Bioperin is an alkaloid that gives black pepper (Piper nigrum) its flavor. It is slightly soluble in water and highly soluble in alcohol, chloroform and ether. Piperine has a long history of use in some types of traditional medicine. Its primary commercial use is in modern herbal medicine and insecticides.
The primary value of piperine as a health supplement is its ability to enhance the bioavailability of other supplements. This mechanism is still being studied, but pipeline is known to inhibit the enzymes P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4 in humans. These enzymes are involved in the metabolism and transport of various metabolites. Animal studies also show that piperine inhibits CYP 450 enzymes that metabolize many drugs. In particular, piperine may increase the bioavailability of curcumin by a factor of 20.