Essential oil composition
Piperine, [1-(5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-oxo-2,4, pentadienyl) piperidine], is a pungent alkaloid present in P. nigrum
L. The dried, unripe fruit of P. nigrum L. contains volatile oil, 5 to 9% piperine, piperidine, chavicin, fat, proteins and resin. The
principal alkaloids of black pepper are piperine (6 to 11%) and chavicine (0.8%). Pepper also contains piperet-tine; myristicin various
mono- and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated compounds. In addition, pepper contains small amounts of safrole (100 ppm) and tannins (300 ppm). The volatile oil contributes to the aroma of black pepper, while the nonvolatile constituents, mostly piperine,
are the source of its pungency.