Bioperine®
ioperine is a standardized extract from the fruits of black pepper (Piper nigrum) or long pepper (Piper longum). Its piperine content is 95% or more, compared to only 3-9% found in raw forms of these peppers.
Black pepper extract has been used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine to treat fevers, digestive disorders, urinary difficulties; rheumatism, neuralgia, and boils.
Recent scientific studies have shown that piperine can greatly increase the bioavailability of many other compounds — such as vitamins, minerals, drugs, and herbal substances. For example, in humans the bioavailability of curcumin was increased by a factor of 20 when used with piperine. Piperine improves the absorption of these compounds in the intestine, promotes their retention in cells, and prevents their being metabolized in the liver.
Piperine has also shown promise as an agent for preventing diarrhea, gastric ulcers, stimulating digestive enzymes, suppressing the induction and spread of lung cancer, preventing epileptic convulsions, and stimulating melanin production.
This supplement is usually used at 5-10 mg/dose. It is rapidly absorbed and its effects on bioavailability of other compounds lasts 1-2 hours. Doses higher than 10 mg require careful consideration of potential drug interactions.