pepper

Capsicum · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Sparse (98 studies) · ★★☆☆☆

Pepper, scientifically known as Capsicum, is a versatile genus of flowering plants prized for their pungent fruit. Beyond culinary uses, Capsicum offers significant medicinal benefits. Rich in vitamins and capsaicin, it serves as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, effective in managing pain relief, enhancing circulation, and supporting digestive health.

Family
Solanaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Fruit
Common names
Pepper · New World Peppers · 4 more
Scientific synonyms
Fregirardia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Capsicum

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Ajíes
  • Chiles
  • Pimientos

German:

  • Paprika
  • Paprika

French:

  • piment
  • Piments

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal plant is identified by the genus Capsicum.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Genus Capsicum

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several European regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the center of the continent, its range extends into Middle Europe. Specifically, it is distributed throughout Austria and the region of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the country of Germany.

Region Area
Northern Europe Great Britain
Northern Europe Ireland
Middle Europe Austria
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia
Middle Europe Germany
Southeastern Europe Bulgaria
Southeastern Europe Greece
Eastern Europe Baltic States
Eastern Europe South European Russia
Northern Africa Algeria

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Plant Parts

Capsicum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Plant parts reported in Capsicum
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Fruit 9 supporting sources ★★★★☆

Fruit

  1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
  2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
  3. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
  4. The Journal of nutrition
  5. PloS one
View 4 additional sources
  1. Drug-nutrient interactions
  2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology
  4. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

Chemicals

Capsicum has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Capsaicin, CAPSAICINOIDS, Carotenoids, 1,3-Dimethyluric acid, 1-Methyluric acid.

Chemicals reported in Capsicum
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Capsaicin 14 supporting sources ★★★★★
CAPSAICINOIDS 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Carotenoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
1,3-Dimethyluric acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
1-Methyluric acid 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
2-NITROPHENOL 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
4-Nitrophenol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CAPSIANOSIDE II 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsianoside A 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsianoside G 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Capsaicin

  1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
  2. Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology
  3. Frontiers in microbiology
  4. American journal of clinical dermatology
  5. The Journal of nutrition
View 9 additional sources
  1. Food science & nutrition
  2. Nature
  3. Journal - Association of Official Analytical Chemists
  4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
  5. The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology
  6. Anticancer research
  7. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
  8. Chest
  9. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

CAPSAICINOIDS

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)
  2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Carotenoids

  1. European journal of biochemistry
  2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

1,3-Dimethyluric acid

  1. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

1-Methyluric acid

  1. European journal of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

2-NITROPHENOL

  1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

4-Nitrophenol

  1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

CAPSIANOSIDE II

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Capsianoside A

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Capsianoside G

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Activities

Capsicum has 6 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Activities reported in Capsicum
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antimicrobial 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Anticancer 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hypotensive 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antimicrobial

  1. Frontiers in microbiology
  2. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Analgesic

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Anticancer

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antidiabetic

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antioxidant

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Hypotensive

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Conditions

Capsicum has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include obesity, analgesic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, asthma.

Conditions investigated for Capsicum
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Obesity 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antidiabetic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antioxidant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Asthma 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cancer 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Contact dermatitis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cough 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Coughs 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Earache 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Obesity

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)
  2. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology
  3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Analgesic

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antidiabetic

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antioxidant

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Asthma

  1. Journal of natural products

Cancer

  1. Frontiers in microbiology

Contact dermatitis

  1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Cough

  1. Chest

Coughs

  1. Journal of natural products

Earache

  1. Advances in therapy

Preparations

Capsicum has 18 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, Capsicum extract gel, Capsicum oleoresin, Capsicum preparation, capsicum fruit crude extract.

Preparations reported for Capsicum
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Extract 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsicum extract gel 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsicum oleoresin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsicum preparation 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsicum fruit crude extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Capsicum suspension 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Concentrated oleoresins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Essential oil and/or pungent ingredients 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Finely ground paprika powder 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ground 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Extract

  1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)
  2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Capsicum extract gel

  1. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews

Capsicum oleoresin

  1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Capsicum preparation

  1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Capsicum fruit crude extract

  1. Research communications in chemical pathology and pharmacology

Capsicum suspension

  1. Drug-nutrient interactions

Concentrated oleoresins

  1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Essential oil and/or pungent ingredients

  1. CRC critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Finely ground paprika powder

  1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Ground

  1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition