Piperine

About Piperine

Piperine is the alkaloid chiefly responsible for the pungency of black pepper Piper nigrum and is also present in long pepper and other Piper species. It was first isolated in 1819 by the Danish scientist Hans Christian Ørsted. Chemically it is an amide of piperidine and piperic acid, and its bite comes from activation of the heat sensing ion channels TRPV1 and TRPA1. Black and long pepper have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, often combined with other herbs, as in the formulation trikatu. Piperine is best known as a bioavailability enhancer. It inhibits drug metabolizing enzymes such as CYP3A4 and the efflux transporter P glycoprotein, slowing the breakdown and elimination of other compounds. A widely cited human study found that piperine substantially raised blood levels of curcumin from turmeric, which is why the two are often combined. Preclinical studies describe anti inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Because piperine can raise blood levels of medications, interactions are a concern with narrow therapeutic range drugs such as phenytoin, warfarin, and digoxin.