Piper nigrum and Piperine: Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, Preclinical Studies, and Clinical Trials

Piper nigrum L., commonly known as black pepper, belongs to the family Piperaceae. The pepper seed is a very well-known spice with valuable medicinal properties. Piper nigrum grows in many tropical regions. The black and white peppers both are grains of the same plant species, known as P. nigrum. The former consists of dried immature berries whereas the latter is the fully ripened berries. In addition to its wide usage as a spice, it has been used traditionally for the treatment of several health problems in different systems of traditional medicine. Moreover, preclinical and clinical studies show that it has several pharmacological activities and clinical efficacies. Piperine, as a piperamide derivative, is one of the most important constituent and biomarker of P. nigrum. In the recent years, this valuable natural product has attracted much attention for their diverse and potent pharmacological activities. Thus, the aim of the present chapter is having a glance at P. nigrum and its main alkaloid, piperine, traditionally, phytochemically, and pharmacologically.