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Piperine, along with its isomer chavicine, is the alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper and long pepper. It has also been used in some forms of traditional medicine and as an insecticide. It is slightly soluble in water and highly soluble in alcohol, chloroform and ether.

The commercial production of piperine generally consists of chemical extraction from black pepper seeds, which contains five to ten percent piperine. The seeds of the long pepper (Piper longum) contain one to two percent piperine and may also be used in piperine production. The seeds are dissolved with a solvent such as ethyl acetate and hexane. The solvent-free residue is then treated with a potassium hydroxide solution to remove the resin. The remaining residue is then rinsed in warm alcohol to yield piperine crystals.

Piperine Benefits

Piperine can be used in conjunction with various other supplements to enhance their potency by increasing bioavailability. The most apt example of this synergy is taking piperine while supplementing with curcumin. Curcumin has a very poor bioavailability because it is rapidly metabolized in the liver and intestinal wall. Piperine can slow both gastric emptying and intestinal transit, meaning that curcumin has a longer period of time to be exposed to potential uptake. In particular, piperine may increase the bioavailability of curcumin by a factor of 20. Another study found that piperine supplementation also improved the bioavailability of resveratrol.

Piperine inhibits the drug transporter P-glycoprotein as well as the major drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4. This is important because many drugs are substrates of these enzymes, meaning that these enzymes break down many drugs; when these enzymes are inhibited they are unable to do so and so the drugs last longer and are able to be absorbed more by the body.

Piperine may help to increase the availability of key nutrients. It may also be useful for additional purposes such as support for weight and stress management.

Function

1 Increase the brains of production of serotonin.
2 Anti-convulsant and anti-epileptic action and anti-aging.
3 Alter contractions in the upper and lower digestive tract.
4 Decrease ulceration of the stomch.
5 Stimulate production of melanin.
6 Improve immunity of body.