Piperene / Piperine

Piperene is a monoterpene found in hot and black pepper.
Monoterpenes are odorless, highly volatile, prone to oxidation, and insoluble in water.

Links to Plants Containing Piperene

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.

GENERAL

• This mega analysis discussed several safe therapeutic uses for black pepper: it stimulates digestive enzymes, protects against oxidative damage, enhances drug bioavailability, and has anti-mutagenic, and antitumor possibilities.  From:  Srinivasan, K. (2007). Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 47(8), 735-748.
• Cell, animal, and human studies, have found piperine to have immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-asthmatic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, and anti-amoebic properties.  From:  Meghwal, M., & Goswami, T. K. (2013). Piper nigrum and piperine: an update. Phytotherapy Research, 27(8), 1121-1130.

ANTIMICROBIAL

• Extracts of black pepper and turmeric and their piperine and curcumin constituents demonstrated in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. From: de Queiroz Cancian, M. A., de Almeida, F. G., Terhaag, M. M., de Oliveira, A. G., de Souza Rocha, T., & Spinosa, W. A. (2018). Curcuma longa L.-and Piper nigrum-based hydrolysate, with high dextrose content, shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. LWT, 96, 386-394.

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

• Piperine showed protection against hepatotoxicity.  From:  Koul, I. B., & Kapil, A. (1993). Evaluation of the liver protective potential of piperine, an active principle of black and long peppers. Planta medica, 59(05), 413-417.

ANTI-CANCER

• Piperine has chemopreventive effects when administered orally on lung cancer.  From:  Selvendiran, K., & Sakthisekaran, D. (2004). Chemopreventive effect of piperine on modulating lipid peroxidation and membrane bound enzymes in benzo (a) pyrene induced lung carcinogenesis. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 58(4), 264-267.
• This study indicates a protective role of piperine against the oxidative alterations of carcinogens.  From:  Khajuria, A., Thusu, N., Zutshi, U., & Bedi, K. L. (1998). Piperine modulation of carcinogen induced oxidative stress in intestinal mucosa. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 189(1-2), 113-118.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

• Piperine was both gastro-stimulating and antispasmodic in gastrointestinal motility disorders.  From:  Mehmood, M. H., & Gilani, A. H. (2010). Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of black pepper and piperine in gastrointestinal disorders. Journal of medicinal food, 13(5), 1086-1096.

DRUG ENHANCER

• Piperine is regarded universally as an enhancer in pesticide and drug formulations.  From:  Okwute, S. K., & Egharevba, H. O. (2013). Piperine-type amides: Review of the chemical and biological characteristics. International Journal of Chemistry, 5(3), 99.

ANTIOXIDANT

• Piperine and piperic acid could be used as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial agent in both food preservation and human health.  From:  Zarai, Z., Boujelbene, E., Salem, N. B., Gargouri, Y., & Sayari, A. (2013). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various solvent extracts, piperine and piperic acid from Piper nigrum. Lwt-Food science and technology, 50(2), 634-641.
• Extracts of black pepper and turmeric and their piperine and curcumin constituents demonstrated in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. From: de Queiroz Cancian, M. A., de Almeida, F. G., Terhaag, M. M., de Oliveira, A. G., de Souza Rocha, T., & Spinosa, W. A. (2018). Curcuma longa L.-and Piper nigrum-based hydrolysate, with high dextrose content, shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. LWT, 96, 386-394.

ANALGESIC / ANTI-INFLAMMATORY / ANTI-ARTHRITIS

• Piper nigrum and the piperine constituent possess potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.  From:  Tasleem, F., Azhar, I., Ali, S. N., Perveen, S., & Mahmood, Z. A. (2014). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Piper nigrum L. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine, 7, S461-S468.
• The piperine constituent isolated from black pepper demonstrated in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-arthritic actions. From: Bang, J. S., Choi, H. M., Sur, B. J., Lim, S. J., Kim, J. Y., Yang, H. I., … & Kim, K. S. (2009). Anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic effects of piperine in human interleukin 1β-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes and in rat arthritis models. Arthritis research & therapy, 11(2), R49.

ANTIDEPRESSANT

• Piperine possesses potent antidepressant-like properties.  From:  Lee, S. A., Hong, S. S., Han, X. H., Hwang, J. S., Oh, G. J., Lee, K. S., … & Ro, J. S. (2005). Piperine from the fruits of Piper longum with inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase and antidepressant-like activity. Chemical and pharmaceutical bulletin, 53(7), 832-835.
• In this in vivo study, four weeks of ingesting piperine from black pepper reduced depression and improved cognition. From: Wattanathorn, J., Chonpathompikunlert, P., Muchimapura, S., Priprem, A., & Tankamnerdthai, O. (2008). Piperine, the potential functional food for mood and cognitive disorders. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(9), 3106-3110.
• Piperine from black pepper reduced depression in mice. From: Mao, Q. Q., Xian, Y. F., Ip, S. P., & Che, C. T. (2011). Involvement of serotonergic system in the antidepressant-like effect of piperine. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 35(4), 1144-1147.

IMMONOMODULATORY

• Piper longum and its component piperine were studied for their immunomodulatory and antitumor activity.  From:  Sunila, E. S., & Kuttan, G. (2004). Immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of Piper longum Linn. and piperine. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 90(2), 339-346.

IN TREATING PARKINSONS’S

• Piperine exerts a protective effect via anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanism in Parkinson’s disease.  From:  Shrivastava, P., Vaibhav, K., Tabassum, R., Khan, A., Ishrat, T., Khan, M. M., … & Islam, F. (2013). Anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effect of Piperine on 6-OHDA induced Parkinson’s rat model. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 24(4), 680-687.

SKIN

• An ointment containing black pepper solvent extract, and another containing piperine reduced skin discoloration on 3 human subjects. The ointment was applied once a day for 12 weeks. Multiple body areas were tested. One subject reported skin burning. From: Mihăilă, B., Dinică, R. M., Tatu, A. L., & Buzia, O. D. (2019). New insights in vitiligo treatments using bioactive compounds from Piper nigrum. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 17(2), 1039-1044.

COGNITION

• In this in vivo study, four weeks of ingesting piperine from black pepper reduced depression and improved cognition. From: Wattanathorn, J., Chonpathompikunlert, P., Muchimapura, S., Priprem, A., & Tankamnerdthai, O. (2008). Piperine, the potential functional food for mood and cognitive disorders. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(9), 3106-3110.

NEUROPROTECTIVE

• Piperine isolated from Piper nigrum, taken for two weeks, had a neuroprotective effect in vivo. From: Chonpathompikunlert, P., Wattanathorn, J., & Muchimapura, S. (2010). Piperine, the main alkaloid of Thai black pepper, protects against neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment in animal model of cognitive deficit like condition of Alzheimer’s disease. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 48(3), 798-802.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 8/23/19