Capsicum.Cayenne.Red Pepper.Capsicum Annuum and Capsicum Frutescens.

article content dotArticle Content:

Description of Capsicum.

Capsicum Annuum Extract Capsicum Frutescens Extract INCI Name EINECS ELINCS No 288-920-0.288-920-0CAS 85940-30-3.8023-77-6 Capsicum Extract Cayene Pepper extract Red Pepper Extract Capsaicine Capsaicin photo picture image Macroscopical:

 Fruits dull orange-red in colour, oblong-conical in shape,obtuse at the apex;two-celled varying from 12-25 mm in length and up to 7 mm wide at the centre. Sometimes attached to a five toothed, inferior calyx and a straight slender pedicel up to 2-3 cm long. Pericarp shriveled, translucent and leathery enclosing 10-20 flat reniform seeds 2-4 mm long.Odour characteristic and powerful; taste extremely pungent.

 An annual herb growing up to 1 m in height, C. annuum is native to the tropical Americas and widely cultivated throughout the tropics and elsewhere (Rosengarten, 1969). There is confusion regarding the classification of Capsicum species. Currently, all varieties of mild and hot peppers (not to be confused with black and white pepper derived from Piper nigrum and related species) are considered as the fruits of a single species, C. annuum and its many varieties, or of 2 species, C. annuum and C. frutescens. Current practice is to classify the pungent varieties of pepper (chile peppers or cayenne peppers) as C. frutescens, and the milder-flavored sweet peppers (bell peppers, sweet peppers, green peppers) as varieties of C. annuum (Ensminger et al., 1993); however, most botanists agree that they should properly be regarded as varieties of a single species (Rosengarten, 1969).

 Brown-red powder, outer epidermal cells of pericarp in rows of 5 to 7, walls straight and uniformly thickened with a striated cuticle; droplets of red oil in pericarp parenchymatous cells, characteristic inner epidermis with groups of sclerenchymatous cells separated by thin-walled parenchyma. Seed epidermis of large sinuous cells, thin outer walls and thickened and pitted radial and inner walls.

 Capsicum (Digestive, Circulatory),aptly described as the plant that bites back,is a common condiment in certain diets. The plant grows in warm climates and is added to many herbal formulas as a catalyst for the other herbs.

 It's red color is partly due to its high vitamin A content. Capsicum has been used for decades as a catalyst for other herbs. Because Capsicum stimulants circulation and enhances blood flow, it is considered food for the circulatory system, a common condiment to the diet.

 As a cardiovascular stimulant,Capsicum assists in lowering blood pressure and breaking down cholesterol buildup. The warming properties of Capsicum are useful for people suffering from poor circulation to the hands and feet and other related conditions.

 Capsicum has been used as a digestive aid to ease intestinal inflammation,stimulate protective mucus membranes of the stomach, and also relieve pain caused by ulcers.

 Capsicum is commonly used to buffer pain from other ailments,including arthritis,varicose veins,headaches,menstrual cramps and respiratory conditions such as asthma.

 Archeologists estimate that in Mexico, Capsicum was used as a food as long as 9,000 years ago (Rumsfield and West, 1991). The medicinal use of a number of Capsicum species, including C. annuum by the Mayans, is described in Chichewicz and Thorpe (1996). They include the use of roots, leaves, as well as the fruits in applications for infections, fresh burns, respiratory complaints, earaches, and sores. Capsicum was used in weaning by the Navajo-Ramah, and has also been used by the Cherokee (Willard, 1991).

 In folk medicine, Capsicum is regarded as an aphrodisiac, depurative, digestive, stomachic, carminative, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, antiseptic, counterirritant, rubefacient, stypic, and tonic. Internally, Capsicum has been used to treat asthma, pneumonia, diarrhea, cramps, colic, toothache, flatulent dyspepsia without inflammation; insufficiency of peripheral circulation; as a gargle for sore throat, chronic pharyngitis and laryngitis; and externally as a lotion or ointment to treat neuralgia, including rheumatic and arthritic pain, and unbroken chilblains (cold injuries) (Duke, 1985; Leung and Foster, 1996; Newall et al., 1996).

 The root is an Indonesian folk-remedy for gonorrhea. Capsicum is used in central Africa as a calming medicine, and in Hawaii for backaches, rheumatism, and swollen feet. Regular ingestion of hot red pepper is recommended by some authors for anorexia, hemorrhoids, liver congestion, varicose veins, and vascular conditions (Duke, 1985). Pedersen (1994) states that "the most striking use of Capsicum is as a catalyst herb in nearly every herbal combination conceivable." He adds female complaints, athletic injury and thyroid imbalance as indications for herbalist applications of Capsicum.

 Capsicum spp.Family: Solanaceae

 Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum; Capsicum annuum var. angulosum Synonym: Capsicum annum var. grossum (Mill); Capsicum annuum var. aviculare Synonym: Capsicum annum var. glabriusculum)

 Capsicum annuum var. anomalum. Synonym: Turbocapsicum anomalum (Makino); Capsicum annuum var. baccatum Synonym: Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum (Kuntze)

 Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme; Capsicum annuum var. conoide; Capsicum annuum var. conicum, (GFW Meyer - Cone pepper); Capsicum annuum var. cordiforme (Edwall); Capsicum annuum var. cuneatum (Paul); Capsicum annuum var. fasciculatum

 Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum Synonym: Capsicum annum var. aviculare; Capsicum annum var. minimum (Heiser); Capsicum hispidum var. glabriusculum (Dunal)

 Capsicum annuum var. grossum (Sendt); Capsicum annuum var. leucocarpum (Kuntze); Capsicum annuum var. longum (Bailey)

 Capsicum annuum var. luteum (Lam); Capsicum annuum var. lycopersiciforme (Auquier); Capsicum annuum var. minimum

 Synonym: Capsicum annum var. glabriusculum; Capsicum annuum var. minus Synonym: Capsicum annum var. annuum; Capsicum annuum var. microcarpum; Capsicum annuum var. parvo-acuminatum Synonym: Capsicum annum var. acuminatum

 Capsicum annuum var. pyramidale (Mill); Capsicum annuum var. violaceum (Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth)

 Ethno-botanical information

 PLANT. Uterine pain associated with childbirth is treated with soup which contains the plant (Sumner, 2000).
 LEAVES. The leaves are used to treat toothache (Wee and Hsuan, 1990).

 FRUITS. The fruits are used to stimulate gastric activities and increase blood circulation (Wee and Hsuan, 1990). It is also a stimulant, carminative, used locally for neuralgia and for rheumatism (Jain and DeFilipps, 1991).

Last PageNext Page

Reference:

citations1.Capsicum.Cayenne.Red Pepper.Capsicum Annuum and Capsicum Frutescens.

last edit date:18th,May.2009.