Black pepper: Chemical composition and biological activities

Abstract

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a tropical plant, best known for its fruit, used as a spice all around the world. The fruits of black pepper can be processed in various ways, so there are end products such as white, black, red, and green pepper. Black pepper contains many substances such as terpenes, alkaloids, lignans, phenylpropanoids, etc., which are responsible for some of the most important biological activities: antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, bio-enhancing and enzyme inhibitory activities. These activities have also been proven in clinical studies, and probably the future of black pepper research should be based on discovering the most effective way to use the active compounds of pepper for the development of herbal drugs with fewer contraindications than standard drugs. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to prepare and apply phytoformulations based on the black pepper isolates.

Comparative analysis of chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil and hydrolate from black pepper fruit (Piper nigrum L.)

“…The structures of the main compounds (components 4, 5, 8, 12, 30, 44, 51, and 52 from Table 1) found in black pepper EO are given in Figure 3. (2,4,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) 93.2 Aromatic compounds (1,3,12) 4.5…”

“…20 Table 3 shows the chemical profile of black pepper EO, which differs from study to study. 3 T a b l e 3…”

“…Pepper extracts in the form of oleoresins, also containing phenolic compounds, can be found commercially. 3 The black pepper essential oil (EO) is a colorless to yellow-greenish liquid with a spicy aroma and various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. 4 The black pepper EO has been well researched, and its chemical composition is quite diverse.…”

Insights into the Explicit Protective Activity of Herbals in Management of Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Disorders

“…Lately, pepper has been extensively researched for its profound effects in the management of central nervous system disorders and is also reported to improve cognitive functioning in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Piperine enhances the absorption and bioavailability of several drugs due to its effect on brush border of intestine and shows better neuroprotection against oxidative stress and cell death in dopaminergic neurons when administered with other medications in MPTP Parkinson models in mice [ 58 ].…”

Health Benefits and Risks of Consuming Spices on the Example of Black Pepper and Cinnamon

“…Black pepper ( Piper nigrum L.) contains compounds that can be classified into three groups. The first group consists of compounds that determine the sharpness of black pepper, the second includes substances that determine its aroma, and the third group consists of other compounds such as: fiber, starch, polyphenols, mineral salts, lipids [ 22 ]. The compound, which determines the pungent aroma of black pepper is piperine, together with its analogues.…”