Piperine is the principal plant alkaloid isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper. Piperine has several biological properties including analgesic, anticonvulsant, antitumor, and antiinflammatory activities.

Piperine is a natural ingredient of Piper nigrum (black pepper) and some other Piper species. Compared to the use of pepper for food seasoning, piperine is used in food supplements in an isolated, concentrated form and ingested as a bolus.