|
|
Medicinal Plant details |
| More
Information |
|
|
|
| Sanskrit Name |
Lanka |
|
|
| Common name in English |
Capsicum (pepper), Chile (pepper), Chili (pepper), Chilli (es), Japanese mustard (Korean), Pepper, Pepper of Calicut (archaic), Pimiento, Red pepper. |
|
|
| Botanical Name |
Capsicum annuum L.
|
|
|
| Parts Used |
Fruit |
|
|
| Human Medicinal Usage |
As a medicinal plant, the Capsicum species has been used as a carminative, digestive irritant, stomachic, stimulant, rubefacient, and tonic (Heiser et al., 1953; Muthukrishnan et al., 1986 and Gupta et al., 2002). The plants have also been used as folk remedies for dropsy, colic, diarrhea, asthma, arthritis, muscle cramps, and toothache. Capsicum frutescens has been reported to have hypoglycemic properties. Prolonged contact with the skin may cause dermatitis and blisters, while excessive consumption can cause gastroenteritis and kidney damage. Paprika and cayenne pepper may be cytotoxic to mammalian cells in vitro. Consumption of red pepper may aggravate symptoms of duodenal ulcers. High levels of ground hot pepper have induced stomach ulcers and cirrhosis of the liver in laboratory animals. Body temperature, flow of saliva and gastric juices may be stimulated by capsicum peppers. Extract of the plant was found to exhibit varying degrees of inhibition against Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium tetani and Streptococcus pyogenes.
|
|
|
| Veterinary Medicinal Usage |
About 25-30 leaves of Premna obtusifolia are collected and soaked in about 10-15 litres of buttermilk. Onion, garlic, jeera, turmeric, chilli and salt are added in equal amount after grinding. This leaves is used for the process of artificial calving (Ghori, 1999). Rice cooked and mixed with pumpkin is fed to the cattle along with 10 g of small chillies and 10 g of cloves to ease stomach pain (Kunde, 2000). For foot lesions the leaves of aadu thinapalai (Aristolochia bracteata), chilli powder and neem oil are to be mixed together and then applied over the affected region (Vivekanandan, 2002). Human urine, leaves of 'veppalai' (Wrightia tinctoria) also known as 'paala', dried chilli fruits area mixed and ground. The mixture is diluted with hot water and given as a drink (Vivekanandan, 1996).
Five hundred gram of Pirandai(Vitis quadrangularis), 25g dried chilli, 5g Seegram (Cuminum cyminum) and 100 g of small onion are pounded together and given as bolus to the animal once a day to contro worm infestation (Ithal, 1998).
A handful of Veppalai leaves (Wrightia tinctoria), a bark (palm size peeled out of the same tree, chilli (one pod) and, garlic rhizome (three or four) are to be ground together along with a little water. This has to be diluted to make half a litre and administered in the morning. The fever comes down considerable by evening (Vivekanandan, 1996).
Green chilli is ground with 2-3 seeds of 'serangottai' (Semecarpus anacardium) and fed to the anorexic cattle for three days (Vivekanandan, 1994).
|
|
|
| Agriculture Usage |
Chilli can be used as an insecticide or insect repellent (Rodriguez, et al. 1995). Chilli extract, garlic extract in kerosene and nirma detergent can be used as an effective insecticide against pod borer in pigeon pea (Rahudkar, 1993). When storing sesame seeds for a long period of time, a combination of red chilli along with castor seeds is used effectively to ward off any pests in the stored sesame seeds (Nagarathna, 1999). To control nematode infestation in turmeric crop, ginger, chilli, nochi (Vitex negundo), garlic, leaves of sotrukatralai (Aloe vera) and neem seeds can be used to prepare an effective pesticide (Taviyad, 2003). A bamboo pipe which is open on both the end is filled with little rice husk and chilli powder and blown towards the hole of the rodents. Shower of this mixture scares them and they flee their holes (Kasyapa, 1999). Makabuhay (Tinospora rumpii) slush, chilli, onion and turmeric are boiled in kerosene and the diluted concoction is used to curb pests in lowland paddy (Lumdang, 1999).
Ketaki (Agave americana) and chilli are used to control caterpillars in cabbage crop (Ghori, 1999). One kg of garlic is crushed and soaked overnight in 200 ml of kerosene. The next morning, two kg of green chilli are ground and added to this mixture. By adding 200 litre of water to this mixture the solution is sprayed on the crop for controlling heliothis and caterpillar (Prakash, 1998). Pieces of red chilli (Capsicum annuum) along with salt are mixed with grain to reduce pest attack (Patel, 1999).
Chilli-garlic extract is used to control Helicoverpa armigera in pulse crops (Ithal, 1998). Spray a mixture of garlic, chilli, and asaphoetida in water over the paddy crop to control aphids (Roeth, 1997). Pesticide made up of chilli extract, garlic extract, neem oil, detergent powder, cow urine etc is found effective in many crops (Roeth, 1995).
Green chilli and garlic are ground together and an extract is prepared. It is mixed with water in proportion of 1:200 and sprinkled over any crop infested by aphid and other pest like jassid (Thakkar, 1993). Dry chilli powder is mixed in the seeds for safe preservation (Sakaria, 1991). Most of the crops grown after chilli, onion and garlic assumes good growth (Golakiya, 1992). To protest the garden from monkey menance,fried sorghum seeds can be mixed with chilly powder and put in a parcel and placed in the area frequented by the monkeys in the garden (Palaniselvan, 1999). The fumigation of granary rooms with capsicum (Capsicum annuum) together with other components (kerosene, wood, rice straw or stalks) prior to grain storage reduces the incidence of storage pests. Capsicum is also used in combination with ash and lime (Abraham, et al. 1997).
About 1.5 kg leaves of sitafal (Annona squamosa) are ground and approximately 200 ml of water is added to it, well mixed and filtered. The filtrate is kept aside. About 500 g of dry fruits of chilli (Capsicum annuum) are soaked in water overnight and filtered. About 1.0 kg of neem fruits (Azadirachta indica) are crushed and soaked in two litres of water overnight and the extract is filtered.These three filtrates are added to 10 litres of water and mixed thoroughly and used as herbal pesticide and sprayed on the crop. (Patat, 1995). Chilli powder is used as rat repellent (Kasyapa, 1999). Chilli powder is spread in and around the holes of the rats. The rat, while coming out in search of food, sniffs on the chilli powder. This causes irritation, thereby, making it leave its hole and go elsewhere.
|
|
|
| Other Usage |
Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L., plants used in the manufacture of selected commercial products known for their pungency and color. Capsicum species are used fresh or dried, whole or ground, and alone or in combination with other flavoring agents. Capsicum annuum L. is used in sweet bell peppers, paprika, pimento, and other red pepper products Capsicum frutescens L. is used in tobacco, tobacco sauce and other red chili pepper. Fruits of Capsicum annuum L., paprika types, are widely used as coloring agents. Chilly is used for culinary purposes (Taviyad, 2003). Boil 100 grams of green chilli fruit in a litre and a half of water for five to seven minutes. The solution is then poured into cracks that naturally get formed in the wood of the bed. He claims that during the day the bugs reside in these cracks (Vada, 2002).
|
|
|
| Family |
Solanaceae
|
|
|
| Description |
It is herbaceous, short-lived perennial, (cultivated as annual) up to 1 m in hIeight. Leaves oblong, glabrous; flowers solitary, rarely in pairs, pure white to bluish white, very rarely violet; berries green, maturing into yellow, orange to red grading into brown or purple, pendent, rarely erect, very variable in size (up to 20 cm long and 10 cm in diam), shape and pungency, sometimes lobed, seeds white or cream to yellow, thin, almost circular, having long placental connections (WOA, 1998). |
|
|
| Common Name in India |
Dhanilanka, lalmorich, lanka, morich (Bengali); Lalmarchan, Marchan (Gujarati); Gachmarich, lalmirich (Hindi); Menasinakaayi (Kaneri); Chalie, Chuvanna mulaku, Kappalmulaku, Milagu (Malayalam); Mirchi (Marathi); Lalmoricho, lankamoricha, moricho (Oriya); Mulagay, Usimulagay (Tamil); Soodimirapakaaya (Telugu) (WOA, 1998). |
|
|
| Habitat |
The natural habitat of the plant is the tropical and sub-tropical regions having a warm, humid climate (WOA, 1998). |
|
|
| Rainfall |
The crop is mostly raised under rain-fed conditions where the rainfall varies from 62 to 125 cm. It is in the field for 5-7 months and can be grown under rain-fed conditions when the seasonal rains are evenly distributed over a long period. An average annual rainfall of 500 to 2000 mm is distributed in a monsoon pattern with droughts of 3-4 months (WOA, 1998). |
|
|
| Soil (Physical/Chemical) |
Except on salty lands, Chilli is cultivated on almost all well-drained and aerated soils. For a rain-fed crop, the black and retentive soils are best, and rich, friable, well-drained, loamy soils are preferred for an irrigated crop. On light soils, it is solely grown as an irrigated crop. It is also grown on light or heavy, red loams under heavy manuring and good drainage as in Andhra Pradesh. On sandy loams and alluvial soils, good crops are raised with liberal manuring and irrigation. In Kerala, the crop grows well on well-drained, fertile lateritic loams (WOA, 1998). |
|
|
| Regional Distribution |
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra account for 75 per cent of the country's net area under the crop. Uttar Pradesh is known for its pickle chilli. Production-wise Andhra Pradesh is the leading state contributing to 25-30 per cent of the total production in the country followed by Maharashtra, Orissa and Karnataka. It is also grown in the western parts of India viz., Rajasthan, Gujarat etc (WOA, 1998).
|
|
|
| Global Distribution |
It is cultivated over large areas in all Asian countries, Africa, South and Central America, parts of USA and southern Europe, both under tropical and sub-tropical conditions. The major chilli-growing countries are India, Nigeria, Mexico, China, Indonesia, and Korean Republic. Japan has shown the highest yield of green chillies, followed by India (WOA, 1998).
|
|
|
| Harvest |
Recent trends in the chilli production is to harvest the fruits without stalk for export purposes. It will also be helpful in the use of mechanical harvesters, so the production of destalk type chilli is essential.
|
|
|
| Pests / Diseases |
Chilli is attacked by several fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Die-back caused by Colletotrichum capsici, Anthracnose caused by Gloeosporium spp., Glomerella cingulata and Colletotrichum capsici, Damping-off and Blight caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, P. debaryanum, Phytophthora capsici and Pellicularia filamentosa, Fruit rot caused by Phoma Capsici, Alternaria spp., A. tenuis, Curvularia lunata, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Choanephora cucurbitarum, Botryodiplodia palmarum, Stem rot and Wilt caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Pellicularia rolfsii, Leaf-and Fruit-spots caused by Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thripes), Hemitarsonemus latus(white mites), Powdery Mildew caused by Leveillula taurica.
Viral diseases are caused by tobacco mosaic (TMV), cucumber mosaic (CMV), and curly topor leafcurl, and potato virus (PVY). Necrosis is generally common during the winter. A strain of TMV has been found causing necrosis. Leaf curl is a serious disease of chillies, caused by tobacco-leaf curl virus, and is prevalent throughout the country and is transmitted by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), which is a very efficient vector; other vectors are thrips, aphids and mites.
The major pests that cause severe damage to the crop are sucking -insects, such as aphids (Aphis gossypii) and thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis). White ants- The root system is attacked by white ants and can be checked by clean cultivation and removing and destroying the stalks, stubbles, etc. of the previous crop and using only well-rotten farmyard manure. All parts of the plant, particularly the fruits are attacked by several borers. The larva of Lachnosterna (Holotrichia) insularis (Bren.) is a serious borer of the roots. The other major pest is Stegobium paniceum, the drugstore beetle; also a fruit borer (Spodoptera litura Fabr.) was recorded.
Amblyseius ovalis Evans (white mite) and Hemitarsonemus (Polyphagotarsonemus ) latus cause a leafcurl. The root-knot nematodes, Aphelenchus avenae, Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica.
Besides insects and nematodes, the fields are infested with rodents. Meriones hurrianae, Tatera indica and Rattus meltada are the common rodents reported from Rajasthan in these fields.
|
|
|
| Chemical composition |
Chilli is a good source of vitamin C, the amount varying with the cultivar, stage of maturity and season. The vitamin C gradually increases during maturation and reaches maximum at the semi-ripe or pink-coloured stage and decreases thereafter. The active principle in chilli, which was earlier believed to be a single alkaloid capsaicin is now found to be a mixture of allied components, capsaicin being the most important and major component (46-77% of the total capsainoids) (Gannett et al., 1988). Other capsainoids present are: dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin I and II, bishomo and tris-homocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin I and II, nordihydrocapsaicin, vanillyl amides of caprylic, nonylic and decylic acids. Presence of capsiamide [N-(13-methyletetradecyl) acetamide] is also reported in some cultivars. Chillies yield an oleoresin. The oleoresin is reported to be of three kinds: (i) oleoresin capsicum (ii) oleoresin redpepper (iii) oleoresin paprika. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside is reported to be present in the residue left after the extraction of oleoresin. Chilli also contains a volatile oil. In various cultivars, the volatile oil content varied from 0.1 to 2.6%. The major components are: 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine, trans --ocimene, limonene, methylsalicylate, linalol, nona-trans, cis -2, 6-dienal, deca-trans -2,5-dienal and hexa-cis -3-enol. Minor components of the above oil were non-1-ene-4-one, non-trans -2-en-4-one, nona-trans, trans -2,5-dien-4-one, 2-pentylfuran and benzaldehyde. Jalapenoflavour was also attributed to the presence of 2-isobutyl-3-methoxy-pyrazine Maoka et al. (2004) isolated new carotenoids 1 and 2 were isolated as minor components and 1 and 2 were determined to be (3R,5'R)-3-hydroxy-beta, kappa-caroten-6'-one and (5'R)-3,4-didehydro-beta,kappa-caroten-6'-one, respectively. Ochi et al. (2003) isolated new capsaicin derivative, 6' ',7' '-dihydro-5',5' "-dicapsaicin, and a known capsaicin metabolite, omega-hydroxycapsaicin from the fruit.
Materska et al, (2003) studied the chemical contents of pericarp of the fruit and isolated nine compounds two of the identified compounds, trans-p-ferulylalcohol-4-O-(6-(2 methyl-3-hydroxypropionyl) glucopyranoside and luteolin-7-O-(2-apiofuranosyl-4-glucopyranosyl-6-malonyl)-glucopyranoside were found for the first time. Additionally compounds: trans-p-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, trans-p-sinapoyl-beta- D-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside-8-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, apigenin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside-8-C-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside and luteolin 7-O-[2-(beta-D-apiofuranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] were reported. Izumitani et al. (1990) isolated novel acyclic diterpene glycosides, named capsianosides A-F (1-6) and I-V(7, ib,10,9,8) from fruits of the plant. Iorizzi et al. (2001) investigated three new glycosides, capsosides A and B and capsianoside VII, along with seven known compounds. Yahara et al. (1991) isolated three new acyclic diterpene glycosides, named capsianosides VI, G and H, along with capsianosides II, A,B,C and D from the leaves and stems of the C. annuum. Four new steroidal named capsicosides A-D together with proto-degalactotigonin, were also isolated from the roots and seeds of this plant (Yahara et al. 1994).
The structure of a new carotenoid, isolated from the fruits of the red paprika, was elucidated to be (3S,5R,6S,5'R)-3,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-5-hydroxy-beta, kappa-carotene-3',6'-dione and was designated capsanthone 3,6-epoxide. Capsanthone 3, 6-epoxide is assumed to be an oxidative metabolite of capsanthin 3,6-epoxide in paprika (Maoka et al., 2001).
The major pigment, Capsicum Red, is a mixture of esters of capsanthin, capsorubin, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin and other carotenoids. The major carotenoids identified in the green bellpepper are: leutein, 40.9; neoxanthin, 15.1; violaxanthin, 13.8; and -carotene, 13.4%; luteoxanthin, neochrome, phytoene, hydroxy-a-carotene, auroxanthins, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, a-and -carotene and phytofluene are also present. Several carotenoids have been identified in the red bellpepper and the major ones are: capsanthin, 34.7; -carotene, 11.6; violaxanthin, 9.9; cryptoxanthin, 6.7; capsorubin, 6.4; and cryptocapsin, 4.3%. Lutein, the major carotenoid of green peppers, was found to be absent in the red peppers. Capsanthin and capsorubin, whose esters are the major source of red colour, are present in the greatest amount. Polyphenols are present in the green fruits but absent in the mature. The parts except flowers and stem contain solanine and solanidine. It contains succinic, malonic, oxalic, malic, citric, quininic and glyceric acids whereas shikimic acid was present only in mature fruit. |
|
|
| Herbarium No |
0 |
REFERENCES |
| SR No. |
NAME |
ARTICLE TITLE |
AUTHOR |
PLACE OF PUBLICATION |
VOLUME/ISSUE |
YEAR |
PUBLISHER |
COMMENT |
| 1 |
WOA |
The Wealth of Asia |
|
New Delhi |
|
1998 |
National Institute of Science Communication, CSIR |
|
| 2 |
J. Org. Chem. |
The capsaicinoids: Their separation, synthesis, and mutagenicity. |
Gannett, PM, Nagel, DL, Reilly, PJ, Lawson, T, Sharpe, J, Toth, B. |
|
53(5): 1064-1071. |
1988. |
|
|
| 3 |
Honey Bee. |
Pest control : Herbal mixture of chilli, neem and sitafal |
Patat, PM. |
|
6(4): 15. |
1995 |
|
|
| 4 |
Phytotherapy Research. |
Hypocholesterolaemic effect of the oleoresin of Capsicum annum L. in gerbils (Meriones hurrianae Jerdon) |
Gupta, RS, Dixit, VP, Dobhal, MP. |
|
16(3): 273-275. |
2002. |
|
|
| 5 |
Economic Botany. |
The cultivated Capsicum peppers, |
Heiser, Jr., Charles, B, Smith, PG. |
|
7:214-227. |
1953. |
|
|
| 6 |
J Agric Food Chem. |
New glycosides from Capsicum annuum L. var. acuminatum. Isolation, structure determination, and biological activity. |
Iorizzi, M, Lanzotti, V, De Marino, S, Zollo, F, Blanco-Molina, M, Macho, A, Munoz, E. |
|
49(4): 2022-2029. |
2001 |
|
|
| 7 |
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin |
Novel acyclic diterpene glycosides, capsianosides A-F and I-V from Capsicum plants (Solanaceous studies. XVI). |
Izumitani, Y, Yahara, S, Nohara, T. |
|
38(5): 1299-1307. |
1990. |
|
|
| 8 |
J Nat Prod. |
Sructure of new carotenoids with the 6-oxo-kappa end group from the fruits of paprika, Capsicum annuum. |
Maoka, T, Akimoto, N, Fujiwara, Y, Hashimoto, K. |
|
67(1):115-117. |
2004. |
|
|
| 9 |
J Agric Food Chem. |
Capsanthone 3,6-epoxide, a new carotenoid from the fruits of the red paprika Capsicum annuum L. |
Maoka, T, Fujiwara, Y, Hashimoto, K, Akimoto, N. |
|
49(8): 3965-3968. |
2001 |
|
|
| 10 |
Phytochemistry. |
Isolation and structure elucidation of flavonoid and phenolic acid glycosides from pericarp of hot pepper fruit Capsicum annuum L. |
Materska, M, Piacente, S, Stochmal, A, Pizza, C, Oleszek, W, Perucka, I. |
|
63(8):893-898. |
2003 |
|
|
| 11 |
T.K. Bose and M.G. Som (Eds.) |
Chilli and Capsicum, |
Muthukrishnan, CR, T, Thangaraj, Chatterjee, R. |
|
343-384. |
1986 |
|
|
| 12 |
J Nat Prod. |
Antioxidant activity of a new capsaicin derivative from Capsicum annuum. |
Ochi, T, Takaishi, Y, Kogure, K, Yamauti, I. . |
|
66(8):1094-1096 |
2003 |
|
|
| 13 |
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin.
|
New acyclic diterpene glycosides, capsianosides VI, G and H from the leaves and stems of Capsicum annuum L. |
Yahara, S, Kobayashi, N, Izumitani, Y, Nohara, T. |
|
39(12): 3258-3260. |
1991. |
|
|
| 14 |
Phytochemistry. |
Steroidal glycosides from Capsicum annuum. |
Yahara, S, Ura, T, Sakamoto, C, Nohara, T. . |
|
37(3): 831-835 |
1994 |
|
|
|
 
|
|
