Black pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated f or   its fruit (the pepperc or n), which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit is a drupe (stonefruit) which is about 5 mm(0.20 in) in diameter (fresh and fully mature), dark red, and contains a stone which encloses a single pepper seed. Pepperc or ns and the ground pepper derived from them may be described simply as pepper, or  m or e precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit), or  white pepper (ripe fruit seeds).

Black pepper is native to the Malabar Coast of India, and the Malabar pepper is extensively cultivated there and in other tropical regions. Ground, dried, and cooked pepperc or ns have been used since antiquity, both f or   flavour and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the w or ld's most traded spice, and is one of the most common spices added to cuisines around the w or ld. Its spiciness is due to the chemical compound piperine, which is a different kind of spiciness from that of capsaicin characteristic of chili peppers. It is ubiquitous in the Western w or ld as a seasoning, and is often paired with salt and available on dining tables in shakers or  mills.

Medicinal uses

• High in antioxidants: Black pepper is rich in a potent antioxidant called piperine, which may help prevent free radical damage to your cells.
• Has anti-inflammat or y properties: Black pepper contains an active compound that has been shown to decrease inflammation in animals. Still, it’s unclear whether it has the same effects in humans.
• May benefit your brain: Black pepper extract has improved symptoms of degenerative brain diseases in animal studies, but studies in humans are needed to verify these results.
• May improve blood sugar control: Black pepper extract may improve blood sugar control, but m or e research is needed.
• May lower cholesterol levels: Black pepper has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering effects in rodent studies and is believed to boost the abs or ption of potential cholesterol-lowering supplements.
• May have cancer-fighting properties: Black pepper contains an active compound that has slowed the replication of cancer cells and induced cancer cell death in test-tube studies. However, these effects have not been studied in people.
• Boosts abs or ption of nutrients: Black pepper may increase the abs or ption of essential nutrients like calcium and selenium, as well some beneficial plant compounds, such as those found in green tea and turmeric.
• May promote gut health: The makeup of your gut bacteria has been linked to immune function, mood, chronic diseases, and m or e. Preliminary research suggests that black pepper may increase the good bacteria in your gut.
• May offer pain relief: Though it has yet to be studied in humans, studies in rodents suggest that the piperine in black pepper may be a natural pain reliever.
• May reduce appetite: In a small study, 16 adults rep or ted reduced appetite after drinking a black-pepper-based beverage compared to flav or ed water. However, other studies did not show the same effects.

Precautions

• Pregnancy: Black pepper is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. It is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts during pregnancy as it might cause an ab or tion. There isn't enough reliable inf or mation available to know if applying black pepper to the skin is safe while pregnant.
• Breast-feeding: Black pepper is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. There isn't enough reliable inf or mation available to know if taking black pepper as medicine is safe while breast-feeding.
• Children: Black pepper is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in amounts commonly found in foods. It is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts as deaths have been rep or ted. There isn't enough reliable inf or mation available to know if applying black pepper oil to the skin is safe f or children.
• Bleeding conditions: Piperine, a chemical in black pepper, might slow blood clotting. In the or y, taking black pepper in amounts greater than those in food might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding dis or ders.
• Diabetes: Black pepper might affect blood sugar levels. In the or y, taking black pepper in amounts greater than those in food might affect blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Dosing adjustments f or diabetes medications might be needed.
• Surgery: Piperine, a chemical in black pepper, might slow blood clotting and affect blood sugar levels. In the or y, taking black pepper in amounts treater than those found in food might cause bleeding complications or affect blood sugar levels during surgery. You should stop taking black pepper in amounts greater than those in food at least 2 weeks bef or e surgery.

Interactions

• Cyclosp or ineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might increase levels of cyclosp or ine in the body.
• LithiumInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking black pepper might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects.
• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Black pepper might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking black pepper along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the chance of side effects from some medications. Some medications changed by the liver include chl or zoxazone, theophylline, and bufuralol.
• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Black pepper might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking black pepper along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the chance of side effects from some medications. Some medications changed by the liver include cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, barbiturates, bromobenzene, and others.
• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Black pepper might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking black pepper along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the chance of side effects from some medications. Some medications changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (N or pramin), flecainide (Tamboc or ), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), metoprolol (Lopress or , Toprol XL), ondansetron (Zofran), paroxetine (Paxil), risperidone (Risperdal), tramadol (Ultram), venlafaxine (Effex or ), and others.
• Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Black and white pepper might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking pepper along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the chance of side effects from some medications. Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevac or ), ketoconazole (Niz or al), itraconazole (Sp or anox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
• Medications f or diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Some research shows that piperine might decrease blood sugar levels. In the or y, black pepper might cause an interaction with diabetes medications resulting in blood sugar levels going too low. Until m or e is known, monit or your blood sugar closely if you take black pepper. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used f or diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
• Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein Substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Some medications are moved by pumps in cells. Black and white pepper might make these pumps less active and increase how much of some medications get abs or bed by the body. This might cause m or e side effects from some medications. Some medications that are moved by these pumps include etoposide, paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, ketoconazole, itraconazole, amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, cimetidine, ranitidine, diltiazem, verapamil, digoxin, c or ticosteroids, erythromycin, cisapride (Propulsid), fexofenadine (Allegra), cyclosp or ine, loperamide (Imodium), quinidine, and others.
• Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might slow blood clotting. In the or y, taking black pepper along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
• NevirapineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might increase levels of nevirapine in the body. In the or y, taking black pepper with nevirapine might increase the effects and side effects of nevirapine.
• Pentobarbital (Nembutal)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might increase sleepiness caused by pentobarbital. In the or y, taking black pepper with pentobarbital might increase the sedative side effects of pentobarbital.
• Phenytoin (Dilantin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black and white pepper might increase how much phenytoin (Dilantin) the body abs or bs. Taking black and white pepper along with phenytoin (Dilantin) might increase the effects and side effects of phenytoin (Dilantin).
• Propranolol (Inderal)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black and white pepper might increase how much propranolol (Inderal) the body abs or bs. Taking black and white pepper along with propranolol (Inderal) might increase the effects and side effects of propranolol (Inderal).
• RifampinInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black and white pepper might increase how much rifampin the body abs or bs. Taking black and white pepper along with rifampin might increase the effects and side effects of rifampin.
• TheophyllineInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper can increase how much theophylline the body can abs or b. This might cause increased effects and side effects of theophylline.
• Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)Interaction Rating: Min or Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might increase levels of amoxicillin in the blood. In the or y, taking black pepper with amoxicillin might increase the effects and side effects of amoxicillin.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)Interaction Rating: Min or Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper might increase the amount of carbamazepine (Tegretol) abs or bed by the body. It might also decrease how quickly the body breaks down and gets rid of carbamazepine. This could increase how much carbamazepine is in the body and potentially increase the chance of side effects.
• Cefotaxime (Claf or an)Interaction Rating: Min or Be cautious with this combination. Black pepper contains a chemical called piperine. Piperine might increase levels of cefotaxime in the blood. In the or y, taking black pepper with cefotaxime might increase the effects and side effects of cefotaxime.