Health Benefits of Black Pepper

How is black pepper made?

Black pepper is the dried unripe berries of Piper nigrum, belongs to the Piperaceae family. Black pepper is one of the most common spices used in culinary preparations. Black pepper is also recognized as ’The King of spices’’. The tropical region of Brazil, India, and Indonesia are some native places where black pepper abundantly grows. The hot and pungent flavor is a characteristic feature of Black pepper. Peppercorns obtained from Black pepper, which is dried fruits and not reach to complete ripening stages.

Is Black pepper good for you?

In many traditional medicinal systems including Ayurveda and Unani medicinal systems have acknowledged the health benefits of Black pepper. Traditionally, black pepper is used as antihypertensive, anti-asthmatic, antioxidant, antiplatelets, hepato-protective, anti- Colon toxin, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-diarrheal, antidepressants, anxiolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, anti-spermatogenic, anti-thyroids, immuno-modulatory, antimutagenic, anti-metastatic, antitumor, antiapoptotic, and larvicidal activities etc.

Chemicals in Black pepper

Most of the therapeutic benefits obtained from Black pepper is due to the presence of a pungent alkaloid named as Piperine. Chemically Piperine is denoted as 1-peperoyl piperidine. Apart from Piperine, other phytochemicals obtained from Black pepper are α–terpineol, Acetophenone, Hexonal, Nerol, Nerolidol, 1, 8 – cineol, Dihydrocarveol, Citral, α–pinene, Piperolnol. A combination of these phytochemicals responsible for the characteristic flavor of this spice and provides multiple medicinal properties. Some specific antioxidants such as Beta-carotene, Lauric-acid, myristic-acid, palmitic-acid and piperine are also obtained from Black pepper.

Black pepper contains alkaloids, lignans, aromatic compounds, flavonoids, amides, and essential oils. Sabinene, linalool, phellandrene, pinene, and limonene are some specific constituents present in essential oil obtained from Black pepper.

What is the Mode of action for Black pepper health benefits?

• Different animal research and laboratory studies showed that Black pepper follows multiple mechanisms of actions to exhibit different black pepper effects on health, though very limited human studies yet conducted to confirm these benefits.
• Black pepper has digestive tract stimulant properties and thus alters the alimentary tract functioning. Black pepper accelerates the food passage in the digestive tract by stimulating the stomach secretions. It has been found from different research that the addition of black pepper with certain drug molecules can improve the bioavailability. This may occur due to piperine activates drug receptors activity. Black pepper also able to alter the metabolism process and controls the absorption of dietary components and drug molecules.
• Black pepper good for weight loss: Preclinical study result reported that Black pepper increases the expenditure of energy. Thus, it helps to reduce body weight. Piperine regulates energy balance by producing hormone-like chemicals. These mechanisms explained the black pepper benefits for weight loss.
• Black pepper has nervous system benefits and able to reduce convulsion attacks by activating specific regions of the brain. The animal research study also showed it improve reflex action in stroke-affected subjects by stimulating particular neurological functioning. Researchers have expected that piperine derived from Black pepper has anti-depressant properties.
• Black pepper and its active constituent piperine able to stimulate pigment-producing cells in the skin tissue and able to treat depigmentary skin disorder vitiligo.
• The antiandrogenic activity of Black pepper and piperine stimulates hair re-growth.
• The antioxidant constituents of Black pepper reduce the free radical burden from a different cellular level and prevent the development of different chronic diseases.
• Black pepper has a moderate immune system activation property and exhibits anti-microbial properties.
• Black pepper may suppress the chemical reactions which trigger cancer progression and also has a tumor growth inhibitory effect.

Different Forms of Black pepper

Depending upon Black pepper harvesting, different forms are collected from the plant:

•Canned pepper collected after 4-5 months of harvesting

•Dehydrated green pepper collected 10-15 days before maturity

•Oleoresin and essential oil collected from Black pepper 15-20 days before maturity

•Black pepper is fully mature form and 1-2 berries start turning from yellow to red in each spike

•Pepper powder is produced from a fully mature plant

•White pepper is fully ripe fruits

Black pepper benefits for health

Apart from the spice, let’s look at a detailed mechanism of how Black pepper benefits health.

Black Pepper Medicinal use to prevent infections

Black pepper plant leaves and stem extract have a potential antibacterial effect against oral microbial growth and prevent oral cavity infection.

Improve digestion

Black pepper improves digestion by releasing hydrochloric acid from the stomach, pancreatic lipase from the pancreas and bile from the liver. Increase bile secretion helps in digestion of fats, whereas piperine present in Black pepper promotes salivary amylase secretion. All these digestive enzymes secretion reduce the food transit time in the gastrointestinal tract and improve digestion. In addition, Black pepper is also used as carminative and reduces intestinal gas formation by expelling excess gas. The animal study confirmed that Black pepper promotes the secretion of intestinal lipase, disaccharidases sucrase and maltase enzymes.

The research study report also demonstrated that Black pepper prevents peptic ulcer formation by providing protection against gastric mucosal damage due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Hepatoprotective activity

Preclinical research results showed Black pepper able to reduce the increased level of SGPT and SGOT and provide the hepatoprotective effect. In addition, the strong anti-oxidant property of Black pepper reduced lipid peroxidation and reduce liver toxicity. Piperine present in Black pepper has therapeutic benefits against liver diseases.

Black pepper benefits weight loss

Black pepper helps to control body weight by breaking down fats. Thus, the addition of Black pepper is a natural way to control body weight by preventing the accumulation of dietary fats in the body tissue compartments.

Respiratory health benefits

In the traditional medicinal system, Black pepper is used to relieve cold and cough symptoms, nasal congestion, sinusitis, sneezing. The anti-microbial effect of Black pepper helps to prevent and cure respiratory infections. The anti-inflammatory property and its expectorant activity able to reduce asthma attack frequency.

Black pepper benefits for joints

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Black pepper are effective to treat arthritis. Both in-vitro and animal research results reported Black pepper has anti-arthritic property. Piperine able to inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandin E and reduces the level of interleukin 6 and matrix metalloproteinase. Thus, this herbal ingredient able to reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.

Black pepper and brain health

Black pepper has potential benefits against memory impairment conditions and cognitive malfunctioning. Black pepper stimulates many essential chemical pathways in the brain which is beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients. Moreover, animal research showed piperine has anti-depressant properties and able to treat depression.

Black pepper benefits for skin

Black pepper containing piperine stimulates the production of melanocyte pigment in the skin tissue and able to treat vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by white patches on the skin due to a lack of melanin production.

Anticancer activity

Oral administration of Black pepper helps to prevent cancer due to its antitumor and anticancer activity. Different cancer line research results showed Black pepper is effective to reduce multiple cancers including lung cancer, prostate cancer, and liver cancer. The significant antioxidant property as well as it helps to induce apoptosis and reduction of androgen-dependent and independent tumor growth provide significant benefit against cancer progression.

Black Pepper Side effects

Is too much black pepper bad for you? The proper dose of Black pepper is important to prevent side effects. Excessive dose of Black Pepper can cause stomach irritation. It is contraindicated for patients having stomach problems. Black pepper increases the bioavailability of many drugs; therefore, it is contraindicated with certain drugs such as cyclosporine A, cholinergic, digoxin, etc.

Black pepper increases skin dryness, therefore, people having dry skin should avoid Excessive Black pepper intake. Black pepper is beneficial for a respiratory condition, but should not inhale directly, which can irritate respiratory passage.

Women who are hypersensitive to certain spice exposure avoid intaking Black pepper during pregnancy. A nursing mother should also avoid Black pepper intake, as hot flavor and taste may secret through breast milk and irritate infants.

References:-

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2. Chemical Composition, Nutritional, Medicinal and Functional Properties of Black Pepper: A Review. 1:172. doi: 10 
3. Keith Singletary. Black Pepper Overview of Health Benefits. Nutrition Today, Volume 45Number 1January/February 2010. 
4. Black pepper. ICAR- Indian Institute of Spices Research Kozhikode – 673 012, Kerala. 
5. Rama Shukla, Neeta Rai, Manu Singhai, Dr. Akhlesh K. Singhai.A MAGICAL MEDICINAL FRUIT OF PIPER NIGRUM. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. Vol 7, Issue 8, 2018. 418-425.
6. Renu M(2019).10 Serious Side Effects of Black Pepper. stylecraze.