Black pepper extract is one of four ingredients in GlucoZone. This article is for general education only and is not medical advice.
What is black pepper extract?
Black pepper comes from the dried berries (peppercorns) of Piper nigrum, a flowering vine native to southern India. It has been one of the world's most traded spices for thousands of years and has a long history in Ayurvedic herbal practice.
The compound that gives black pepper its bite is called piperine. Black pepper extract concentrates piperine so that a small amount can be added to a supplement formula.
Why is it in GlucoZone? Absorption.
Some of the most interesting plant compounds are hard for the body to absorb. Curcumin from turmeric is a good example: on its own, very little of it reaches the bloodstream. Berberine is also known to be poorly absorbed.
Researchers have found that piperine can change how the body processes other compounds. In a well-known 1998 study in human volunteers published in Planta Medica, taking piperine together with curcumin greatly increased the amount of curcumin measured in the blood compared with curcumin alone. Laboratory research has shown that piperine slows certain enzymes and "transporter" proteins in the gut and liver that normally break down or clear out plant compounds and medicines.
How black pepper extract works
Piperine, the active compound in black pepper, slows the body’s “clean-up” systems
1
Piperine
from black pepper (Piper nigrum)
2
Slows CYP3A4 & P-glycoprotein
enzyme and transporter in the gut and liver
3
More stays in the body
some plant compounds, such as curcumin
That's why black pepper extract is often paired with turmeric – and why we included it in GlucoZone to help support the absorption of its other ingredients.* Read more about turmeric →
Why turmeric formulas add black pepper
Curcumin reaching the bloodstream in human volunteers, relative to curcumin alone
Researchers reported a 2000% increase in curcumin bioavailability when piperine was added.
How black pepper extract fits into GlucoZone
GlucoZone combines black pepper extract with berberine HCl, turmeric root extract and green tea extract in one liquid dropper a day – designed to support healthy glucose metabolism as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle.*
Important: black pepper extract and medications
The same effect that helps plant compounds absorb can also change how your body handles some prescription medicines. Piperine slows an enzyme called CYP3A4 and a transporter called P-glycoprotein, both of which help process many common medications. That could raise the level of some drugs in your body.
- Taking any medication? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using GlucoZone.
- Pregnant or nursing? Do not use GlucoZone if you are pregnant or nursing.
- Black pepper as a food spice is widely considered safe. Concentrated extracts may cause stomach upset or heartburn in some people.
GlucoZone™
Berberine HCl, turmeric root extract, green tea extract and black pepper extract in one easy liquid dropper a day.*
Sources & further reading
- Shoba G, et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica. 1998;64(4):353–356.
- Bhardwaj RK, et al. Piperine, a major constituent of black pepper, inhibits human P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 2002. (Laboratory study.)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Turmeric (discusses curcumin absorption).
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information in this article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from your healthcare provider.