Antibacterial and immunological properties of piperine evidenced by preclinical studies: a systematic review

To review , , and studies examining the antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties of piperine (PPN). This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, and five databases were searched. A total of 40 articles were included in this study. Six aspects of PPN activity were identified, including antibacterial spectrum, association with antibiotics, efflux pump inhibition, biofilm effects, protein target binding, and modulation of immune functions/virulence factors. Most studies focused on spp. and . Cell lineages and models were employed to study PPN antibacterial effects. We highlight PPN as a potential adjuvant in the treatment of bacterial infections. PPN possesses several antibacterial properties that need further exploration to determine the mechanisms behind its pharmacological activity.