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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Name |
Hindi Name |
Capsicum
annuum Linn. /
C. frutescens C.B.Clarke /
C. purpureum Roxb.
/
C. minimum Roxb.
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Chilli, Red
Pepper |
Katuvira |
Mirchi |
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| History |
 Prehistoric
Capsicum species have been found in burial sites in Peru, indicating
that the original home of chillies may have been tropical South America.
There seems to have been diffusion from there to Mexico or an independent
origin in the latter center where a great diversity of the genus is
found. The Portuguese introduced the chilli to India. Chilli was used
as a condiment in large quantities in India, Africa, and tropical
America, where the fruit develops greater pungency than in the cold
regions. It has since, however, become a popular condiment the world
over. In European medicine, capsicum was used to treat rheumatic and
neuralgic affections. Indians considered capsicum to be stomachic,
stimulant and as a promoter of the regular action of the bowels. It
was externally used as a rubefacient.
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| Habitat |
It is cultivated
throughout India from sea level to 2,000 ft. height. It is not normally
found in the wild. It is sometimes found as an escape (growing through
self propagation) near cultivated fields.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is a short-lived
perennial herb but is cultivated as an annual herb. The leaves are
oblong and glabrous. The flowers are solitary, rarely in pairs, pure
white to bluish white, very rarely violet in colour. The berries are
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 dia.), shape and pungency and sometimes lobed. The seeds
are white or cream to yellow, thin, almost circular, having long placental
connections.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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The pungent principle Capsaicin was identified from the fruits1.
Capsicoside A is also identified from the fruits2.
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| Pharmacology |
Capsaicin (50mg/Kg,
s.c.) treatment of 2-day old female rats resulted 3 months later in
81.0% decrease in mean pain response to tail-vein injection of HCl
and 63.0 and 72.0 % increase in noiceptive threshold in rats with
normal and inflamed paws respectively3. Capsaicin (50mg/Kg, s.c.)
treatment of 2-day old female rats resulted 3 months later in 81.0%
decrease in mean pain response to tail-vein injection of HCl and 63.0
and 72.0 % increase in noiceptive threshold in rats with normal and
inflamed paws respectively3.
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| Toxicology |
It is irritant to
skin but administration of capsaicin in sub-cutaneous or intraperitoneal
administration into guinea pigs and rats makes them tolerant to various
irritants including capsaicin4.
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| Indications |
In the form of ointment of plasters,
it is used externally for the treatment of rheumatism, lumbago and
neuralgia. Capsicum wool, prepared by dissolving the oleoresin in
ether and pouring it on absorbent cotton wool, is useful in rheumatoid
affections. Chilli, in small doses, is a powerful stimulant and carminative.
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| Product
Range |
Muscle & Joint
Rub.
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| References |
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- Chem. Abst., 1973, 79, 123698.
- Harborne, J.B., 1999, Phytochemical Dictionary, Taylor and
Francis Ltd., London.
- J.Pharm.Pharmacol. 1980, 32, 656.
- Mathew et. al., Flavour Ind, 1971, 2, 691 & Monsereenusorn,
Quart J Crude Drug Res, 1980, 18, 1.
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