What is BioPerine®?
BioPerine® is a branded black pepper extract supplied by Sabinsa. It is derived from the dried fruits of Piper nigrum, the botanical species commonly known as black pepper, and is standardised to contain at least 95% piperine [1,4].
Piperine is the main naturally occurring compound responsible for black pepper’s pungent taste. It is also the compound most commonly studied for its role in supporting the bioavailability of certain nutrients and botanical ingredients [1,4].
BioPerine® is different from ordinary black pepper used in cooking. Culinary black pepper naturally varies in piperine content, while BioPerine® is a concentrated extract produced to provide a consistent level of piperine [4,5].
- BioPerine® is a branded black pepper extract supplied by Sabinsa
- standardised to contain at least 95% piperine
- produced to provide a consistent level of piperine
- included to support curcumin absorption and bioavailability
Why is BioPerine® used with curcumin?
Curcumin is naturally poorly absorbed when taken alone. Research has shown that oral curcumin can produce low measurable levels in the bloodstream due to limited absorption and rapid metabolism [2,6].
BioPerine® is included with curcumin because piperine has been studied for its ability to increase measured curcumin exposure under specific study conditions [2].
This is the key formulation rationale behind CurcuTech™:
| Ingredient | Role in the Formula |
|---|---|
| Curcuminoids | Provide turmeric-derived active compounds |
| BioPerine® | Supports curcumin absorption and bioavailability |
BioPerine® should therefore be understood as an absorption-support ingredient, rather than the primary active ingredient associated with joint health or mild inflammation support. Curcuminoids remain the main turmeric-derived actives, while BioPerine® helps support curcumin absorption [2,3].
BioPerine® and curcumin absorption: what does the evidence show?
One of the most widely cited studies on curcumin and piperine is a 1998 pharmacokinetic study by Shoba et al. In this study, healthy volunteers received curcumin alone or curcumin combined with piperine. The researchers reported increased measured curcumin bioavailability when piperine was included [2].
The often-quoted “2000% increase” comes from this study, but the context is important.
Participants received either:
Under those specific conditions, the study reported a 20-fold increase in measured curcumin bioavailability [2].
This supports the formulation rationale for combining curcumin with piperine. However, it does not mean every curcumin product containing BioPerine® will produce the same result, nor does it prove that increased serum exposure directly translates into proportionally greater clinical outcomes.
What does “standardised to 95% piperine” mean?
Standardisation means an ingredient is manufactured to contain a defined amount of a specific marker compound.
For BioPerine®, that marker compound is piperine. BioPerine® is standardised to contain at least 95% piperine [1,4].
This matters because botanical ingredients can naturally vary depending on harvest conditions, processing and extraction methods. A standardised extract helps provide greater consistency than ordinary black pepper powder or non-standardised extracts.
However, “95% piperine” should be understood as a quality and consistency measure, not a guarantee of a specific clinical outcome.
BioPerine® vs black pepper: what is the difference?
Although BioPerine® comes from black pepper, it is not the same as black pepper used in food.
| Feature | BioPerine® | Ordinary Black Pepper |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient Type | Standardised black pepper extract | Culinary spice |
| Source | Piper nigrum fruit | Piper nigrum fruit |
| Key Compound | Standardised to at least 95% piperine | Naturally variable piperine content |
| Use in CurcuTech™ | Supports curcumin absorption | Not used as a controlled absorption-support ingredient |
| Consistency | Manufactured to a defined specification | Naturally variable |
This distinction is important because adding black pepper to food is not the same as using a standardised BioPerine® extract in a formulated supplement [4,5].
BioPerine® vs piperine: are they the same?
Not exactly.
Piperine is the naturally occurring compound found in black pepper. BioPerine® is the branded black pepper extract standardised for piperine content [1,4].
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Piperine | The main active marker compound found in black pepper |
| BioPerine® | A branded black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine |
| Black pepper | The whole culinary spice source |
This distinction is important when discussing the science. Some studies investigate piperine directly, while ingredient information refers specifically to BioPerine® as a branded, standardised extract [1,2].
How BioPerine® fits into Bioglan CurcuTech™
CurcuTech™ is Bioglan’s advanced curcumin formulation and is built around two key considerations:
- Curcumin is a turmeric-derived active compound commonly used in supplements formulated to support joint health and mild inflammation.
- Curcumin is naturally difficult to absorb, so formulation plays an important role.
BioPerine® is included in CurcuTech™ to support the absorption of curcumin and help address curcumin’s natural bioavailability challenges [2,3].
Why bioavailability matters for curcumin supplements
Bioavailability refers to how much of an ingredient becomes available for the body to use after it is consumed.
For curcumin, bioavailability is an important consideration because curcumin has low water solubility, limited absorption and rapid metabolism [6,7]. This means curcumin taken alone may not be absorbed efficiently.
Research suggests piperine may support curcumin bioavailability by influencing absorption and metabolism pathways, including processes involved in compound metabolism and clearance [6,7].
In simple terms:
- Curcumin is naturally difficult to absorb on its own
- Piperine has been studied for increasing measured curcumin exposure
- BioPerine® provides a standardised piperine-rich black pepper extract
What BioPerine® does — and does not — claim to do
BioPerine® should be understood as an absorption-support ingredient.
Appropriate statements include:
- BioPerine® supports curcumin absorption
- BioPerine® is standardised to 95% piperine
- BioPerine® is included in CurcuTech™ to support curcumin bioavailability
- Piperine has been studied for increasing measured curcumin exposure compared with curcumin alone
Curcuminoids remain the primary ingredients associated with joint-health and mild-inflammation support. BioPerine® plays a different role by supporting curcumin absorption [2,3].
Is BioPerine® suitable for everyone?
BioPerine® has been used as a supplement ingredient and is supported by ingredient-level safety information. However, because piperine may influence absorption and metabolism pathways, people taking medicines or managing health conditions should seek professional advice before use [1,8].
Australian regulatory materials have noted that piperine may affect the oral bioavailability of certain medicines [8].
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also advised that medicines containing turmeric or curcumin carry a rare risk of liver injury, with potential risk factors including higher doses and enhanced bioavailability formulations [9].
Consumers should speak with a healthcare professional before using curcumin products containing BioPerine® if they:
Stop use and seek medical advice if unusual symptoms occur, particularly yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or unusual tiredness [9].
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Frequently Asked Questions
BioPerine® is a branded black pepper extract derived from Piper nigrum and standardised to contain at least 95% piperine. In CurcuTech™, it is included to support curcumin absorption and bioavailability [1,4].
No. BioPerine® is a standardised black pepper extract, while ordinary black pepper is a culinary spice with naturally variable piperine content [4,5].
No. Piperine is the naturally occurring compound found in black pepper, while BioPerine® is the branded extract standardised for piperine content [1,4].
Curcumin is naturally difficult to absorb when taken alone. Piperine has been studied for increasing measured curcumin exposure, which is why BioPerine® is included in CurcuTech™ to support curcumin absorption [2].
A small human pharmacokinetic study reported increased measured curcumin bioavailability when piperine was combined with curcumin under specific study conditions [2]. The exact effect may vary depending on formulation, dose and study design.
It means BioPerine® is manufactured to contain at least 95% piperine, the key marker compound in the extract [1,4].
Not necessarily. People taking medicines, and people with liver, gallbladder or other health concerns should seek healthcare advice before using products containing curcumin and BioPerine® [8,9].
Summary
BioPerine® is a branded, standardised black pepper extract used in Bioglan CurcuTech™ to support curcumin absorption and bioavailability. Its key marker compound is piperine, which has been studied for increasing measured curcumin exposure compared with curcumin alone [1,2].
BioPerine® supports the formulation by helping address curcumin’s natural absorption challenges.
- Sabinsa Australia – BioPerine® Standardised Black Pepper Extract
- Shoba G. et al. Influence of Piperine on the Pharmacokinetics of Curcumin in Animals and Human Volunteers (PubMed)
- Bioglan Australia
- BioPerine® Official Ingredient Information
- Sabinsa – BioPerine® FAQ
- Prasad S. et al. Recent Developments in Delivery, Bioavailability, Absorption and Metabolism of Curcumin (PMC)
- Tabanelli R. et al. Improving Curcumin Bioavailability: Current Strategies and Formulation Considerations (PMC)
- Therapeutic Goods Administration – Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee Documents
- Therapeutic Goods Administration – Medicines Containing Turmeric or Curcumin and Risk of Liver Injury
- Therapeutic Goods Administration – Supporting Claims and Indications for Listed Medicines
