Sabinsa Corporation has been granted its third patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the use of its trademarked black pepper extract Bioperine(r). The current patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,972,382 (October 26, 1999) is a divisional application of U.S. Patent No. 5,744,161 (1998) and U.S. Patent No. 5,536,506 (1996). It discusses compositions and methods for increasing nutrient bioavailability, improving gastrointestinal (GI) absorption and systemic utilization of nutritional materials, increasing nutrient induced thermogenesis, and increasing lean body mass by the administration of one or more nutritional materials with a bioavailability enhancing amount of piperine. The nutritional materials which may be co-administered with Bioperine(r) include the following groups:
Herbal extracts:
(e.g. curcumin, Boswellin(r), ashwagandha, ginkgo biloba, and capsaicin),water-soluble vitamins: (e.g. vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacinamide, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, and vitamin C), fat-soluble vitamins: (e.g. vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K), antioxidants: (e.g. vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha-carotene, ransbeta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, pine bark bioflavonoids complex, germanium, selenium, and zinc).
Amino acids:
(e.g. lysine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, valine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and methionine) and minerals: (e.g calcium, iron, zinc, vanadium, selenium, chromium, iodine, potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium).
Bioperine® is a standardized extract from the fruits of Piper nigrum L. (black pepper) or Piper longum L. (long pepper). It contains a minimum piperine content of 95% compared to the 3-9% and 3-5% found in raw forms of Piper nigrum and Piper longum, respectively. Bioperine(r) may be co-administered with various nutrients for both human and animal health.
Due to its ability to increase the absorption of nutrients comprising nutritional supplement formulations as shown in Figures 1-4, Bioperine® has been termed a natural Thermonutrient® and bioavailability enhancer1,2 .
Figure 1. Effect of Bioperine® on the mean serum ß-Carotene levels during a 14 day supplementation trial
Figure 3. Efficacy of Bioperine® on the bioavailability of vitamin B6 absorption in human volunteers
Figure 4. Effect of Bioperine® on serum CoQ10 levels during a 21 day supplementation trial. Larger Image
Bioperine® enhances nutrient absorption by inducing thermogenesis, the production of heat energy associated with the digestion of food. This process, also called "food-induced thermogenesis", is attributed to the pungent principle piperine. The leading theory of food-induced thermogenesis involves the autonomous nervous system, an involuntary and independent branch of the nervous system that controls the digestive and absorptive processes of the GI tract via two main GI receptors, the alpha and beta adrenergic receptors. Most of the food or thermonutrient-induced thermogenesis is facilitated by the beta receptors and indirectly by cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP), the "second messenger" to the body's hormones and enzymes.
Basically, the hormones of the autonomous system, epinephrine and norepinephrine, activate the beta receptors. Activation of the beta receptors increases the levels of cAMP. Cyclic AMP in turn activates a host of enzymes resulting in biochemical reactions which produce heat energy. Piperine has been found to stimulate the release of epinephrine which, as described above, initiates a cascade effect resulting in thermogenesis.3-4 Since the demand for new nutrients to sustain thermogenesis rapidly increases, the absorption of nutrients co-administered with as little as 5 mg of Bioperine® increases as well.
- Proprietary information provided by Sabinsa Corporation. All Copy Rights Reserved 1998
- Majeed, M., Badmaev, V., and Rajendran, R. (1996) Use of piperine to increase the bioavailability of nutritional compounds. United States Patents: 5,536,506, 5,744,161, & 5,972,382
- Kawada, T. et al. (1988) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 188, 229-233
- Dora, K.A. and Clark, M.G. (1994) Life Sci. 55(5), 389-397
Bioperine® : Nature's own Thermonutrient® and Natural bioavailability enhancer
Please contact either Sabinsa office for a free copy of the publication which discusses the chemistry, pharmacology, and scientific basis of Bioperine® . Bioperine® and Thermonutrient® are registered trademarks of Sabinsa Corporation.
