Piperine: A comprehensive review of methods of isolation, purification, and biological properties

Black pepper is an autoicous and decorous vine cultivated and harvested in tropical regions of Sri Lanka and India. Black pepper is one of the most commonly consumed spices, and its pungency is due to the presence of an alkaloid known as piperine, volatile chemical constituents, and essential oils. Piperine is found in black pepper (piper nigrum), white pepper, and long pepper (piper longum) belonging to the family Piperaceae. Piperine represents diverse biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, anti-larvicidal, pesticide, anti-Alzheimer’s, antidepressant, and most importantly piperine is known as the bioavailability enhancer. The current review article aims to explore the extraction of piperine from different species of pepper, its total synthesis, pharmacokinetic study and various biological activities of piperine. Furthermore, different combinations of piperine with available marketed drugs to improve the bioavailability have also been included. Different studies on piperine suggest that piperine acts as an excellent bioenhancer to improve the bioavailability of drugs with poor ADMET properties. Some studies also indicate that piperine shows synergistic effects when taken in combination with various classes of drugs.