Piper nigrum L. is used as drug in Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha system of medicine. Dried fruit is employed commercially as a condiment; it is warming, drying and stimulating to the circulatory, digestive and respiratory system. The approved modern therapeutic application for Piper is support based on its long history of use in well established systems of medicines viz. Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. The present communication deals with detailed pharmacognostic studies and review related to quality aspects of pepper.