This is an example of injurious crystallization.

Black pepper is a source of silicon and chromium, but the silicon is in a form that helps precipitate microscopic silica crystals called phytoliths throughout the blood and lymph systems.

These phytolithic crystallites of silica are involved in the formation of the cholesterol-rich domains that clump together to form gallstones.

Contrary to the contemporary theory of gallstone formation, Carl Djerassi (The Father of Steroid Chemistry) wondered what silica residues were doing in gallstones.