Kankola
Piper cubeba L.f.
Kankola (Piper cubeba L.f.) is a plant used in Ayurveda, from the Piperaceae family. Not in current WHO monographs; historically included in many pharmacopeias including European Pharmacopoeia (historical); recognized in Ayurvedic, Unani, and Chinese traditional medicine.
| Botanical name | Piper cubeba L.f. |
|---|---|
| Family | Piperaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Piperales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not in current WHO monographs; historically included in many pharmacopeias including European Pharmacopoeia (historical); recognized in Ayurvedic, Unani, and Chinese traditional medicine |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 7606629 · Wikidata Q161927 · NCBI Taxonomy 405322 |
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kankola |
| Latin/Botanical | Piper cubeba L.f. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Cubebin (major lignan)
- Piperine
- Sesamin and hinokinin
- Cubebinionolide and cubebinone
- Dihydrocubebin, yatein, clusin
- Essential oil: sabinene, alpha-copaene, delta-cadinene
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory activity via cubebin-mediated inhibition of NF-kB pathway and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Antibacterial mechanism through disruption of bacterial cell membrane integrity by lignans and essential oil components
- Antidiabetic effect through alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition reducing postprandial glucose spikes
- Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities through antioxidant-mediated protection against oxidative stress-induced organ damage
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
- Digestive and carminative (Deepana-Pachana) - validated through confirmed stimulant and carminative properties
- Respiratory disorders and cough (Kasa-hara) - supported by traditional expectorant use; essential oil has antimicrobial activity against respiratory pathogens
- Urogenital health (Mutra-roga) - traditional use for urinary tract infections partially supported by antimicrobial data
- Oral health freshener (Mukha-shodhana) - traditional oral care use supported by antibacterial activity
What do recent clinical trials show?
- Drissi BE, Mahdi I, Ortaakarsu AB and others 2024. Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.): nutritional value, phytochemical profiling and dermacosmeceutical properties. Frontiers in nutrition. PMID 38835963 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1352548
Identified novel dermacosmeceutical applications of cubeb extracts with documented antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin-protective properties alongside nutritional value.
2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Generally recognized as safe in culinary amounts; excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal irritation and kidney inflammation
- Limited pharmacokinetic and clinical data; no systematic toxicological studies in humans; potential interactions with diabetes medications due to hypoglycemic effects
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Piperine
- Sesamin
- Sabinene
- Cubebin
- Cubebinionolide and cubebinone
- Dihydrocubebin
- Essential oil
Analytical Methods: HPLC fingerprinting, TLC (identity), LC-MS/MS (marker quantification)
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Vati (tablet), Capsule, Taila (oil), Avaleha (confection)
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g powder twice daily; 3-5 drops essential oil (diluted); as adjuvant in formulations
Bioavailability: Essential oil constituents (1,8-cineole, eugenol) are readily absorbed through oral and transdermal routes. Volatile terpenoids have good bioavailability but short plasma half-lives. Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes extend residence time. Co-administration with fats enhances absorption of sesquiterpenes.
Optimal Timing: After meals for digestive support; before meals for appetite stimulation
Standardized Extract: Standardized to minimum 10% essential oil content by steam distillation; volatile oil standardized to >30% 1,8-cineole and >5% cubebin
Shelf Life: 18 months for powder (volatile loss); 24 months for tablets; 36 months for essential oil in sealed amber bottles
Storage: Store in tightly sealed, amber glass containers at 15-25°C. Powder formulations lose potency rapidly if exposed to air; nitrogen-flushed packaging recommended.
Marker Compounds: Cubebin, Cubebic acid, 1,8-Cineole, Alpha-cubebene, Beta-cubebene, Copaene, Eugenol
Extraction Methods
- Steam distillation for essential oil
- Hydrodistillation
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (70% ethanol)
- Supercritical CO2 extraction for high-value terpenoid fractions
- Cold pressing
Synergistic Combinations
- Ela (Cardamom) for digestive formulations
- Lavanga (Clove) for oral health preparations
- Jatiphala (Nutmeg) for carminative synergy
- Maricha (Black pepper) for bioavailability enhancement
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.
Other clinical studies and reviews4
- 2025. "Pepper": Different Spices, One Name-Analysis of Sensory and Biological AspectsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 40363698 · doi:10.3390/molecules30091891
- 2023. A review on multi-therapeutic potential of (-)-cubebin: experimental evidencesNatural product research. PMID 36775642 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2023.2177849
- 2022. Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.f.): A comprehensive review of its botany, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological propertiesFrontiers in nutrition. PMID 36483927 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1048520
- 2018. Medicinal Attributes of Lignans Extracted from Piper Cubeba: Current DevelopmentsChemistryOpen. PMID 29435403 · doi:10.1002/open.201700182
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2024. Cubeb (Piper cubeba L.): nutritional value, phytochemical profiling and dermacosmeceutical propertiesFrontiers in nutrition. PMID 38835963 · doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1352548
- 2022. Effect of Piper cubeba total extract and isolated lignans on head and neck cancer cell lines and normal fibroblastsJournal of pharmacological sciences. PMID 34924135 · doi:10.1016/j.jphs.2021.09.002
- 2019. Antibacterial and Antispore Activities of Isolated Compounds from Piper cubeba LMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 31454974 · doi:10.3390/molecules24173095
- 2019. Piper cubeba L. Methanol Extract Has Anti-Inflammatory Activity Targeting Src/Syk via NF-κB InhibitionEvidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 30713566 · doi:10.1155/2019/1548125
- 2018. Effect of Piper cubeba L. fruit on ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride induced urolithiasis in male Sprague Dawley ratsIntegrative medicine research. PMID 30591890 · doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.06.005
- 2018. Antioxidant properties and anti-mutagenic potential of Piper Cubeba fruit extract and molecular docking of certain bioactive compoundsDrug and chemical toxicology. PMID 29411658 · doi:10.1080/01480545.2018.1429459
- 2011. Was the famous astronomer Copernicus also a nephrologistJournal of nephrology. PMID 21614777 · doi:10.5301/JN.2011.6459
- 2008. Piper cubeba demonstrates anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory propertiesPlanta medica. PMID 18219597 · doi:10.1055/s-2008-1034290
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