Enhancement in Bioavailability of CurCousin®, A Minor Metabolite from Curcuma longa by Addition of BioPerine® —A Pharmacokinetic Study

In recent years, metabolic syndrome has been a growing health concern across the world. The role of nutraceuticals and functional foods in this area has a significant place due to the adverse effects of contemporary modes of treatment. CurCousin® is a nutritional ingredient containing bioactive Calebin A, (analog of Curcumin) with self-affirmed GRAS status. CurCousin® has been a clinically studied dietary supplement ingredient with a positive impact on body weight, lipid levels and metabolic health. Bioenhancers play an important role in increasing the bioavailability of the active in turn enhancing efficacy as well as reducing the dosage required to achieve the therapeutic effect. This study investigated the possible pharmacokinetic interaction between CurCousin® at two different doses (2.25 and 4.5 mg/kg) in the presence and absence of BioPerine® (0.27 mg/kg), a natural bioenhancer in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results revealed that the addition of BioPerine® into CurCousin® (2.25 mg/kg) half the dose when administered enhances the bioavailability and was equipotent to CurCousin® (4.5 mg/kg) double the dose without BioPerine®. Thus, leading to future clinical studies to evaluate its improved pharmacological efficacy as well as reduced therapeutic dosage.