A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that the natural ingredient interferes with the activity of genes that control the formation of new fat cells.
Laboratory tests and computer models revealed that the process triggered by piperine can also set off a metabolic chain reaction that helps keep fat in check in other ways.
Previous investigations had found other health benefits of piperine such as fighting inflammations, reducing gastrointestinal pains and cutting fat levels in the bloodstream, said Soo-Jong Um, Ji-Cheon Jeong and colleagues of Sejong University in Seoul, Korea.
Scientists suggest that their new finding may lead to wider use of piperine or black pepper extracts in fighting obesity and related diseases.