Kabab Chini (Piper cubeba) & Its Healing Corollary in Unani Medicine: An Overview

Piper cubeba known as Kabab Chini in Unani Medicine, belongs to the family Piperaceae, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and this herb is mentioned in traditional Unani texts as an effective remedy for Renal disorder, Gonorrhoea, Leucorrhoea, Fever,  Rheumatism, Diabetes etc. It was found that the qualitative phytochemical study of this plant extract indicates the presence of many essential oils such consisting of monoterpenes: sesquiterpenes, germacene, cubebin, β-pinene etc. It chiefly possesses anti-microbial activity. Piperine is an amide (alkaloid) found naturally in plants belonging to the pyridine group of Piperaceae family, such as Piper cubeba and Piper nigrum which is widely used in various herbal cough syrups. Unani physicians on the basis of their own experience affirmed that Kabab Chini is one of the best drug for the treatment of Amra’z-e- Kullia (Renal diseases) and especially in restoring the normalcy of renal functioins. Ibn-Hubal Baghdadi (1121–1213 AD.) mentioned in his Kitab Al-Mukhtarat Fit Tibb about Kabab Chini. “Gurdon ka tanqiyah karti hai, Jigar ke suddon ko kholti hai,  unki pathri aur regh kharij krti hai.” Medicinal plants may serve as a vital source of potentially useful new compounds for the development of effective therapy to combat a variety of kidney problems. Many herbs have been claimed to possess nephroprotective properties but lacks scientific evidence. A concerted attempt has been made to highlight the healing corollary of Kabab Chini as mentioned in Unani medicine as to its nephroprotective property in the light of ancient Unani classics and recent scientific studies.