Abstract

The piperine is an alkaloid naturally found mostly in black pepper with a myriad of pharmacological attributes. The most far reaching indication of piperine is its use as an absorption enhancer, with supportive data regarding piperine’s ability to inhibit first pass effect mechanisms. However, alongside these findings, the role of piperine as an absorption enhancer is undermined with publications stating an effect of a metabolic inducer. The aim of this commentary is to investigate the effect of repeated administration of piperine on oral absorption of cannabidiol (CBD), compared to single dose administration. The effect of piperine on absorption was determined pre-clinically in the freely moving rat model. Repeated administration of piperine, dissolved in a lipid-based formulation did not differ from acute piperine demonstration in its effect on CBD absorption, with a 2.5-fold increase in oral bioavailability in comparison to control group without piperine.