Safety of Piperine as topical application was shown in a study conducted with crude extracts of Black Pepper as monotherapy in Vitiligo. Study was conducted in patients with different clinical types of Vitiligo at different body sites. There were no significant side effects apart from mild itching and eryhtema. The study has concluded that black pepper extract is a safe, effective and well tolerated treatment for Vitiligo (Mohamed et al., 2003).
JAAD “Bioactive compounds from Piper nigrum—A new hope for vitiligo treatment?”
The pathophysiology of vitiligo is still not fully clarified, resulting in the incapacity to find a targeted cure. The available treatment options available have an immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory effect, without having a direct effect influencing on melanocyte proliferation, differentiation, or migration, but just partially infuencing the immune factor in vitiligo. This study, being consistent with previous related research showed that Piper nigrum (black pepper) (PN) and its main alkaloid, piperine, promote melanocyte proliferation in vivo. Pure piperine and a PN fruit extract were integrated in two different ointments and tested on human subjects affected by vitiligo. A number of 9 areas were treated: 3 using pure piperine, 3 using the extract, 1 using travoprost solution, and 2 using an association of travoprost (prostaglandin F2α analogue) solution and our products. Pigmentation was achieved in all the treated areas. The extract caused faster and more remarkable results than the pure piperine, suggesting the presence of other possible biologically active compounds. The pigmentation pattern was also different between the two. The association of the travoprost solution speed up the process and changed the pigmentation pattern, especially when associated with the PN extract. In this case, the results were noticeable after only 3 weeks of application, while the rest of the plaques took up to 6 weeks to gain visible pigmentation. The side effects were quite rare, only one of the 3 subjects complaining about severe burning sensation and redness of the treated areas. Therefore, P nigrum extract may represent, in the future, a new treatment option for vitiligo, especially considering the mild side effects of the tested products and the reduced amount of time needed for repigmentation. However, more studies are needed to validate these experimental data.