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Botany
An erect, branched
and half-woody plant. Fruit is small, oblong-lanceolate, many-seeded
pod that reddens on riping.
Distribution
Garden and waste
places in settled areas throughout the Philippines.
Properties
Stimulant, digestive,
rubefacient, stomachic, sialagogue, alterative, antispasmodic, febrifuge,
depurative.
Constituents
Pungent principle, capsaicin;
solanine; vitamins A and B; citric acid; palmitic acid; capsicin; oleoresin;
volatile and fixed oils; pentosans, 8.28%; pectin, 3.2%.
Parts used and preparation
Leaves and mature fruit.
Uses
Nutritional
Fruit is a popular condiment.
The leaves are used as vegetable; an excellent source of calcium and
iron, a good source of phosphorus and vitamins A and B.
Folkloric
Arthritis and rheumatism:
Crush fruit, mix with oil and apply on affected part.
Dyspepsia and flatulence: Eaten as condiment or drank as infusion as
a stimulant and antispasmodic.
Infusion of the fruit is stimulant, stomachic and antispasmodic; used
for dyspepsia and flatulence.
Infusion preparation: 3-10 grains every 2 hours to a cup of boiling
water.
Toothache: Juice of the pepper pressed into the tooth cavity.
Rheumatism: Poutice of cayenne applied over affected parts.
Scalp ringworm: Strong infusion of fruit applied as lotion.
Ancient Mayans used it
for treatment of coughs, sore throat and coughs.
In Jamaica, used by traditional healers to treat diabetes mellitus.
Aztecs used it for toothaches
.source
Preparation of Capsicum
Liniment
Materials and procedure. Go
to Traditional and Modern Medicine
Studies
• Capsaicin:
Capsaicin for medicinal use comes from Capsicum fructescens and is the
active ingredient in the extract of hot peppers. It is most concentrated
in the rib or membrane, less in the seeds, least in the flesh. Capsaicin
depletes substance P in the afferent type C sensory nerve fibers, affecting
only proprioception. Unlike other treatments for neuropathy, such as
local anesthetics, opiates, anti-seizure medications or tricyclic antidepressants,
capsaicin specifically treats pain without impairing other aspects of
the nervous system. In incomplete depletion of substance P from suboptimal
use, it may cause parodoxical increase of pain. (See: Capsaicin / DrugInteractions)
• Uses:
Post-herpetic neuralgia, post-mastectomy
pain, hemodialysis-associated pruritus, psoriatic itching and pain,
painful neuropathies, especially diabetic neuropathy, and other superficial
neuropathies.
• Capsaicin
and Dyspepsia: In
a small trial in Italy (Dr. Mauro Bortolotti et al, University of Bologna),
30 patients with functional dyspepsia were randomized on daily capsules
of 2.5 g of red pepper or placebo. The capsaicin content (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide)
was 0.7 mg/g of red pepper power. After 3 weeks, upper gastrointestinal
symptoms of epigastric pain, fullness, nausea and early satiety were
all significantly reduced in the capsaicin group and not in the placebo
group. The mechanism of action is believed to be the desensitization
of gastric nociceptive C fibers, which carry pain sensations to the
central nervous system. (NEJM.346[12]:947-48,2002)
Clinical Capsules
• Chronic Low Back Pain:
Study showed a capsicum plaster preparation
to have application in chronic non-specific back pain.
• Postoperative pain:
Study showed capsicum plaster applied
at Korean hand acupuncture points reduced postoperative sore throat.
• Anti-H pylori / Anti-ulcer:
(1) Study to demonstrate in vitro activity
of capsaicin on metronidazole-susceptible and -resistant H pylori showed
bactericidal effect even at lowest concentration (25 ug ml). Capsaicin.
the active ingredient of hot pepper showed in vitro activity against
H pylori and presents a possible alternative treatment strategy for
antibiotic resistant strains of H pylori, a reasonable meal supplement
for those with duodenal and gastric ulcer, and for developing countries,
a cheaper alternative. (2) Study showed capsaicin to have a dose-dependent
inhibition of the H pylori, suggesting chili ingestion as possibly protective
against H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease.
• Anti-inflammtory effect
in H pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells:
Study showed capsaicin inhibited the
release of pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-8 (IL-8) by H. pylori-infected
gastric epithelial cells.
• Hypoglycemic Principle: Study led to the extraction of the active principle, capsaicin. Results showed the capsaicin to be the major constituent of C frutescens that is responsible for the hypoglycemic episodes seen in dogs, an effect apparently mediated by insulin release.
• Gastric Acid Secretion:
Aqueous extracts of C annuum or C frutescens induced gastric acid secretion dose-dependently.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Fruit cultivated as condiment.
Capsaicin is available as fresh and dried peppers, and in many countries,
in capsules, tablets, and tinctures and for external application in
potencies ranging from 0.1% to 0.75%.
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