What is "piperine"

Piperine \Pip"er*ine\, n. [L. piper pepper: cf. F. piperin, piperine.] (Chem.) A white crystalline compound of piperidine and piperic acid. It is obtained from the black pepper ( Piper nigrum) and other species.

n. (context organic compound English) The alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper

n. derived from pepper (especially black pepper); source of the hotness of black and white pepper [syn: piperin]

Piperine, along with its isomer chavicine, is the alkaloid responsible for the pungency of black pepper and long pepper. It has also been used in some forms of traditional medicine and as an insecticide.