What is Piperine?

Piperine is an alkaloid that is primarily isolated from black peppers. In past years it has gained quite the attention from medicinal chemists due to its wide biological activity:

• anti-oxidative
• anti-cancer
• antihypertensive
• anti-asthmatic
• analgesic
• antipyretic
• anti-inflammatory
• hepato-protective
• and more

It can also enhance the activity of various other drugs only expressing its high potential in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer properties of piperine

There are multiple ongoing studies of piperines benefits against various cancer types. It can inhibit the growth of melanoma, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and many more cancer cell types.

Researchers have identified several mechanisms, how piperine can prevent or treat cancer. Piperine can induce apoptosis – programmed cell death. Furthermore, piperine can induce the expression of several enzymes, which leads to the slowing of the growth of cancer. Other studies have concluded piperines ability to induce oxidative stress in cancer cell lines.

Medicinal chemists have also looked at the piperine’s ability to react with several enzymes which leads to an increase in the activity of typical anticancer drugs like docetaxel.

Piperine as antidiabetic treatment

Natural alkaloids have been known for their anti-diabetic effect. Piperine powder is no exception. Multiple studies have shown that piperine can increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscles lowering blood sugar and increasing insulin secretion. 

Piperin can also control energy metabolism by modulating adipokines for patients with type 2 diabetes.

As we mentioned, piperine supplements can regulate the levels of blood sugar. This can come in handy for people with obesity. Better glucose uptake in skeletal muscles can lead to healthier weight regulation. Also, the energy regulatory effects can play a significant role in weight loss.

Piperine can protect your cardiovascular system

Cardiac diseases are the main cause of death all around the globe even when you are treated for something else. Piperine has been identified as a protective agent in cases of doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury, in side-effects caused by cyclophosphamide and many more. 

Also exhibiting anti-oxidative potential, piperine can counteract the effects of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species – the main reason for oxidative stress in our cells. Piperine exerts protection to cardiac mitochondria – which leads to less peroxidation of healthy lipids in our blood system – therefore a lower chance of diseases related to clogging of our blood vessels.

Antimicrobial effects of piperine

Evolutionary biologists believe that piperines main role is to protect the plant from insects and bacteria. Indeed piperine has shown a high effect against harmful Bacteridetes and Firmicutes. Also, piperine can act as a potential agent against peritoneal macrophages.

Similar to the anti-cancer effect, piperine can also enhance the activity of already used antibacterial agents like rifampicin – a drug against bacterial infections.

Piperine can also enhance the activity of our immune system against macroorganisms increasing T and B cell proliferation and enhancing the activity of macrophages.

Anti-inflammatory activity of piperine

Scientists have identified many cases, where piperine has acted as an anti-inflammatory agent. As it can act in several mechanistic pathways it can be a powerful tool – lowering levels of several enzymes like IL-1β, IL-6, and many more, that are directly responsible for inflammatory response. 

Piperine can be a powerful tool

The properties that we have mentioned only cover a part of the wide biological activity of piperine. We can definitely say that piperine is a hot topic in the minds of medicinal chemistry. We encourage you to explore all the potential of piperine by providing high-quality material. You can buy piperine extract and many more in our store.