INTRODUCTION:

Medicinal plants are considered as a rich resources of ingredients which can be used in drug development either pharmacopoeial, non- pharmacopoeial or synthetic drugs. A part from that, these plants play a critical role in the development of human cultures around the whole world. Moreover, some plants are considered as important source of nutrition and as a result of that they are recommended for their therapeutic values.

World Health Organization (WHO) provided numerous quality control parameters for herbs. The indication of phytochemicals and standardization of plants will provide a basis to identify and safety of an herbal remedy. The pharmacognostical evaluation, preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical studies of plant will aid in the conformation of plant resources.

Capsicum frutescens. belonging to the family of Solanaceae is an extremely valuable medicinal herb, distributed throughout India. in traditional medicine, due to presence of phytochemicals it has been used for the treatment of cough, toothache, sore throat, parasitic infections, rheumatism, wound healing etc. Other effects such as antibacterial and anticancer are also their properties.

Description:

Capsicum consists of dried fruits of Capsicum annuum and also of small sized dried fruits of Capsicum frutescens belonging to family Solanaceae.They are perennial bushes growing as tall as 2m and may survive upto 10 years. The fruit on ripening can either be yellow, orange, red or green and either elongated or berries in shape. The African chillies are 12-25 mm long and upto 7 mm wide being oblong-conical in shape and are highly pungent. The fruit is made up of two cells separated by a membranous dissepiment to which the seeds (around 15-20 in number) are attached.

TAXONOMICAL CLASS:

Binomial Name	Capsicum frutescens Scientific classification
Domain	Eukaryotes
Kingdom	Plantae
Kingdom	Viridaeplantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Subphylum	Euphyllophytina
Infraphylum	Radiatopses
Class	Magnoliopsida
Subclass	Lamiidae
Superorder	Solananae
Order	Solanales
Family	Solanaceae
Subfamily	Solanoideae
Tribe	Solaneae
Genus	Capsicum
Specific epithet	annuum

Synonyms:

Tabasco pepper, Tabasco plant, Hot pepper, Capsicum pepper plant, Pepper, Capsicum, Cayenne pepper, White pepper, Black pepper, Peppercorn, Cayenne, Common pepper.

Vernacular Names:

Arabic	filfile-ahmar
English	tabasco
Hindi	gach-mirch
Malayalam	capoomologoo, chabai, chabelombok, kappalmelaka, kanthari mulak
Marathi	lavungi mirchi, mirchi, mirsamg, tambhudamirchingay
Persian	filfile-surkh, filfil-i-surkh
Sanskrit	ajadakumaricha, brahu, brahumaricha, cilli, cillika
Tamil	arukanam, arunamilakay, cataiccikiri, cataiccikiricceti
Telugu	aggi mirapa, golakanda miraph, golakonda

Distribution:

Cultivated in almost all the tropical countries. Capsicum is native to tropical America. They are grown commercially in Africa (mainly Zimbabwe and Malawi). They are sold as chillies in England and the variety grown in Bombay and Natal is less pungent and is known as Capsicum. The larger variety which are totally non pungent are grown in Europe. In the USA capsicum is also known as bell peppers.

Pharmacognostic Standardisation:

Capsicum annuum L. is one of the most economical and agriculturally important vegetable crops all over the world. Pepper is an autogamous plant, native to tropical America, which belongs to the Family Solanaceae.

Microscopy of the root shows radial type vasicular bundle, xylem is exarch, that is protoxylem is towords the periphery and metaxylem towords centre. Successive extractive value was highest in aqueous extract 3.40% (on dry weight basis). Mean ash value (%) were 9.27 (total), 0.74 (acid insoluble ash), and 1.49 (water soluble ash). Loss on drying was found to be 8.90%, total alcoholic-soluble extractive value 3.54% and total water-soluble extractive value 9.32%. Screening of all extracts indicated the presence of all constituents.

Phytochemical Screening:

Phytochemical screening is important to find out the different active compounds which could be used for curing various ailments as they possess various biological activity from the ancient period. The phytochemicals were analysed, The fruit of Capsicum annuum contains capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) and several related chemicals containing a series of homologous branched- and straight-chain alkyl vanillylamides, collectively called capsaicinoids as their chief chemical entity. The major capsaicinoids present are capsaicin (48.6%) is quantitatively followed by 6,7-dihydrocapsaicin, minor capsaicinoids that are present are nordihydrocapsaicin (7.4%), homodihydrocapsaicin (2%), and homocapsaicin (2%). Other parts of the plant contain steroidal alkaloid glycosides (solanine, solanidine, solasodine).

The seeds contain the steroidal glycosides capsicoside A through D, all furostanol. C. annuum is rich in carotenoid pigments, including capsanthin, capsorubrin, carotene, luteine, zeaxanthin, and cucurbitaxanthin A. They also contain phenolics and flavanoids in certain amount.

Pharmacological activities:

Anticancer activity:

Anticancer activity of capsaicin was recorded in different types of cancer, capsaicin blocked breast cancer, cell migration and killed prostate cancer cells. Dihydrocapsaicin induced autophagy in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Capsaicin also inhibited the growth of leukemic cells. Capsaicin selectively inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis of immortalized or malignant cell lines, but not of normal cell lines. The metabolites of capsaicin (such as the reactive phenoxy radicals) may attack the DNA and trigger the mutagenicity and malignant transformation. Capsaicin has been reported to be effective, both in vitroand in vivoagainst the growth of prostate cancer cells inducing the apoptosis of both androgen receptor positive and negative prostate cancer cell lines associated with an increase of antibodies p53, p21, and Bax.

Anti-inflammatory activity:

Frutescens exhibit anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators as IL-6, TNF, PGE2 and nitric oxide. It inhibits the production of LPS-induced PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner. Phenolic and flavonoid compounds present in chilli have been reported as anti-inflammatory agents. Capsaicinoids and capsinoids compounds have also been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities. Ethanolic and butanol extracts of Capsicum baccatumpresented a significant anti-inflammatory activity toward carrageenan-induced pleurisy model in mice.

Anti-diabetic activity:

The crude extract of fruit was found to inhibit intestinal glucose absorption which may be partially responsible for lowering blood sugar. Regular consumption of chili may attenuate postprandial hyperinsulinemia. Alpha glucosidase and α- amylase inhibitory activities of capsicum showed anti-diabetic activity.

Dermatological conditions:

Topically applied capsaicin, a known inhibitor of cutaneous vasodilatation produces relief on moderate and severe psoriasis. Reduces scaling, erythema, burning, stinging, itching, and redness of the skin. Capsaicin was successfully used in treatment of acute lipodermatosclerosis and acute lobular panniculitis in pregnant woman.

Weight management:

Capsaicin was found to reduce body fat accumulation in animal experiments as well as clinical studies. Anti-obesity effect of capsaicin showed that thermogenesis and lipid metabolism related proteins were markedly altered upon capsaicin treatment. Studies reveal that body temperature and oxygen consumption increase with regular intake of it and can promote reduction of body weight and oxidation of body fat. Increasing a person’s energy expenditure and reducing their appetite could be of great assistance in helping and maintaining weight loss.

Rhinitis:

Some studies showed that rhinitis, sneezing, and congestion were alleviated in patients who received repeated nasal sprays of capsaicin. In a placebo-controlled study, intranasal capsaicin was shown to be effective in reducing nasal symptomatology in nonallergic, non-infectious perennial rhinitis without affecting cellular homeostasis up to 9 months after treatment. Studies also analysed that they are not effective for elderly patient on rhinitis. It is also known to prevent diseases such as asthma, coughs, sore throats

etc.

Cardiovascular effects:

Many studies showed that capsaicinoids had beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system to treat ischemic heart disease, hypertension and atherosclerosis. In anesthetized dogs, intravenous injections of capsaicin (10-300 μg/kg) caused a transient rise in mean systemic blood pressure followed by a sustained fall, whereas in anesthetized rabbits, capsaicin caused only hypotension. Capsaicin, when fed along with cholesterol-containing diets to female albino rats, it prevented significantly the rise of liver cholesterol levels.

Pruritus:

Capsaicin largely contributed to the gradual healing of the skin lesions. Topical capsaicin has been shown to effectively treat pruritus associated with psoriasis. It is found that, 24 hours of treatment with capsaicin caused a 15% decrease in perfusion in lesioned skin and pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) which is characterized by redness of the skin and scaling. It is found that a patient with extremely itchy PRP treated with capsaicin was apparent relieved. Capsaicin is also used in the treatment of prurigonodularis, which is an eruption of excoriated nodules caused by intractable pruritus.

CONCLUSION:

Now-a-days the usage of herbal medicines is increasing worldwide as they are easily available, cheap and safe to use with lesser side effects. Our nature has diverse source of medicinal plants Capsicum frutescens have varying medical properties. It conta in phytochemicals like capsaicin phenolics flavanoids etc. It is used in treating so many digestion disorders stomachic etc. It possesses anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular activity This article reviewed its pharmacognostic, phytochemical properties as well as its pharmacological activities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are acknowledging the management as well as the faculty of Nehru College of Pharmacy, Pampady, Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur for providing support and encouragement for completing this in a good way.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

REFERENCES:

1. Ali Esmail Al-Snafi.The pharmacological importance of Capsicum species (Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens) grown in iraq. Journal of Pharmaceutical Biology. 2015; 5(3):124-142.

2. Anthony OE, Ese AC and Lawrence EO. Regulated effects of Capsicum frutescens supplemented diet (C.F.S.D) on fasting blood glucose level, biochemical parameters and body weight in alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats. British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2013;3(3): 496-507.

3. Raimi MM, Shittu SA and Oyetade OA. Physicochemical properties and mineral composition of Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens oils. Journal of Applied Chemistry. 2014;4(1): 112-116.

4. Wangcharoen W and Morasuk W. Antioxidant capacity changes of bird chili (Capsicum frutescens) during hot air drying. Kasetsart Journal National Science. 2009;43: 12- 20.

5. Vinayaka KS, Prashith KTR, Nandini KC, Rakshitha MN, Martis R, Shruthi J, Nagashree GR and Anitha B. Potent insecticidal activity of fruits and leaves of Capsicum frutescens (L.) var longa (Solanaceae). Der Pharmacia Lettre. 2010; 2(4): 172-176.

6. Nascimento PLA, Nascimento TC, Ramos NSM, da Silva GR, Camara CM, Silva TMS, Moreira KA and Porto ALF. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Pimenta malagueta (Capsicum frutescens). African Journal of Microbial Research. 2013;7(27):3526-3533.

7. Izah S, Etim G, Ilerhunmwuwa I, Silas G Evaluation of crude and ethanolic extracts of Capsicum frutescens var. minima fruit against some common bacterial pathogens. International Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019;12(3):105-108.

8. Bello, I., Boboye, B. E. and Akinyosoye, F. A. Phytochemical screening and antibacterial properties of selected Nigerian long pepper (Capsicum frutescens) fruits. African journal of microbiology and research. 2015;9(38):2067-2078.

9. Parvez M. Current advances in pharmacological activity and toxic effects of various Capsicum species. IJPSR. 2017;8(5):1900-1912.

10. Jolayemi AT and Ojewole JAO. Comparative anti-inflammatory properties of Capsaicin and ethyla acetate extract of Capsicum frutescens linn. [Solanaceae] in rats. African Health Sciences. 2013;13(2):357-361.

11. Gautami J, Sandhya M and Revathi B. Anti-diabetic medicinal plants. Research & Reviews: Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015; 1(3):1-6.

12. Maramag RP. Diuretic potential of Capsicum frutescens Linn, Corchorus oliturius Linn., and Abelmoschus esculentus Linn. Asian Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences. 2013;2(1):60-69.

13. Arifuzzaman M, Mannan A, Abdullah ISB, Abedin J, Anwar MS, Hosen SMZ et al., Evaluation of thrombolytic properties of Nigella sativa, Capsicum frutescens and Brassica oleracea. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2011;2(3):483-487.

14. Kamal ATMM, Chowdhury KAA, Chy MM, Shill LK, Chowdhury S, Chy MAH et al., Evaluation of anthelmintic activity of seeds of Sesamum indicum L. and fruits of Capsicum frutescens L. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2015;3(6):256-259.

15. Soumya SL and Nair BR. Antifungal efficacy of Capsicum frutescens L. extracts against some prevalent fungal strains associated with groundnut storage. Journal of Agricultural Technology. 2012;8(2):739-750.

Received on 08.06.2021 Modified on 21.07.2021

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2021; 13(4):191-194.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2021.00033