Black Pepper Interactions

Piperine, the active alkaloid in black pepper, inhibits CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and intestinal P-glycoprotein, increasing the oral bioavailability and serum concentration of propranolol and other beta-blockers, which can amplify blood pressure and heart rate reduction.

Piperine, the active alkaloid in black pepper, inhibits hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation of curcumin and other compounds, and a landmark human study reported a 2000% increase in curcumin bioavailability when 20 mg piperine was co-administered with 2 g curcumin. This is one of the most cited absorption-enhancement combinations in the supplement literature.