Black Pepper (Piperine)
EVIDENCE: MODERATEAlso sold as: piperine, BioPerine, Piper nigrum extract, black pepper extract
Piperine, the main alkaloid in black pepper, slows the breakdown of some compounds in the gut and liver. It is added to supplements to raise absorption, most famously of curcumin, but the same effect can raise blood levels of certain medicines.
Compiled by iSupplementReviews editorial team ·Researched 2026-10-16 · 3 sources
- Type
- Botanical alkaloid (absorption enhancer)
- Studied dose
- 5–20 mg piperine with the compound it's meant to boost
- Best form
- standardized black pepper extract (95% piperine)
- Our rating
- MODERATE — Several human trials — limits in size, duration, or independence
What is black pepper extract?
Black pepper extract is a concentrate of piperine, the compound that makes pepper pungent, used in supplements mainly to increase absorption of other ingredients. BioPerine is a common branded version.
Other names and forms
Piperine, BioPerine, Piper nigrum fruit extract, standardized to about 95% piperine.
Where does black pepper extract come from?
Dried black peppercorns.
How does piperine work in the body?
Piperine inhibits drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the gut wall and liver, which slows the clearance of some compounds (Gorgani et al., 2017).
What is piperine claimed to do?
Boost the absorption of herbs and nutrients; some marketing adds digestion and metabolism claims.
What does the research show?
| Claim | Evidence | Dose studied | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raise curcumin absorption | Human pharmacokinetic study | 20 mg with 2 g curcumin | Shown |
| Raise absorption of other herbs | Varies by compound | — | Compound-specific |
| Respiratory benefit | None | — | Not studied |
Absorption
Piperine raised curcumin blood levels about 20-fold in volunteers. Shoba et al. (1998) gave 2 g of curcumin with or without 20 mg piperine. Whether piperine boosts any other specific ingredient has to be tested compound by compound.
What dose was studied?
| Goal | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption enhancement | 5–20 mg piperine with the target compound | Single doses |
Side effects
Heartburn and stomach irritation at higher doses.
Drug interactions
- Drugs cleared by CYP3A4 or P-glycoprotein (some anticonvulsants, cyclosporine, some heart drugs): levels may rise (moderate; Le et al., 2022).
- Theophylline and propranolol: raised levels reported in small studies (moderate).
Who should not take piperine?
People on narrow-margin prescription drugs without a pharmacist’s review.
What the authorities say
Black pepper is a common food; regulators have not approved piperine for any health claim. Interaction reviews flag it as a pharmacokinetic enhancer.
What to know about black pepper extract
Piperine is an absorption booster, shown for curcumin at 20 mg. It can raise levels of some medicines too.
Frequently asked questions about Black Pepper (Piperine)
Why is black pepper extract in supplements?
To increase absorption. In a 1998 study, 20 mg of piperine taken with 2 g of curcumin raised curcumin blood levels about 20-fold in volunteers.
Does piperine affect medications?
It can. By slowing enzymes and transporters that clear drugs, piperine may raise blood levels of some medicines. Check with a pharmacist if you take prescription drugs.
Does piperine help breathing on its own?
There is no good human evidence that it does. Its role in formulas is to boost absorption of other ingredients.
References
- [1]Shoba G et al. — Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers (Planta Med, 1998)
- [2]Gorgani L et al. — Piperine: The Bioactive Compound of Black Pepper: From Isolation to Medicinal Formulations (Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, 2017)
- [3]Le TT et al. — Herb-drug Interactions in Neuropsychiatric Pharmacotherapy: A Review of Clinically Relevant Findings (Curr Neuropharmacol, 2022)
Products we reviewed containing Black Pepper (Piperine)
Based on recorded labels or seller-described formulas. Inclusion does not establish a match to the strains, preparations or amounts studied here; check each review's disclosure limits.