Black Pepper, The King Of Spices

 

Fig- Black pepper

Black Pepper (King Of Spices)

Black pepper, (Piper nigrum), also called pepper, perennial climbing vine of the family Piperaceae and the hotly pungent spice made from its fruits. Both whole black peppercorns and ground black pepper are commonly used in cooking .

Introduction About Black Pepper

In addition to adding flavor to foods, black pepper may act as an antioxidant and offer a variety of health benefits. The plant is widely cultivated throughout Indonesia and has been introduced into tropical areas of Africa and of the Western Hemisphere. Pepper became an important article of overland trade between India and Europe and often served as a medium of exchange; tributes were levied in pepper in ancient Greece and Rome. Widely used as a spice around the world, pepper also has a limited usage in medicine as a carminative (to relieve flatulence) and as a stimulant of gastric secretions.In early historic times pepper was widely cultivated in the tropics of Southeast Asia, where it became highly regarded as a condiment. In the Middle Ages the Venetians and the Genoese became the main distributors in Europe, and their virtual monopoly of the trade helped instigate the search for an eastern sea route. For thousands of years, black pepper has been a staple ingredient all over the world.

Often referred to as the “king of spices,” it comes from the dried, unripe fruit of the native Indian plant Piper nigrum. Black pepper is native to the Malabar Coast of India and is one of the earliest spices known.

Fig- Black pepper plant

Properties Of  Black Pepper

A Potent Antioxidant

Black pepper is rich in a potent antioxidant called piperine, which may help prevent free radical damage to your cells.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage your cells. Some free radicals are created naturally — such as when you exercise and digest food.

However, excessive free radicals can be formed with exposure to things like pollution, cigarette smoke, and sun rays.

Excess free radical damage may lead to major health problems.

For example, it has been linked to inflammation, premature aging, heart disease, and certain cancers.

Black pepper is rich in a plant compound called piperine, which test-tube studies have found to have potent antioxidant properties.

Studies suggest that a diet high in antioxidants may help prevent or delay the damaging effects of free radicals.

Test-tube and rodent studies have observed that ground black pepper and piperine supplements may reduce free radical damage.

Anti-Inflammatory

Chronic inflammation may be an underlying factor in many conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Many laboratory studies suggest that piperine — the main active compound in black pepper — may effectively fight inflammation.

For example, in studies in rats with arthritis, treatment with piperine resulted in less joint swelling and fewer blood markers of inflammation.

In mouse studies, piperine suppressed inflammation in the airways caused by asthma and seasonal allergies. Black pepper contains an active compound that has been shown to decrease inflammation in animals. Still, it’s unclear whether it has the same effects in humans.

Black pepper extract has improved symptoms of degenerative brain diseases in animal studies, but studies in humans are needed to verify these results.

Improve Brain Function

Piperine has been shown to improve brain function in animal studies.

In particular, it has demonstrated potential benefits for symptoms related to degenerative brain conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

For example, a study in rats with Alzheimer’s disease found that piperine improved memory, as the distribution of piperine enabled the rats to repeatedly run a maze more efficiently than rats not given the compound.

In another rodent study, piperine extract seemed to decrease the formation of amyloid plaques, which are dense clumps of damaging protein fragments in the brain that have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Yet, studies in humans are needed to confirm whether these effects are also seen outside animal studies.

Cholesterol Control

Additionally, black pepper and piperine are believed to boost the absorption of dietary supplements that have potential cholesterol-lowering effects like turmeric and red yeast rice.

For example, studies have shown that black pepper may increase the absorption of the active component of turmeric — curcumin — by up to 2,000%.

Black pepper has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering effects in rodent studies and is believed to boost the absorption of potential cholesterol-lowering supplements.

High blood cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.

Black pepper extract has been studied in animals for its potential to reduce cholesterol levels.

In one 42-day study, rats fed a high-fat diet and a black pepper extract had decreased blood cholesterol levels, including LDL (bad) cholesterol. The same effects were not seen in the control group.

Blood Sugar Control

Still, more studies are needed to determine whether black pepper itself has significant cholesterol-lowering effects in humans. Studies suggest that piperine may help improve blood sugar metabolism.

In one study, rats fed a black pepper extract had a smaller spike in blood sugar levels after consuming glucose compared to rats in the control group.

Additionally, 86 overweight people taking a supplement containing piperine and other compounds for 8 weeks experienced significant improvements in insulin sensitivity — a measure of how well the hormone insulin removes glucose from the bloodstream.

However, it’s unclear whether the same effects would occur with black pepper alone, as a combination of many active plant compounds was used in this study.

Anti-Cancer

Black pepper contains an active compound that has slowed the replication of cancer cells and induced cancer cell death in test-tube studies. However, these effects have not been studied in people.

Researchers hypothesize that the active compound in black pepper, piperine, may have cancer-fighting properties.

Though no human trials have been performed, test-tube studies found that piperine slowed the replication of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells and induced cancer cell death.

Another test-tube study screened 55 compounds from spices and observed that piperine from black pepper was the most effective at enhancing the efficacy of traditional treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive cancer type.

What’s more, piperine has shown promising effects in laboratory studies for reversing multidrug resistance in cancer cells — an issue that interferes with the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment.

Though these results are promising, more studies are needed to understand the potential cancer-fighting properties of black pepper and piperine.

Promote Gut Health

Black pepper increases the absorption of essential nutrients and beneficial plant compounds. According to preliminary research, it may also promote gut health, offer pain relief, and reduce appetite.

Black pepper may benefit health in many other ways according to preliminary research:

Black pepper may increase the absorption of essential nutrients like calcium and selenium, as well some beneficial plant compounds, such as those found in green tea and turmeric.

May promote gut health. Though it has yet to be studied in humans, studies in rodents suggest that the piperine in black pepper may be a natural pain reliever.

May reduce appetite. Boosts absorption of nutrients. Preliminary research suggests that black pepper may increase the good bacteria in your gut.

May offer pain relief. In a small study, 16 adults reported reduced appetite after drinking a black-pepper-based beverage compared to flavored water. However, other studies did not show the same effects. The makeup of your gut bacteria has been linked to immune function, mood, chronic diseases, and more.

Other Potential Properties

Black pepper has a subtle heat and a bold flavor that makes it a tasty addition to almost any dish.

Black pepper has become a kitchen staple in households worldwide.

With its subtle heat and bold flavor, it’s versatile and can enhance almost any savory dish.

A dash of ground black pepper can be a tasty seasoning for cooked vegetables, pasta dishes, meat, fish, poultry, and many more.

It also pairs well with other healthful seasonings, including turmeric, cardamom, cumin, garlic, and lemon zest.

For an extra kick and a little crunch, try coating tofu, fish, chicken, and other proteins with coarsely ground peppercorns and additional seasonings..

Despite these promising findings, more studies in humans are needed to better understand the exact health benefits of black pepper and its concentrated extracts.

Regardless, this versatile flavor-enhancer is worth adding to your daily cooking routine, as its bold flavor is a great addition to almost any dish.

This Article is about to know our the great spice (Black Pepper) value only. we must add this spice in our regular meal to lead a healthy life.

Thank you for reading.