Capsicum chinense
Yellow lantern chili
Capsicum chinense, commonly known as habanero or Scotch Bonnet, is a potent medicinal plant celebrated for its intense heat. Rich in capsaicin, it offers powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. Beyond culinary spice, it is utilized in traditional medicine to stimulate circulation, alleviate pain, and support metabolic health.
- Scientific name: Capsicum chinense
- Family: Solanaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Capsicum, which includes the species Capsicum chinense.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Solanales | WCVP |
| Family | Solanaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Capsicum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Capsicum chinense, is known by various names depending on the region and language, though it is consistently referred to as 黄灯笼辣椒 in several Chinese dialects and scripts. Specifically, in Simplified Chinese used in mainland China (zh-cn) and Singapore (zh-sg), as well as in Traditional Chinese used in Taiwan (zh-hant) and Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is called 黃燈籠辣椒 or 黄灯笼辣椒. This common name, which translates to "yellow lantern chili," reflects its distinctive appearance and is used across different linguistic contexts including zh-hans and zh-hk.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 黄灯笼辣椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 黃燈籠辣椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 黃燈籠辣椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 黄灯笼辣椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 黄灯笼辣椒 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 黃燈籠辣椒 | Wikidata |
| nah | Chīltomatl | Wikidata |
| ru | стручковый перец китайский | Wikidata |
| hu | kínai paprika | Wikidata |
| fi | havannapaprika | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the Americas and Africa. In North America, it is widely found throughout Mexico, specifically within the Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into Central America, where it grows in countries such as Belize and Costa Rica. Additionally, the species has established a presence in West Tropical Africa, notably in Guinea-Bissau. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental range inhabited by this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Central | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Belize | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Cuba | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Puerto Rico | WCVP |
Chemicals
Capsicum chinense has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dihydrocapsaicin, capsaicin, Capsaicin, Capsaicinoid, Dihydrocapsaicin.
- Total chemicals
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 18
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dihydrocapsaicin | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| capsaicin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capsaicin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Capsaicinoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dihydrocapsaicin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Nordihydrocapsaicin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antheraxanthin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| capsaicinoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| capsanthin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| capsorubin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Capsicum chinense has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| hepatocellular carcinoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |