DISTRIBUTION PATTERN AND ECO-PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH MEDICINAL VALUE OF PIPER LONGUM L.

The study was conducted in three different sites i.e. site 1, site 2 and site 3. In the present research work, a total number of 67 plant species associated with Piper longum were recorded in different sites. The total density of plant species was 144.25 plant species m -2 at site 1, 156.3 plant species m -2 at site 2 and 237.6 plant species m -2 at site 3. The density of species associated with Piper at site 3 (237.64) revealed that it had more plant species than that of site 1 and site 2. The maximum density at site 1 was contributed by Imperata cylindrica (15.67 individuals m -2 ) and minimum was that of Azadirachta indica , Dalbergia sisso and Morus alba having 0.33 individuals m -2 whereas at site 2, the maximum density was of Commelina paludosa (12.67 individuals m -2 ) and minimum of Azadirachta indica , (0.33 individuals m -2 ) and at site 3 maximum density was contributed by Parthenium hysterophorus The height of Piper was varied among three different sites. The average height of plant was recorded from range 102-108 cm. Minimum height was recorded from Nimbukheda-site due to the presence of associated species which inhibit the growth of the plant to some extent. The average leaf area was found to be 7.33 cm 2 , 6.76 cm 2 and 6.9 cm 2 at site 1, site 2 and site 3, respectively. This value matches with the study of Kritikar and Basu (1935) who found the size of leaves as 6.0-9.0 cm 2 in India. The average sizes of fruits taken from different sites i.e. site 1, site 2, and site 3 were found to be1.79 cm, 1.79 cm and 1.65 cm, respectively. The average size of 20 seeds of Piper longum was 1.21±0.016 mm, the shape of seed was oblong, and the colour was brown. The present distribution of Piper in Nepal was found in tropical regions at altitudes ranging from 100 to 1000 m from sea level. The study site of present work also lies between the altitudes of this range. The growth and reproduction cycle of Piper depends on climatic conditions such as humidity, available moisture, soil p H and perennial life cycle. In the present study, the distribution pattern is more or less similar with the finding of Baral and Kurmi (2006). The composition of plant species with Piper was varied among the different sites. In the present work 67 plant species from different 34 families including Piper longum were studied in all study sites of Kanchanpur. Among them 36 (53.73%) species of plant with Piper were recorded from Jhalari-site. Similarly, 37 (55.22%) and 62 (92.53%) plant species were recorded among Tilachaur-site and Nimbukheda-site, respectively. The composition of different species with Piper indicates the poor growth of Piper longum due to space, nutrient deficiency, light intensity, public involvement, cattle grazing, fodder collection, climatic conditions etc.

The study was conducted in three different sites i.e. site 1, site 2 and site 3. In the present research work, a total number of 67 plant species associated with Piper longum were recorded in different sites. The total density of plant species was 144.25 plant species m -2 at site 1, 156.3 plant species m -2 at site 2 and 237.6 plant species m -2 at site 3. The density of species associated with Piper at site 3 (237.64) revealed that it had more plant species than that of site 1 and site 2. The maximum density at site 1 was contributed by Imperata cylindrica (15.67 individuals m -2 ) and minimum was that of Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sisso and Morus alba having 0.33 individuals m -2 whereas at site 2, the maximum density was of Commelina paludosa (12.67 individuals m -2 ) and minimum of Azadirachta indica, (0.33 individuals m -2 ) and at site 3 maximum density was contributed by Parthenium hysterophorus (16.67 individuals m -2 ) and minimum was by Acacia catechu (0.32 individuals m -2 ). The mean height of Piper was recorded 101cm to 108 cm with well drained sandy soil of p H ranged 5.8 to 7.6. Similarly, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodon dactylon (24.49) and Acacia catechu (3.95) species respectively at site 1, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodon dactylon (23.11) and Chenopodium ficifolium (4.01) and Azadirachta indica (4.01) species respectively at site 2, and the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Imperata cylindrica (22.87) and Acacia catechu (3.39) species, respectively at site 3. The plant has been used traditionally to cure different severe diseases and uplifts the economic status of many local people. 984 1998, 1992; Akiyama et al., 1998 andKoba et al, 1994). The great range of biochemical variation forms tropical to alpine zones brings richness in biodiversity in Nepal.
The vegetation of Nepal classified on the basis of bioclimatic variation by Stearn (1960), Banaergi (1963). Ecologically, Stainton (1972) and Dobremez (1976) divide Nepal in to six bioclimatic zones. Nepal, the Himalayan country is rich in medicinal plant resources. Himalayan medicinal plants are very popular since the Vedic period. The detailed study of all plants is still unknown. Although the enumeration, morphology, distribution and medicinal uses are known but chemical aspect of economically important is still behind.
Herbal medicine is an age-old practice. Nonetheless, with only 10% of the earth is estimated 2, 50,000 species of higher plants considered medicinal and the lower plants still unexplored. Plants will continue to be the sleeping giant of drug development and serve mankind in the days to come. Plants and their products are important resources for the development of country but peoples are involving in commercial exploitation. In order to protect the medicinal plants of Nepal, it is necessary to first identify them, study their natural distribution, assess their population status and then to take scientific measures to ensure their conservation and cultivation. Due to over use of forested areas and medicinal plants, some plants species have already become rare, endangered, threatened and meet the criteria for red data listing.
There are several medicinal plant species which are widely used by local people in hilly and rural areas of which the species Piper longum is of South Asian origin. Piper longum is commonly found in tropical humid moist places (Sumy et al., 2000), slender aromatic climbing shrubs with perennial woody roots where relative humidity is high (Kritikar & Basu, 1980;Rastogi & Malhotra, 1993). Flowers grow in solitary spikes (Rastogi & Malhotra, 1993, Banerjee et al., 1999Viswananthan, 1995). The fruit contains a large number of alkaloids and related compounds, the most abundant of which is piperine, followed by methyl piperine, pipernonaline, piperettine, asarinine, pellitorine, piperundecalidine, piperlongumine, piper longuminine, etc (Kritikar and Basu, 1980). Piper longum cures cough, leprosy, diabetes, piles, colic indigestion, anaemia, thirst and dispels cardiac and spleen disorders, chronic fever and loss of appetite. Dried ripe fruits are official parts (Viswananthan, 1995). It is also used as antidote to snake bite and scorpion-sting (Sumy et al., 2000). Clinical studies have revealed that Piper is very effective in treatment of bronchial asthma in children (Dahanukar et al., 1984;Anshuman et al., 1984). The plant Piper longum is frequently found in natural habitats of Far Western Development Region of Nepal. This ecological study provides the understanding of species habitat, relationship, and present status of distribution, economic values, medicinal importance and commercial exploitation. Therefore, the present study was focused on detailed study of Piper longum as well as public attitude and participation in Kanchanpur to conserve biodiversity.

Materials and Methods:-
Geographically Far Western Development Region lies between 28 0 31 ' to 30 0 12' North latitudes and 80 0 4' to 81 0 45' East longitudes. The altitude varies from 176 to 7134 above the mean sea level (amsl) and region covers an area of 19,539 km 2 , which is about 13.3% of the area of the country (Bhatt et al., 2007). The sites selected for the present study were located at 28 0 32' to 29 0 28' N latitudes and 80 0 03' to 80 0 33' E longitudes with an altitudinal range of 76 to 500 amsl of Far Western Nepal.
The study was carried out during July, 2016 to July, 2018 by systematic visits of the study site i.e. site 1 (Jhalari), site 2 (Brahmdev) and site 3 (Bagphanta) of Kanchanpur district at definite regular interval of a month. During the visits, the natural habit growth form, phenology, composition of plant species with Piper and present status of the Piper was determined by visual observation. Plant samples and seeds were collected for morphological and ecological studies. The sampled plants were analyzed for quantitative characters like plant height, leaf area, ratio of leaf length and breath, circumference of stem etc. Quadrates of 1×1 m size were kept randomly in the study sites and listed the plant species. In each stands, three replicate was executed using the appropriate size of quadrates and their density, abundance, frequency, and important value index (IVI) were calculated as per Misra, 1968, Zobel et al. 1987, Curtis and McIntosh, 1951. The species with higher IVI value were considered as dominant species with Piper. Collected plant species were identified with the help of relevant literatures. Seed shape and colour was calculated from the average of 10 seeds of individual plants. The seed size of Piper longum was calculated as per the procedure in Zobel et al. (1987). The seed output was calculated as per the procedure given by Salisbury (1942).  (Table 2). Ziziphus jujube (L) Gaertner * Bayer Rhamnaceae -+ + * absent at site 1, # absent at site 2, ** absent at site 3 and † common at all sites.

Composition of plant Species
In the present finding, a total number of 67 plant species including Piper longum were recorded in different study sites. The total density of plant species was 144.25 individuals m -2 at site 1, 156.33 individuals m -2 at site 2 and 237.6 individuals m -2 at site 3. The density of species at site 3 (237.64) revealed that it had more plant species than that of site 1 and site 2. At site 1 highest density was contributed by Imperata cylindrica (15.67 individuals m -2 ) and lowest was that of Azadirachta indica, Dalbergia sisso and Morus alba having 0.33 individuals m -2 whereas at site 2, the highest density of Commelina paludosa (12.67 individuals m -2 ) and lowest by Azadirachta indica, (0.33 individuals m -2 ) and site 3 highest density was contributed by Parthenium hysterophorus (16.67 individiuals m -2 ) and lowest was Acacia catechu (0.32 individuals m -2 ).
In the present study, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodon dactylon (24.49) and Acacia catechu (3.95) species respectively at site 1, the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Cynodon dactylon (23.11) and Chenopodium ficifolium (4.01) and Azadirachta indica (4.01) species respectively at site 2, and the maximum and minimum IVI was occupied by Imperata cylindrica (22.87) and Acacia catechu (3.39) species, respectively at site 3 ( Table 2).

Eco-phenological Study of Piper longum Plant height
Piper longum is a perennial herb. The flowering stage started from July-August and turned into fruiting stage in October-January. The harvesting was done in the month of November-January.
The height of the plant was varied among three different sites, i.e. site 1, site 2 and site 3.The average height of the plant at site 1 was found to be 108.1±5.71 cm, 104.2±5.84 cm was recorded at site 2 and the average height of plant recorded at site 3 was 101.8±3 cm which was minimum among all three sites (Fig. 2).

Leaf area and Circumference of stem
Leaves of Piper were found to be broadly ovate, entire, glabrous and sub-acute with reticulate venation. They were dark green and shiny.The leaf area was recorded at the flowering stage of Piper. Ten plants were collected and their leaves were measured and average leaf area was calculated. The maximum leaf area was found at the site 1, i.e. 53.92±3.46 cm 2, and then 50.43±2.69 cm 2 at site 2 and minimum leaf area was recorded from the site 3, i.e. 49.43±3.61 cm 2 . Similarly, the mean leaf length and breadth ratio was recorded as 1.01, 0.93 and 0.92 at site 1, site 2 and site 3, respectively (Fig. 3). The circumference of stem of the Piper was found to be different among the different sites. The mean of the circumference of the stem was found to be 1.0±0.83 cm at site 1, 0.9±0.73 cm at site 2 and at site 3 it was reported as 0.83±0.38 cm (Fig.4).

Medicinal Value of Piper longum
Plants have been source of medicine for thousands of years. Piper longum is among the important medicinal plants used in various system of medicine. P. longum is a medicinal plant that has been used as therapeutic agent in the treatment of various pathological conditions. The specific effect of plant makes it more useful for animals and human beings. Because Piper longum is widely used in cooking and traditional medicine, it is generally assumed to be safe in moderate doses. The roots and fruits of Piper are generally used to cure different diseases. Leaves of Piper are used as hair tonic. Leaves are used to get rid of lice and dandruff. The root has a bitter, hot and sharp taste. It is used as a carminative, a tonic to liver, stomachic, abortifacient, emmenagogue, haematinic, diuretic, digestive and as a general tonic, useful in inflammation of liver, pains in joints, lumbago, snake bite, scorpion-sting and night blindness. A decoction of roots is given for swelling of joints of cattle.
The major alkaloid of long pepper is piperine. Piperine is antipyretic (reduces fever), hypotensive (lowers BP), restorative, liver protecting, CNS stimulant and improves drug availability. The roots are known as Pippalimula. The dried, immature, catkin-like fruits of the plant are known as Pippali. The unripe fruit is sweetish, cooling and useful in biliousness. The ripe fruit is sweet, pungent, a stomachic, aphrodisiac, alternative, laxative, antidiarrhoeic, antidysentric, is useful in asthma, bronchitis, abdominal complaints, fevers, leucoderma, urinary discharges, tumors, piles, diseases of the spleen, pains, inflammation, leprosy, epilepsy, insomnia, jaundice, hiccups, tuberculosis and reduces biliousness. The essential oil of Piper longum also shows antibacterial and antifungal action. Piper also helps to deal with indigestion, as it cleans the lining of the intestine, it helps to improve appetite. Piper is also used to treat menstrual cramps, infertility and libido, intellect and memory power. Piper longum is evenly used in both ayurvedic and allopathic medicinal values.

Discussion:-
In the present study, attempts were made to examine the plant species composition with Piper longum on their growth among the different sites of Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal. It is used in over 320 classical compound, medicinal formulations and in many modern herbal formulations (Ravindran and Balachandran, 2005). Besides fruits, the roots and thicker parts of stem are cut and dried and used as an important drug in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems (Ali et al., 2007). Phoboo, Devkota and Jha (2008) studied the various aspects of medicinal plants of Nepal and its conservation efforts in context to Nepal. Piper mostly grows in hot and humid climatic conditions. It preferred well drained sandy soil rich in organic matter with p H 5.5-8.5 (Sumy et al., 2000).