Black Pepper
Piper nigrum
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) is classified in Ayurveda as Deepaniya (Appetizer), Krimighna (Anthelmintic), from the Piperaceae family. Parts used: fruit. Component of Trikatu (three pungents).
| Botanical name | Piper nigrum |
|---|---|
| Family | Piperaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Piperales |
| Ayurvedic category | Deepaniya (Appetizer), Krimighna (Anthelmintic) |
| Also known as | Black Pepper, BlackPepper, Piper nigrum |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3086357 · NCBI Taxonomy 13216 |
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2013 to 2023, every one with a DOI.
- 2Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- 10Other clinical studies and reviews
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Black Pepper |
| Common Names | Black Pepper, King of Spices |
| Hindi | Kali Mirch |
| Sanskrit | Maricha, Krishna |
| Latin/Botanical | Piper nigrum |
Parts Used
- Fruit
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosha Effects
| Dosha | Effect |
|---|---|
| Vata | Decreases |
| Kapha | Decreases |
| Pitta | Increases |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Bioavailability enhancer
- Digestive stimulant
- Antioxidant
- Thermogenic
- Anti-parasitic
How is it used traditionally?
Component of Trikatu (three pungents). Piperine enhances absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Used for Agnimandya (weak digestion), Krimi (parasites), and Kasa (cough).
Where is it described in the classical texts?
- Charaka Samhita
- Sushruta Samhita
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
Recommended Dosage
Powder: at the dose given under Standard Dosage; As part of Trikatu: 1-3g/day
Safety, contraindications and cautions
- Gastric ulcers
- GERD
- Pregnancy (high doses)
- May alter drug metabolism (piperine)
What is it made of?
Part(s) Analyzed: Fruit
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Taila (oil), Trikatu (combination with Pippali and Shunthi), Essential oil, Standardized piperine extract
Standard Dosage: 250 mg to 1 g powder (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. III); 5-10mg piperine as bioenhancer; as Trikatu: 1-3g; 500mg extract capsule; essential oil: 1-3 drops
Optimal Timing: With meals to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption; as bioenhancer, taken concurrently with target compound; Trikatu before meals
Storage: Whole peppercorns in airtight containers away from light. Ground pepper loses volatile oils rapidly, use immediately or store sealed. Piperine extracts are light-sensitive, amber packaging. Cool, dry conditions.
Marker Compounds: Piperine, Piperyline, Piperanine, Piperettine, Beta-caryophyllene, Limonene, Sabinene, Alpha-pinene, Piperlongumine
Synergistic Combinations
- With Pippali and Shunthi as Trikatu for digestive fire (Agni) enhancement
- With Curcumin, piperine increases bioavailability by 20x
- With Ashwagandha for enhanced withanolide absorption
- With any herb as Yogavahi (bioenhancer)
- With Haritaki in Avaleha for respiratory health
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2
- 2023. The Role of Herbal Medicine in Cholangiocarcinoma Control: A Systematic ReviewPlanta medica. PMID 35468650 · doi:10.1055/a-1676-9678
- 2019. A systematic review on black pepper (Piper nigrum L.): from folk uses to pharmacological applicationsCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 30740986 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2019.1565489
Other clinical studies and reviews10
- 2023. Piperine: Chemistry and BiologyToxins. PMID 38133200 · doi:10.3390/toxins15120696
- 2023. Phenytoin's Pharmacological Interactions with Medicinal Herbs: A ReviewDie Pharmazie. PMID 37537774 · doi:10.1691/ph.2023.3546
- 2021. Piperine: A review of its biological effectsPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 32929825 · doi:10.1002/ptr.6855
- 2021. Piperine: Chemical, biological and nanotechnological applicationsActa pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia). PMID 33151173 · doi:10.2478/acph-2021-0015
- 2019. Piperine: role in prevention and progression of cancerMolecular biology reports. PMID 31273611 · doi:10.1007/s11033-019-04927-z
- 2016. Piperine and Its Role in Chronic DiseasesAdvances in experimental medicine and biology. PMID 27671817 · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_8
- 2016. Spices for Prevention and Treatment of CancersNutrients. PMID 27529277 · doi:10.3390/nu8080495
- 2016. Lessons from black pepper: piperine and derivatives thereofExpert opinion on therapeutic patents. PMID 26560940 · doi:10.1517/13543776.2016.1118057
- 2013. Piper nigrum and piperine: an updatePhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 23625885 · doi:10.1002/ptr.4972
- 2013. Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatiseCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 23768180 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.571799
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.