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The genus Piper belongs to the Piperaceae family and it has over 700 species distributed in both hemispheres. The Piperaceae family is a source of many biologically active phytochemicals with great potential for medicinal and agricultural uses. Species in the genus Piper have a wide array of secondary metabolite compounds, particularly alkaloids and amides. Piper nigrum is one of the more well-known species because of its high commercial, economical, and medicinal properties. It is known that Piper nigrum has biological activities such as, analgesic, antipyretic and antifeedent activities. Piper longum linn is one of the important medicinal plant of the family piperaceae. Being one among the constituent of trikatu, panchakola etc., very widely used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various disorders. The nirukti of word Pippali signifies its action in maintaining total health and also in dhatu poshana and poorana. Pirpathi paalayathi purusham purayathi cha ksheenan dhatunithi pru palanapuranayo.(Bh. N) In the Ayurvedic Formulatary of India, Pippali is being used in 324 formulation. It is used as prakshepaka dravya in many formulations. It is highly valued from time immemorial because of its vast medicinal properties. It is extensively used as Antiinflammatory, cough suppressor, antibacterial, insecticidal, antimalarial, CNS stimulant, antitubercular, anti- helminthic, hypoglycaemic, antispasmodic, antigiardial, immunostimulatory, hepatoprotective, analeptic, antinarcotic, antiulcerogenic activity. The present manuscript provides all necessary informations regarding its classical literature.