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Current Information on Capsicum frutescens: A Critical Review of Pharmacological Potential
Abstract
Capsicum frutescens is a species of the Solanaceae family of the genus Capsicum, which has around 20 species, five of which are regularly cultivated: “Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinense, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum pubescens.” Since ancient times, C. frutescens has been used to taste and colour food all throughout the world. However, it is also employed for its medical benefits by many civilizations all over the world. This prompted researchers to concentrate on its chemical components, which led to a number of studies. The components isolated from C. frutescens such as capsaicinoids, carotenoids, and saponins authenticated its antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-fungal, cardiovascular, thrombolytic, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant activities along with a few more through various studies. This review focuses on all the pharmacological properties of these components highlighting the significance of Capsicum frutescens in herbal medicine.
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The present study was aimed to evaluate anthelmintic activity of methanolic extract of seeds of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and fruits of Capsicum frutescens L. on aquarium worm Tubifex tubifex by using three concentrations viz., 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml of each extracts were studied which was mainly concerned with the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worms. The gradual increased in a dose exhibited a gradual increase in the activity. The results showed that both the alcoholic extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity at highest concentration of 10 mg/ml as compared with levamisole (1 mg/ml) was evaluated as standard reference and distilled water as control.
Botanicals and herbal preparations for medicinal usage contain various types of bioactive compounds. The focus of this paper is on the analytical methodologies, which include the extraction, characterization of active ingredients in Capsicum frutescens fruits and Annona muricata L. leaves. Capsicum frutescens used for various problems with digestion including upset for conditions of the heart and blood vessels including poor circulation, excessive blood clotting, high cholesterol, and preventing heart disease. Whereas Annona muricata L. leaves are traditionally used to treat diabetes. People have been consuming raw leaves of Annona muricata L. to control blood glucose levels. The present investigation was designed to study the phytochemical profiling and bioactive component principles of Capsicum frutescens and Annona muricata by Thin layer Chromatography. Bio autography agar overlay test was done to detect the antimicrobial activity of the extracts. The results of this study confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds in the acetone and methanol extracts of both the plants. The chromatographic analysis revealed that Capsicum frutescens fruit extract and Annona muricata leaf extract are composed of various Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Saponins, and Phenolics which are accountable for many biological activities. Bio autography assays shows that Capsicum frutescens shows growth inhibition against bacteria, but Annona muricata does not shown any significant activity. The findings of present study implies that both extracts are potent source for some medicinally important phytochemicals with antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Keywords: Phytochemicals; Thin Layer Chromatography; Bio autography.
Phytoene synthase (PSY) is the first committed enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis, which plays important role in ripen fruit colour. However, the roles of CaPSY genes are not explained detail in ripen pepper fruit colour. In this study, three CaPSY genes (CaPSY1, CaPSY2 and CaPSY3) were identified through basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) in pepper genome. Among them, CaPSY1 was predicted as putative candidate based on relative expression values using five developmental stages of fruit in Zunla-1 cultivar and also in ripen fruits of five contrasting pepper lines. The CaPSY1 was characterised functionally through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in ripen fruits and overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Silencing of CaPSY1 gene altered colour with increased lutein and decreased zeaxanthin content in pepper fruits. The transgenic Arabidopsis line CaPSY1 gene showed higher expression of PSY1 gene compared with WT and dwarf phenotype due to reduction of GA3 (gibberellic acid) and higher abscisic acid (ABA) content. Our results confirmed that CaPSY1 gene involved in carotenoid metabolism in ripen pepper fruit and provide clue to develop bright red coloured pepper lines through breeding.
Background: Most plants have medicinal properties, which they achieve from certain secondary metabolites. Phytochemicals are compounds produced by plants. They may affect health but are not-essential nutrients as our diet does not require them to sustain life in the same way as vitamins and minerals.
Objectives: The study reports the phytochemistry and medicinal properties of Solanum torvum fruits.
Methods: A search of database sites such as PUBMED, Google Scholar, and Web of Science as well as other sources of literature available across public libraries was conducted to obtain information related to the topic.
Results: Here, we review the numerous medicinal properties of S. torvum (cardio and nephro protection, anti-hypertensive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-microbial activities) and relate them to the underlying phytochemicals and their biological actions.
Conclusion: This exposure is expected to provide researchers with updated information on S. torvum health benefit properties and related phytochemicals, which merit future research for developing pharmacological drugs aimed at curing ailments or diseases, and for possible use in preventive medicine.
Background: The alarming spread of drug resistance to current antimalarial agents is threatening malaria controlling efforts. This, consequently, urged the scientific community to discover novel antimalarial drugs. Successful and most potent antimalarial drugs were obtained from medicinal plants. Capsicum frutescens is claimed to possess an antiplasmodial activity in Ethiopian and Ugandan folkloric medicine. However, there is lack of pharmacological evidence for its antiplasmodial activity. This study, hence, was aimed at evaluating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of C. frutescens in mice model.
Methods: The 4-day suppressive test was employed to ascertain the claimed antiplasmodial effect of the plant. Following inoculation with P. berghei , mice in treatment groups were provided with three dose levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the extract. Whereas, 2% Tween80 and chloroquine served as negative and positive control, respectively. Weight, temperature, packed cell volume, parasitemia and survival time were then monitored.
Results: The oral acute toxicity study revealed that the crude extract caused no mortality and revealed no overt sign of toxicity. In 4-day suppressive test, all dose levels of the extract was found to exhibit a significant (p<0.05) inhibition of parasitemia compared to negative control. Maximum parasite suppression (93.28%) was exerted by the highest dose (400mg/kg/day) of extract. In addition, the extract significantly (p<0.05) prolonged survival time and prevented body weight loss, reduction in temperature and anemia compared to vehicle treated group.
Conclusion: This investigation found a strong evidence that fruit extract of C. frutescens is endowed with a promising antiplasmodial activity. Hence, the plant could serve as a potential source of newer antimalarial agent.
ABSTRACT
Background: Green chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var frutescens) is well-known as a spice used in many cuisines across the world. Capsaicin, as the pharmacologically active component of chilli, has been shown to have antioxidant, local analgesic and hypoglycaemic effects based on many studies conducted on the red chilli pepper. However, there are limited data regarding the green chilli and controversy on defective insulin secretion caused by capsaicin, which in turn may result in diabetes, a metabolic disorder resulting from impaired insulin action or secretion.
Objective: To evaluate the potential diabetogenic effect of ethanolic extract of Capsicum frutescens (EECF) or known as green chilli in normal healthy rats.
Method: Extraction with ethanol solvent was conducted on the fruits of Capsicum frutescens and used as experimental diets in rats for pharmacological evaluation. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Normal control rats were untreated and had normal standard diet. Diabetes was induced experimentally in overnight fasted rats by single i.p. injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) at dose of 77 mg/kg b.w. Another two groups of rats were orally administered with EECF in 0.5% CMC solution but at different doses, i.e., 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg for consecutive three weeks. The blood glucose level of all the rats was monitored with the help of glucometer and blood collected from tail vein. At the end of 21st day, blood was drawn from retro-orbital plexus in all groups of rats and centrifuged to obtain the blood serum for biochemical analysis. The rats were sacrificed on the same day and organ (pancreas) was taken for histopathological analysis.
Result: Significant reduction in body weight was noticed in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. The EECF-treated rats showed inhibition of body weight gain because of no marked change in body weight throughout the study. Severe hyperglycaemia occurred in the rats after STZ injection, in contrast to the lower blood glucose level (BGL) in rats treated with EECF, in which the BGL below 63.0 mg/dL to be considered hypoglycaemia. High-dose EECF caused further reduction in BGL. The pancreatic acinar lining cells appeared mildly swollen with increase in granularity. Elevated activities of AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine and urea were seen in STZ- and EECF-treated rats, indicating some degree of damage to the liver and kidney. The high-dose EECF treated rats had the highest level of these biochemical markers, followed by low-dose EECF and STZ-treated rats.
Conclusion: Green chilli or ethanolic extract of C. frutescens contributed to the hypoglycaemic effect in normal healthy rats but might induce hepatocellular damage.
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of an extract of a polyherbal mixture containing the leaves and roots of Plumbago zeylinica and fruits of Capsicum frutescens. Acute toxicity effect of WAP was evaluated in mice. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of WAP (100–400 mg/kg) were investigated in hot plate, acetic acid-induced writhing, carrageenan-induced paw oedema and air pouch models. No death was recorded when WAP was administered at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Oral treatment with WAP elicited inhibitory activity in hot plate test. Abdominal writhing was significantly reduced by WAP at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (54.5 ± 1.6, 20.0 ± 7.4, 38.4 ± 4.8) as compared with the control group (71.0 ± 2.6). Carrageenan-induced oedema formation was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at WAP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) by 23.5, 27.3 and 31.4%, respectively, and by reference to indomethacin (10 mg/kg, 31.2%). WAP (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced exudate volume (37.2 and 44.1%), protein (42.0 and 54.1%), total leucocytes (59.1 and 60.2) and neutrophils count (57.3 and 58.0%) in the carrageenan-induced air pouch in rats. Similarly, WAP treated animals showed reduced nitrites and malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione levels. Furthermore, WAP (400 mg/kg) nether affected locomotory activity nor induced gastric lesion in mice. The results of this study revealed that extract of a polyherbal mixture containing the leaves and roots of Plumbago zeylinica and fruits of Capsicum frutescens possesses anti-noiceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. © 2017, Ibadan Biomedical Communications Group. All rights reserved.
Germplasm banks are essential as sources of genetic variability for plant breeding programs. To characterize a Brazilian Capsicum frutescens collection, 21 malagueta and 5 Tabasco hot pepper accessions were evaluated under field and greenhouse conditions regarding morphological and molecular traits, as well as resistance to viruses. Morphological characterization was performed using 53 IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) descriptors, 15 vegetative, 13 inflorescence, 22 fruit, and 3 seed. Molecular characterization was carried out with 60 polymorphic markers from 29 RAPD primers. The incidence of major viruses infecting Capsicum spp, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was evaluated by ELISA. Based on the average genetic distance among genotypes, six groups were defined for the 53 IPGRI descriptors. When considering only 11 quantitative traits (five vegetative and six fruit), six groups were also determined, and the traits plant canopy width (56.05%) and days to fruiting (25.07%) most explained the genetic diversity among genotypes. Molecular analysis defined five groups of accessions with partial correspondence to the morphological characterization data. The incidence of viruses in field-grown plants varied among genotypes and according to virus species, from 5.6% (GRSV; CNPH 3286) to 100% (PMMoV; CNPH2871), and indicated some accessions as potential sources of virus resistance. These results demonstrate the genetic variability within the group of 26 hot pepper accessions, as well as virus-resistant genotypes that can be used in breeding programs.
Physical properties, flavor characteristics and antioxidant properties of the red mature peppers of Shimatogarashi (Capsicum frutescens) were compared to Takanotsume peppers (Capsicum annuum) as the control. Compositions of organic acids and capsaicinoids differed between the peppers. Malic acid was the prevalent organic acid in Shimatogarashi, while citric acid was prevalent in Takanotsume. Shimatogarashi had higher capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contents compared to Takanotsume. In terms of volatile compound compositions, the prevalent compounds in Shimatogarashi and Takanotsume peppers were hexanal and 10s,11s-himachala-3(12),4-diene, respectively. Overall, Shimatogarashi peppers were brightly colored, highly pungent with a fresh and fruity aroma, while Takanotsume peppers were dark red, moderately pungent with a warm and herbaceous aroma. As suggested by their total phenolic content and ORAC, Shimatogarashi peppers showed higher antioxidant activity compared to Takanotsume peppers.
In the present study, two cultivars of pepper (Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens) at two maturity stages (green and red) were evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid content, organic acids, vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamin E, capsaicin and the antioxidant and anticancer activities of their aqueous extracts. Total phenolic content was found to be ranged from 11.09-26.14 mg GAE/g DW, while total flavonoid content was ranged from 2.7 mg to 5.0 mg QE/g DW. Twenty six phenolic and aromatic compounds, twelve flavonoid compounds and eleven organic acids were identified in all samples by using of HPLC. Vitamin C, β-carotene, vitamin E and capsaicin contents were also estimated by HPLC and detected at high levels which were ranged from 500.0-645.5 mg/100 g DW, 6.56-35.69 mg/100 g DW, 10.44-19.36 mg/100 g DW and 37.46-69.90 mg/100 g DW, respectively. Antioxidant activities of pepper samples were carried out by using of both DPPH•-scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity (ABTS•+) assays and the extracts exhibited high activities which were ranged from 96.95% to 98.64% and from 77.73% to 93.11%, respectively. Finally, the potential anticancer activity of pepper extracts and capsaicin standard was tested against prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) carcinoma cell lines in vitro. The results showed that sweet pepper had a higher anticancer activity against PC-3, in contrast, chilli pepper had a higher against MCF-7.
Lindera obtusiloba has been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of blood stasis and inflammation. The leaves of Lindera obtusiloba have been reported to exhibit various physiological activities. However, there is little information available on their antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lindera obtusiloba leaf extract (LLE) on platelet activities, coagulation and thromboembolism. In a platelet aggregation study, LLE significantly inhibited various agonist-induced platelet aggregations in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, LLE significantly inhibited collagen-induced thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production in rat platelets. In addition, oral administration of LLE was protective in a mouse model of pulmonary thromboembolism induced by intravenous injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine. Interestingly, LLE did not significantly alter prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This study indicates that the antithrombotic effects of LLE might be due to its antiplatelet activities rather than anticoagulation. Taken together, these results suggest that LLE may be a candidate preventive and therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases associated with platelet hyperactivity.
Premise of the study:
We report the complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of Capsicum frutescens (Solanaceae), a species of chili pepper.
Methods and results:
Using an Illumina platform, we sequenced the chloroplast genome of C. frutescens. The total length of the genome is 156,817 bp, and the overall GC content is 37.7%. A pair of 25,792-bp inverted repeats is separated by small (17,853 bp) and large (87,380 bp) single-copy regions. The C. frutescens chloroplast genome encodes 132 unique genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Of these, seven genes are duplicated in the inverted repeats and 12 genes contain one or two introns. Comparative analysis with the reference chloroplast genome revealed 125 simple sequence repeat motifs and 34 variants, mostly located in the noncoding regions.
Conclusions:
The complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. frutescens reported here is a valuable genetic resource for Capsicum species.
Aim:
The present study aims to evaluate zootechnic parameters and blood sugar in rabbits submitted to diets containing different levels of pepper (Capsicum frutescens).
Materials and methods:
To this end, 30 rabbits weighing on average 1252±35 g at the beginning of the experiment were subjected to five rations with three repetitions for 56 days: The food R0 (or control) which is floury provender contains 0% of C. frutescens; R5, R10, R15, and R20 provender containing, respectively, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of C. frutescens fruits' powder. Rabbits consumed on average from 75.47 to 80.97 g dry matter.
Results:
Digestibility ranged from 52.39% to 61.01%. The average daily gain and feed consumption index were similar for all diets. Blood glucose was amended by the various servings is 0.98 g/L and 0.88 g/L, respectively, for doses.
Conclusion:
It appears from this study that rabbits consumed well diets containing C. frutescens. However, C. frutescens' effect on the growth performances of rabbits is not noticeable. Furthers experiments will be useful to evaluate C. frutescens' mechanism of action on blood sugar.
The solanaceae is a large varied family of trees, shrubs and herbs including 90 genera and more than 2000 species. Solanaceae are known for possessing a diverse range of alkaloids. Therapeutically, these are the most powerful known anticholinergics in existence, meaning they inhibit the neurological signals transmitted by the endogenous neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Medicinally important species of the family Solanaceaes belong to following genera namely: Solanum, Atropa, Capsicum, Datura, Withania, Hyoscymus, Nicotiana and Miscellaneous. These species are extensively used for medicinal purpose throughout the country. The Solanaceae family is characteristically ethnobotanical, that is, extensively used by humans. It is important source of food, spice and medicine. However, solanaceae species are rich in alkaloids whose toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities.
Carotenoids pathway is one of decisive anabolic pathway which is responsible for diverse, vital functions such as absorption, dissipation and transfer of solar energy for photosynthesis. Change in environmental factors causes modulation in molecular as well physiological responses to acclimate altered conditions. The current study is designed to assess the difference in the expression pattern of carotenoid pathway genes as well as accumulation of-carotene among three capsicum varieties having different sensitivity level against salt. To achieve this objective salt tolerant (G4), moderate, tolerant (K2) and sensitive (CO1) varieties were treated under different NaCl concentration (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) for 30 days. Differential expressions of five major genes of carotenoid pathway (phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, zeta carotene desaturase, lycopene-cyclase and capsanthin/capsorubin synthase) were examined. Semi-quantitative real time PCR expression data have demonstrated the declined expression of genes under study as the salt concentration gradually increased. We also analyzed the impact of salt on chlorophyll content and-carotene content.
The objectives of present study were to assess the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of Capsicum frutescens L. seeds and to characterize the chemical constituents of the crude extracts. The n-hexane and chloroform extracts were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), which showed the presence of many biologically important volatile constituents, including heterocyclic compounds, β-diketones, hydrocarbons, long chain aliphatic carboxylic acids, and their derivatives, such as esters, hydroxy ester, and aromatic compounds. The amounts of the total phenolic content and the total flavonoid content in same the extracts were in the ranges of 7.95 to 26.15 gallic acid equivalents (GAEmg/g) and 4.64 to 12.84 rutin equivalents (RUmg/g) of dry weight of extract, respectively. In the determination of the in vitro antimicrobial activity, seed extracts prevented the growth of most of the tested pathogens by forming significant inhibition zones. The inhibitory activity was especially remarkable (inhibition zone ≥ 13mm) against Pesudomaonas aeruginosa, Klebsilla pneumonae, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. During the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant activity via DPPH assay, n-hexane and chloroform extracts showed 26.9% and 30.9% free radical scavenging abilities, respectively, at the concentration of 1mg/mL. Considering these results, C. frutescens seeds can be used as a source of novel antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds.
Background
The increasingly high incidence of ischemic stroke caused by thrombosis of the arterial vessels is one of the major factors that threaten people’s health and lives in the world. The present treatments for thrombosis are still unsatisfactory. Herbal preparations have been used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether herbal preparations possess thrombolytic activity or not.
Methods
An in vitro thrombolytic model was used to check the clot lysis effect of the crude extracts and fractions of five Bangladeshi plant viz., Trema orientalis L., Bacopa monnieri L., Capsicum frutescens L., Brassica oleracea L. and Urena sinuata L. using streptokinase as a positive control and water as a negative control. Briefly, venous blood drawn from twenty healthy volunteers was allowed to form clots which were weighed and treated with the test plant materials to disrupt the clots. Weight of clot after and before treatment provided a percentage of clot lysis.
Results
Using an in vitro thrombolytic model, different fractions of five Bangladeshi medicinal plants namely T. orientalis, B. monnieri, C. frutescens, B. oleracea and U. sinuata showed various range of clot lysis activity. Chloroform fractions of T. orientalis, B. monnieri, C. frutescens, B. oleracea and U. sinuata showed highest significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001) clot lysis activity viz., 46.44 ± 2.44%, 48.39 ± 10.12%, 36.87 ± 1.27%, 30.24 ± 0.95% and 47.89 ± 6.83% respectively compared with positive control standard streptokinase (80.77 ± 1.12%) and negative control sterile distilled water (5.69 ± 3.09%). Other fractions showed moderate to low clot lysis activity. Order of clot lysis activity was found to be: Streptokinase > Chloroform fractions > Methanol (crude) extract > Hydro-methanol fractions > Ethyl acetate fractions > n-hexane fractions > Water.
Conclusions
Our study suggests that thrombolytic activity of T. orientalis, B. monnieri and U. sinuata could be considered as very promising and beneficial for the Bangladeshi traditional medicine. Lower effects of other extracts might suggest the lack of bio-active components and/or insufficient quantities in the extract. In vivo clot dissolving property and active component(s) of T. orientalis and B. monnieri for clot lysis could lead the plants for their therapeutic uses. However, further work will establish whether or not, chloroform soluble phytochemicals from these plants could be incorporated as a thrombolytic agent for the improvement of the patients suffering from atherothrombotic diseases.
This paper presents the quantification, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and the flavonoid chrysoeriol isolated from different extracts (hexane and acetonitrile extracts from whole fruit, peel and seed) of Capsicum frutescens (pimenta malagueta). The acetonitrile extract of the seeds, peel and whole fruits contained capsaicin as a major component, followed in abundance by dihydrocapsaicin and chrysoeriol. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds against seven microorganisms showed chrysoeriol was the most active compound. In the antioxidant test, the acetonitrile extract from the whole fruit showed the highest activity. The antioxidant activity of pimenta malagueta may be correlated with its phenolic content, principally with the most active compound, capsaicin.
An in-vitro thrombolytic model was used to check the clot lysis effect of four herbal extracts viz., Honey, Nigella sativa, Capsicum frutescens, Brassica oleracea, combination of Honey & Nigella sativa and Honey & Capsicum frutescens along with Streptokinase as a positive control and water as a negative control. And also brine shrimp lethality bio-assay was done using brine shrimp Nauplii and 5% of DMSO as a solvent for the ethanol extracts of Nigella sativa & Capsicum frutescens and Honey. Using an in vitro thrombolytic model, Honey, Nigella sativa, Capsicum frutescens, Brassica oleracea, combination of Honey & Nigella sativa and Honey & Capsicum frutescens showed 26.82%, 47.13%, 57.40%, 62.44%, 56.58% and 44.54% clot lysis effect respectively. From our study, we found that Brassica oleracea, Capsicum frutescens, and combination of Honey & Nigella sativa showed significant % of clot lysis effect with reference to Streptokinase. Again from in vitro brine shrimp lethality bio-assay, we found that the LC 50 of Honey, Capsicum frutescens & Nigella sativa were 129.62 µg/ml, 83.33 µg/ml & 45.45 µg/ml respectively. INTRODUCTION: A blood clot (thrombus) developed in the circulatory system due to the failure of hemostasis causes vascular blockage and while recovering leads to serious consequences in atherothrombotic diseases such as acute myocardial or cerebral infarction, at times leading to death. Commonly used thrombolytic agents are alteplase, anistreplase, streptokinase, urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) to dissolve clots 1 .
Chili peppers are often used around the world to ma
ke a wide variety
of sauces, known as hot sauce, chili sauce, or pepp
er sauce. Red chilis contain
high amounts of vitamin C and carotene (provitamin
A). meanwhile Several
studies found that capsaicin could have an anti-ulc
er protective effect on stomachs
infected with H. pylori by affecting the chemicals
the stomach secretes in response
to infection. The present study was designated to c
lear out the effect of aqueous
extracts of red chilli pepper (RCP) and some spicy
foods on healing acute gastric
ulcer induced by aspirin in rats. Sixty six adult m
ale albino rats (170+5g B.Wt.) of
Sprague Dawley Strain were obtained from animal hou
se of the faculty of
medicine, Um Al Qura University were used and dispo
rted into 6 groups (n= 6
rats), one of them used as control -ve while other
groups had given aspirin orally
(200mg/kg B.Wt.), one of these groups left as contr
ol +ve and other groups
administrated with aqueous extracts of RCP at doses
of 300 and 600 mg/kg B.Wt.
and 30% spicy nuggets and chicken for seven days. T
he length of gastric ulcer,
volume of gastric juice, pH value, and histopatholo
gical changes were examined.
Our results revealed that, oral administration of a
spirin (200mg/kg B.Wt.)
induced gastric ulcer in rats; the mean length of g
astric ulcer in control +ve
group was higher compared with in control -ve group
. Also, Oral administration
of RCP extract at a dose of 600mg/kg B.Wt., caused
high decrease in the length of
gastric ulcer. On the other hand, the lowest decrea
se of gastric ulcer length was
happened in rats fed on 30% spicy nuggets. The resu
lts concluded that oral
administration with all tested plants reduced the l
ength of gastric ulcer, volume of
gastric juice, and histopathological changes. On th
e other hand, RCP extracts increased pH value of gastric juice. According to t
he results, RCP could be used
for healing acute gastric ulcer disease.
Capsicum annuum L., a fruit plant from tropical and subtropical regions, contains a range of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds which are known to exhibit a range of bioactivities including free radical scavenging (antioxidant), antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. This review aims to give a comprehensive overview of the literature published on pharmacological behaviours of C. annuum L.
Capsicum frutescens (L.) var. longum (Solanaceae) is a well used tropical and subtropical
medicinal plant. The present study was undertaken to investigate insecticidal activity of different
concentrations of methanol extract of fruits and leaves of C. frutescens against 2nd and 3rd instar
larvae of Aedes aegypti. The mortality of the larvae was found to be concentration dependent.
Among larvae, 2nd instar larvae were shown to be more sensitive than 3rd instar larvae. The fruit
extract has shown more killing effect than leaf extract. Preliminary phytochemical analysis
showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, steroids and glycosides in both extracts. The
larvicidal activity of methanol extract may be attributed to the presence of phytoconstituents.
This is the first report on the insecticidal potential of C. frutescens. Further studies on isolation
of active compounds, mechanism of action, toxicity and field trials are under investigation.
The analgesic effect of capsaicin (the active ingredient in Capsicum frutescens Linn. [Solanaceae]) had been reported in several studies. Current research is being directed at producing analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents with better side effect profile.
To investigate if either the ethyl acetate extract of Capsicum frutescens Linn. [Solanaceae] (CFE) or capsaicin (Fluka Biotechnika-CPF) (in addition to the known analgesic properties) has any anti-inflammatory effect comparable to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDS).
The effects of ethyl acetate extract of Capsicum frutescens Linn. [Solanaceae] (CFE) and capsaicin (Fluka Biotechnika-CPF) was examined on rat hind paw. Inflammation was induced in the rat's hind paw by subplantar injections of fresh egg albumin (0.5 ml/kg). Diclofenac (100 mg/kg) was used as the reference anti-inflammatory agent for comparison, while distilled water was used as the placebo. The leucocytes count, corticosterone and C - reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured as biomarkers of inflammation. Data obtained were pooled and analysed using repeated ANOVA, in a general linear model with the CPSS software.
Sub-plantar injections of fresh egg albumin (0.5 ml/kg) produced profound and time-related oedema in the rat hind paw of the 'control' rats. Diclofenac (DIC, 100 mg/kg, i.p.) and reference capsaicin (CPF, 2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly inhibited paw swelling at (p<0.05-0.001) (CI 95%) compared to distilled water-treated 'controls'. While the corticosterone levels were all very low in 7 rats treated with capsaicin, the leucocytes count was within normal range in 9 rats. However, in 16 specimens randomly assigned for CRP levels, there were very high CRP readings, up to a magnitude of 10 times the normal range.
Capsaicin in both forms (CFE and CPF) produced anti-inflammatory effects that were comparable to diclofenac in the experimental rat model at p<0.05. It may be concluded that capsaicin has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Spices are esoteric food adjuncts that have been used as flavoring and coloring agents, and as preservatives for thousands of years. Spices have also been recognized to possess medicinal properties and their use in traditional systems of medicine has been on record for a long time. With the advancement in the technology of spices and on knowledge of the chemistry and pharmacology of their active principles, their health benefit effects were investigated more thoroughly in recent decades. Many health benefit attributes of these common food adjuncts have been recognized in the past few decades by pioneering experimental research involving both animal studies and human trials. These studies documented digestive stimulant action, hypolipidemic effect, antidiabetic influence, antilithogenic property, antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory property, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic potential of spices. Among these, the hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant properties of a few specific spices have far-reaching nutraceutical value. These beneficial physiological effects also have the potential of possible therapeutic application in a variety of disease conditions. This review presents an overview of experimental evidence for the nutraceutical potential of spices.
It is important that the antioxidant quality of green chilli (Capsicum annuum var. longum L.) be improved through selection or breeding. To better understand antioxidant levels in existing germplasm, biochemical screening of 10 cultivars was performed. The level of the antioxidant constituents vitamin C, carotene, phenol, and capsaicin ranged between 0.160 and 2.987 mg·g wet weight, 0.167 and 0.913 mg·g wet weight, 0.09 and 0.214 mg·g wet weight, and 4.54 and 7.233 mg·g dry weight, respectively. The antioxidative enzyme activities of peroxidase and catalase ranged between 1.070 to 11.507 ΔA·min·g and 64.040 to 335.127 units, respectively. Pearson's correlation matrix of all variables indicated associations between pairs of measured variables. Mean results of the experiment along with principal component analysis indicated that ‘AC-588-1’ had the highest levels of antioxidants followed by ‘BCC-62’ and ‘AC-465’. These cultivars can likely be used as genetic material in future breeding programs.
CAY-1, a novel saponin from Capsicum frutescens(commercially known as cayenne pepper) was investigated to determine its in vitroantifungal activity, mechanism of action and mammalian cell cytotoxicity. CAY-1 was active against 16 different fungal strains, including Candidaspp. and Aspergillus fumigatus[minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 4 to 16 µg ml−1], and was especially active against Cryptococcus neoformans(90% inhibition at 1 µg ml−1). Synergistic activity was also observed between CAY-1 and amphotericin B against Candida albicansand A. fumigatus. No significant cytotoxicity was demonstrated when CAY- 1 was tested against 55 mammalian cell lines at up to 100 µg ml−1. Importantly, CAY-1 appears to act by disrupting the membrane integrity of fungal cells.
Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders acquiring around 2.8% of the world's population and is anticipated to cross 5.4% by the year 2025. Since long back herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine therefore, they have become a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. In view of the above aspects the present review provides profiles of plants (65 species) with hypoglycaemic properties, available through literature source from various database with proper categorization according to the parts used, mode of reduction in blood glucose (insulinomimetic or insulin secretagogues activity) and active phytoconstituents having insulin mimetics activity. From the review it was suggested that, plant showing hypoglycemic potential mainly belongs to the family Leguminoseae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae, Moraceae, Rosaceae and Araliaceae. The most active plants are Allium sativum, Gymnema sylvestre, Citrullus colocynthis, Trigonella foenum greacum, Momordica charantia and Ficus bengalensis. The review describes some new bioactive drugs and isolated compounds from plants such as roseoside, epigallocatechin gallate, beta-pyrazol-1-ylalanine, cinchonain Ib, leucocyandin 3-O-beta-d-galactosyl cellobioside, leucopelargonidin-3- O-alpha-L rhamnoside, glycyrrhetinic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, strictinin, isostrictinin, pedunculagin, epicatechin and christinin-A showing significant insulinomimetic and antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than conventional hypoglycaemic agents. Thus, from the review majorly, the antidiabetic activity of medicinal plants is attributed to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins and other constituents which show reduction in blood glucose levels. The review also discusses the management aspect of diabetes mellitus using these plants and their active principles.
This study was conducted to determine extracts of fruit used as food ingredients and in traditional medicine for antibacterial activities. The effect of Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens methanol and aqueous extracts on selected bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Shigella dysenteriae) were investigated. Both extracts were found to be effective against Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium, while methanol extracts showed the greatest effect. The extract from Capsicum annuum showed a higher antibacterial activity than the one from Capsicum frutescens. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of methanol and aqueous extracts were 0.20 mg mL−1 and 0.25 mg mL−1, respectively. Minimal bactericidal concentrations values of both extracts ranged from 1 to 2.5 mg mL−1. Phytochemical assay revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and sterols. Thus, Capsicum fruits may serve as a source of natural bactericidal agents to be used in food and medicinal systems.
The stability of non-esterified carotenoids and carotenoid esters in paprika and chilli powder as affected by various processing
treatments and storage conditions were studied. For this purpose, freshly harvested chilli and paprika pods were minced, immediately
heated at 80, 90 and 100°C for 5 and 10min, respectively, and lyophilised. Alternatively, thermal treatment prior to mincing
was applied. Processing resulted in a 25–34% loss of the initial carotenoid contents in chilli and 20–53% in paprika. Degradation
of individual non-esterified carotenoids, mono- and diesters was monitored, generally showing an increased processing stability
of mono- and diesters compared to their non-esterified counterparts. Capsanthin, capsorubin, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin
mono- and diesters esterified with saturated fatty acids displayed similar stabilities, whereas susceptibility of the non-esterified
pigments to degradation differed considerably. During storage over 4 months at ambient temperature pigment contents dropped
by 16.7 and 9.6% in chilli and by 39.7 and 38.8% in paprika powders with and without illumination, respectively.
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is an important fish ectoparasite that often results in significant economic losses to freshwater aquaculture. The search of alternative substances to control infections of I. multifiliis became stringent after malachite green, an effective and widely used chemotherapeutant, is banned on fish farms because of its carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. In this study, the effects of the aqueous extract of Capsicum frutescens, which is readily available and affordable, were evaluated under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The results in the in vitro conditions showed that the aqueous extracts of C. frutescens with the ratios (V
SS/V
T—V
SS, the volume of stock solution; V
T, the volume of total solution) of 1:32 and 1:64 led to more than 70 % mortality of I. multifiliis theronts during 4 h of exposure and significantly reduced the survival of the tomonts and the total number of theronts released by the tomonts within 22 h (P < 0.05). A 96-h bioassay was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of C. frutescens to goldfish. No visible effect was observed in the treatments with the aqueous extracts of C. frutescens with the ratios (V
SS/V
T) of 1:32, 1:64 and 1:128, while in the other treatments, the erratic behaviour of fish was noted. In addition, in vitro tests demonstrated that the aqueous extract of C. frutescens had an adverse effect on I. multifiliis trophonts in situ. Fish treated with the aqueous extracts of C. frutescens in ratios V
SS/V
T of 1:32 and 1:64 carried significantly fewer parasites than the control and the other treatments (P < 0.05). These results suggest, therefore, that aqueous extracts of C. frutescens have potential for the control of ichthyophthiriasis in the aquaculture industry, though further phytochemical studies will need to be performed for isolation and identification of the active compounds.
Diet is one of the important factors in cancer etiology and prevention. The Indian diet is particularly interesting in its many unique dietary constituents, including spices like chili pepper, cloves, black pepper and black cumin, that have promise as chemopreventive agents. The objective of the present study was to compare the in vitro anticancer activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against the TE-13 (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma) cell line. All extracts showed cytotoxic activity but aqueous extracts were found to be more potent than alcoholic extracts. Morphological analysis, DAPI staining and DNA fragmentation assays showed maximum cell death and apoptotic cell demise (88%) to occur within 24 hours with an aqueous extract of chili pepper at 300 μl/ml.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential hepatoprotective utility of capsaicin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury and to explore the possible mechanisms whereby this agent mediated its beneficial effects. We randomized 40 rats into four groups for treatment with corn oil, CCl₄, capsaicin and both CCl₄ and capsaicin, respectively, for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and used for determination of aspartylaminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin, while the liver tissues were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin examination; evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and active caspase-3 contents; and evaluation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. Animals treated with CCl₄ exhibited significant elevation in AST, ALT, total bilirubin and caspase-3 and exhibited significant decrease in activities of SOD, CAT, GST and GSH contents. The combination (both capsaicin and CCl₄) group has preserved the liver histology, liver enzymes and bilirubin close to normal, exhibited significant induction in the activities of CAT, SOD and GST, increased the liver content of GSH and active caspase-3 and conversely showed significant decrease in liver MDA content compared to CCl₄ challenged rats. Capsaicin confers an appealing hepatoprotective effect which might be explained partially via diminishing the generation of MDA, induction of antioxidant systems and inhibition of active caspase-3.
The active substance found in Capsicum frutescens (capsicum) that gives hot and spicy flavor is capsaicin, and it seems to have many pharmacological effects.
The present research was conducted to study the effect of capsicum on plasma glucose level and to correlate its action with the pharmacokinetic properties of capsaicin in capsicum.
The crossover study was performed in 12 healthy volunteers by performing the OGTT while receiving placebo or 5 grams of capsicum. The insulin secretion and capsaicin level in plasma were measured using the HPLC method.
The results of the OGTT showed that plasma glucose levels in volunteers who received capsicum were significantly lower than those in the placebo group at 30 and 45 minutes (p < 0.05). Furthermore, plasma insulin levels were significantly higher at 60, 75, 105, and 120 minutes (p < 0.05). When comparing before and after capsicum intake, the results showed the insulin levels were maintained The pharmacokinetic parameters of capsaicin shown as C(max), T(max), AUC(0-t), T1/2 are 2.47 +/- 0.13 ng/ml, 47.08 +/- 1.99 min, 103.6 +/- 11.3 ng x min/ml, and 24.87 +/- 4.97 min, respectively.
In conclusion, the present study found that 5 grams of capsicum presented capsaicin levels that were associated with a decrease in plasma glucose levels and the maintenance of insulin levels. The present result might have clinical implications in the management of type 2 diabetes.
This study evaluates the anti-hyperlipidaemic and antioxidant activities of hydro-ethanolic fruits extract of Capsicum frutescens in hyperlipidemia rats. The secondary volatile metabolite constituents of the extract were identified using Gas chromatography. In vitro antioxidant activity of the extract (0.2–1.0 mg/mL) was investigated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH.). In vivo antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidaemic properties of the extract were evaluated in triton X-100-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. Gas chromatogram indicates the presence of 13 compounds with tans β-ocimene being the major constituent. The extract scavenged DPPH, H2O2 and OH. radicals in concentrations dependent manner. C. frutescens reversed triton X-100-mediated increase in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein, and reduction in high-density lipoprotein. Triton X-100-mediated decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phospahte dehydrogenase were significantly reversed by the extract. The results indicate that C. frutescens has antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidaemic properties.
The analgesic property of Capsicum frutescens LINN. SOLANACEAE] extract-CFE (98% Capsaicin by NMR) of South African origin in mice (20-30 g), using 'hot plate' and 'acetic acid' methods was investigated. In the hot plate test, twelve mice in each of 5 groups were administered intraperitoneal (i.p.) CFE or synthetic capsaicin (Fluka Biotechnika-CF) at 0.5-8 mg/kg and at hourly intervals; at 40 C, the mean reaction time (MRT) was estimated. In the 'acetic acid' test method, CFE or CF was administered imp. at various doses (0.5- 8 mg/Kg) at hourly intervals following single treatment using 0.2 mls of 3 % v/v acetic acid-induced writhing responses, or non-treated (n=12). Separate groups of rats (n=12) were pre-treated with 100-mg/kg diclofenac (DIC) or morphine (MPN) 10 mg/kg i.p. to evaluate the peripheral analgesic effects and central analgesia, respectively. Data obtained were pooled and analysed by the student's T-test. The 'hot plate' and 'acetic acid' test methods showed significant (p<0.0001) prolongation of the MRT and inhibition of writhing responses, respectively, compared to the control. Similar results with a Pearson correlation of 0.999 were obtained in the CF subgroups. This study shows that capsaicin has superior central analgesia compared to equipotency doses of MPN or DIC and comparable peripheral analgesia to either MPN or DIC.
The antioxidant capacity of bird chili (Capsicum frutescens Linn.) during hot air drying at 70, 100 and 121°C was analyzed by three different methods: ferric-reducing, antioxidant power (FRAP) assay; improved, ABTS, radical cation decolorization assay; and DPPH, free radical scavenging activity, together with the analysis of total phenolic content and browning pigment formation. It was found that total phenolic content might decrease at the beginning of the drying process, but that it would increase when the browning pigments were developed. Phenolic compounds of fresh, red bird chili were less heat stable than the ones of fresh, green bird chili. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of dried bird chili was dependent on the degree of browning and the drying temperature. All the antioxidant capacities of the dried products were higher than for the fresh ones, except after drying at 70°C, when the reducing power, FRAP value, of dried green and red chili was lower than the fresh one, and the values of the free radical scavenging activities, ABTS and DPPH of dried red bird chili did not change.
This chapter explores the effects of pepper seeds on fungus and exhibiting mitogenic activities. Cluster pepper seeds produce a lectin, which inhibits spore germination and hyphal growth in two fungal species: Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme. Lectins are proteins that selectively agglutinate blood cells of a particular blood group in the ABO blood group system. However, there is no inhibitory activity on other fungi, including Botrytis cinerea, F. graminearum, F. solani, and Physalospora piricola. The lectin elicits a mitogenic response from murine splenocytes in vitro, with a reduced potency compared with that of the jackbean lectin concanavalin A. Using anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Q-Sepharose and fast protein liquid chromatography on MonoQ can isolate it. It is adsorbed on all three ion exchangers. It exhibits similarity to the N-terminal sequence in rabbit lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1, and the C-terminal sequences of some viral polymerases. In traditional Chinese medicine, pepper is used for the treatment of anorexia, indigestion, gastrointestinal distension, rheumatism, loin pain, frostbite, and furunculosis. The fruits and leaves of the cluster pepper contain capsaicin, and can irritate the eye, mouth, and skin. Eating excessive quantities of pepper can also produce gastrointestinal symptoms.
Study design:
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Objectives:
To determine the effectiveness of herbal medicine for nonspecific low back pain (LBP).
Summary of background data:
Many people with chronic LBP use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), visit CAM practitioners, or both. Several herbal medicines have been purported for use in treating people with LBP. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2006.
Methods:
We searched numerous electronic databases up to September 2014; checked reference lists in review articles, guidelines and retrieved trials; and personally contacted individuals with expertise in this area. We included RCTs examining adults (over 18 years of age) suffering from acute, sub-acute, or chronic nonspecific LBP. The interventions were herbal medicines that we defined as plants used for medicinal purposes in any form. Primary outcome measures were pain and function. Two review authors assessed risk of bias, GRADE criteria (GRADE 2004), and CONSORT compliance and a random subset were compared with assessments by a third individual. Two review authors assessed clinical relevance and resolved any disagreements by consensus.
Results:
Fourteen RCTs (2050 participants) were included. Capsicum frutescens (cayenne) reduces pain more than placebo. Although Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), Salix alba (white willow bark), Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey), Solidago chilensis (Brazilian arnica), and lavender essential oil also seem to reduce pain more than placebo, evidence for these substances was of moderate quality at best. No significant adverse events were noted within the included trials.
Conclusions:
Additional well-designed large trials are needed to test these herbal medicines against standard treatments. In general, the completeness of reporting in these trials was poor. Trialists should refer to the CONSORT statement extension for reporting trials of herbal medicine interventions.
Level of evidence:
N/A.
BACKGROUND:
Low-back pain (LBP) is a common condition and imposes a substantial economic burden upon people living in industrialized societies. A large proportion of people with chronic LBP use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), visit CAM practitioners, or both. Several herbal medicines have been purported for use in treating people with LBP. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2006.
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the effectiveness of herbal medicine for non-specific LBP.
SEARCH METHODS:
We searched the following electronic databases up to September 2014: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Clinical Trials.gov, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Portal and PubMed; checked reference lists in review articles, guidelines and retrieved trials; and personally contacted individuals with expertise in this area.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining adults (over 18 years of age) suffering from acute, sub-acute, or chronic non-specific LBP. The interventions were herbal medicines which we defined as plants used for medicinal purposes in any form. Primary outcome measures were pain and function.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
A library scientist with the Cochrane Back Review Group conducted the database searches. One review author contacted content experts and acquired relevant citations. We downloaded full references and abstracts of the identified studies and retrieved a hard copy of each study for final inclusion decisions. Two review authors assessed risk of bias, GRADE criteria (GRADE 2004), and CONSORT compliance and a random subset were compared to assessments by a third individual. Two review authors assessed clinical relevance and resolved any disagreements by consensus.
MAIN RESULTS:
We included 14 RCTs (2050 participants) in this review. One trial on Solidago chilensis M. (Brazilian arnica) (20 participants) found very low quality evidence of reduction in perception of pain and improved flexibility with application of Brazilian arnica-containing gel twice daily as compared to placebo gel. Capsicum frutescens cream or plaster probably produces more favourable results than placebo in people with chronic LBP (three trials, 755 participants, moderate quality evidence). Based on current evidence, it is not clear whether topical capsicum cream is more beneficial for treating people with acute LBP compared to placebo (one trial, 40 participants, low quality evidence). Another trial found equivalence of C. frutescens cream to a homeopathic ointment (one trial, 161 participants, very low quality evidence). Daily doses of Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw), standardized to 50 mg or 100 mg harpagoside, may be better than placebo for short-term improvements in pain and may reduce use of rescue medication (two trials, 315 participants, low quality evidence). Another H. procumbens trial demonstrated relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of rofecoxib (Vioxx®) but was of very low quality (one trial, 88 participants, very low quality). Daily doses of Salix alba (white willow bark), standardized to 120 mg or 240 mg salicin, are probably better than placebo for short-term improvements in pain and rescue medication (two trials, 261 participants, moderate quality evidence). An additional trial demonstrated relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of rofecoxib (one trial, 228 participants) but was graded as very low quality evidence. S. alba minimally affected platelet thrombosis versus a cardioprotective dose of acetylsalicylate (one trial, 51 participants). One trial (120 participants) examining Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey root extract) found low quality evidence that a Kytta-Salbe comfrey extract ointment is better than placebo ointment for short-term improvements in pain as assessed by VAS. Aromatic lavender essential oil applied by acupressure may reduce subjective pain intensity and improve lateral spine flexion and walking time compared to untreated participants (one trial, 61 participants,very low quality evidence). No significant adverse events were noted within the included trials.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
C. frutescens (Cayenne) reduces pain more than placebo. Although H. procumbens, S. alba, S. officinale L., S. chilensis, and lavender essential oil also seem to reduce pain more than placebo, evidence for these substances was of moderate quality at best. Additional well-designed large trials are needed to test these herbal medicines against standard treatments. In general, the completeness of reporting in these trials was poor. Trialists should refer to the CONSORT statement extension for reporting trials of herbal medicine interventions.
This study sought to characterize the distribution of phenols and antioxidant activities in hot short pepper (Capsicum frutescens var. abbreviatum) and their inhibition of cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in rat's brain. The total phenol content and antioxidant activities of pepper flesh (pericarp) and seeds were determined in vitro and in vivo. The results of the study revealed that intraperitoneal administration of cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg of body weight) caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the brain; however, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the brain MDA content, in those of rats fed diet containing pepper; the flesh showed a higher inhibitory effect. In addition, dietary inclusion of the pepper (seed and flesh) also caused a dose-dependent inhibition of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin; likewise, dietary inclusion of the flesh inhibited MDA production than the seeds. The higher inhibition of oxidative stress in brain and serum enzymes and metabolites by the flesh could be attributed to its significantly higher (P<0.05) total phenol content, reducing power and free-radical scavenging ability. Therefore, dietary hot short pepper (Capsicum frutescens L. var. abbreviatum) could prevent cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in brain; although the flesh is a better protectant, the possible contributory role of the seeds cannot be neglected. However, this protective effect of the pepper could be attributed to their antioxidant properties.
The present study was conducted to clarify whether a low or a high, but tolerable, dietary dose of red chilli (RC) can ameliorate the diabetes related complications in a high-fat (HF) diet-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes model of rats. Five-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a HF diet for 2 weeks then randomly divided into four groups namely: normal control (NC), diabetic control (DBC), red chilli low (RCL, 0.5%) and red chilli high (RCH, 2.0%) groups. Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (40 mg/kg BW) in all groups except the NC group. After 4 weeks feeding of experimental diets, the fasting blood glucose concentrations in both RC fed groups were not significantly different. The serum insulin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the RCH group compared with the DBC and RCL groups. Blood HbA1c, liver weight, liver glycogen and serum lipids were not influenced by the feeding of RC-containing diets. The data of this study suggest that 2% dietary RC is insulinotropic rather than hypoglycemic at least in this experimental condition.
A survey of the Mayan pharmacopoeia revealed that tissues of Capsicum species (Solanaceae) are included in a number of herbal remedies for a variety of ailments of probable microbial origin. Using a filter disk assay, plain and heated aqueous extracts from fresh Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, Capsicum chinese, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum pubescens varieties were tested for their antimicrobial effects with fifteen bacterial species and one yeast species. Two pungent compounds found in Capsicum species (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) were also tested for their anti-microbial effects. The plain and heated extracts were found to exhibit varying degrees of inhibition against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium tetani, and Streptococcus pyogenes.