mediated apoptosis selectively in cancer cells through glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) inhibition
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Digestive stimulant (Deepana-Pachana): traditionally used to support digestion. Animal studies have reported increased gastric acid and enzyme secretion.
- Bioenhancer: studies have reported increased bioavailability of curcumin, rifampicin and other drugs when co-administered with piperine.
- Obesity: traditionally used for obesity. Preclinical studies have reported AMPK activation and changes in lipid metabolism.
What do recent studies show?
- Kim KJ, Lee MS, Jo K and others 2011. Piperidine alkaloids from Piper retrofractum Vahl. protect against high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating lipid metabolism and activating AMP-activated protein kinase. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. PMID 21741367 · doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.06.153
Piperidine alkaloids regulated lipid metabolism and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), reducing fat accumulation in high-fat diet mouse models.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Piperine’s CYP3A4 inhibition may alter metabolism of co-administered drugs (caution with pharmaceuticals)
- High doses may cause gastrointestinal irritation and mucosal inflammation; avoid in active peptic ulcer disease and during pregnancy
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Piperine
- Piperlongumine
- Pellitorine
- Retrofractamide A
- Retrofractamide C
- Chabamide
- Guineensine
- Methyl piperate
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), Component of digestive formulations
Standard Dosage: 1-3g powder twice daily with warm water; 500mg extract capsule; 50-100ml decoction; commonly used as part of compound digestive formulations
Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water for digestive stimulation; with meals for enhanced nutrient absorption; not recommended at bedtime due to stimulant properties
Storage: Airtight containers in cool, dry conditions. Protect from moisture. Separate from aromatic-sensitive products.
Marker Compounds: Piperine, Piperlongumine, Pipernonaline, Piperlonguminine, Retrofractamide A, Beta-sitosterol
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Randomised controlled trials1
- 2014. Efficacy and safety of topical Trikatu preparation in, relieving mosquito bite reactions: a randomized controlled trialComplementary therapies in medicine. PMID 24559814 · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2013.08.014
Other clinical studies and reviews1
- 2025. Synergistic Potential of Trikatu Essential Oil as an Aromatherapy Agent: A Chemical and Mechanistic ReviewDrug design, development and therapy. PMID 40786247 · doi:10.2147/DDDT.S534731
Laboratory and animal studies10
- 2024. Four new alkylamides from the fruits of Piper retrofractum and antityrosinase evaluationNatural product research. PMID 37715311 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2023.2258542
- 2023. Piper retrofractum ameliorates imiquimod-induced skin inflammation via modulation of TLR4 axis and suppression of NF-κB activityHeliyon. PMID 37809486 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20151
- 2022. Piper retrofractum extract and its component piperine promote lymphangiogenesis via an AKT- and ERK-dependent mechanismJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 35567300 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.14233
- 2020. Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of Piper retrofractum against Paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley ratNatural product research. PMID 30663362 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2018.1550768
- 2020. Green synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles using Piper retrofractum Vahl extract as bioreductor and capping agentHeliyon. PMID 32793839 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04636
- 2019. New Amides and Phenylpropanoid Glucosides from the Fruits of Piper retrofractumNatural products and bioprospecting. PMID 31073809 · doi:10.1007/s13659-019-0208-z
- 2018. The Possibility of Using Isolated Alkaloid Compounds and Crude Extracts of Piper retrofractum (Piperaceae) as Larvicidal Control Agents for Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) LarvaeJournal of medical entomology. PMID 29796657 · doi:10.1093/jme/tjy082
- 2018. Flavor characteristics and antioxidant capacities of hihatsumodoki (Piper retrofractum Vahl) fresh fruit at three edible maturity stagesJournal of food science and technology. PMID 29606743 · doi:10.1007/s13197-018-3040-2
- 2016. Adulticide efficacy of essential oil from Piper retrofractum Vahl against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatusTropical biomedicine. PMID 33579144
- 2014. A new phenylpropanoid and an alkylglycoside from Piper retrofractum leaves with their antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activityBioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters. PMID 25127165 · doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.07.057
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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