This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
The Miraculous Health Benefits of Pepper ¶
Pepper is a shrub that belongs to the Solanaceae family and genus Capsicum, producing fruits with varying colors depending on maturity and species.
The two major domesticated genera of capsicum in East Africa are C. annum (Long cayenne chilli) and C. frutescens (African bird’s eye chilli), grown mainly for their hot sensory attributes in food, extraction of essential oil, and pigment.
Pepper is used as a fresh vegetable, dried whole fruits, milled powder, essential oil (capsaicin) extract, or traditionally fermented condiment.
It contains different phytochemicals, vitamins (A, C, E, and all the B complex vitamins) and minerals (iron, phosphorous, and calcium), including natural antioxidants (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and polyphenols) that quench free radicals in the body when consumed.
Consumption of pepper reduces risks of cardiovascular diseases, asthma, sore throat, diabetes, stomachaches, migraine, flatulence, muscle tension, psoriasis, heart diseases, and headache.
Pepper extracts have been used to inhibit growth of leukaemia and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, and capsaicin has been seen to cause apoptosis of different cancer cells by attacking several signalling pathways and cancer-related genes at different stages of tumour development.
It also triggers secretion of saliva, which is an alkaline fluid from the salivary glands, mucus from the mucus membrane, secretion of bicarbonate, and gastric mucosal blood, slowing down acid production and preventing and healing ulcers.
Today, several pain relief creams, patches, and ointments made from pepper extracts are available on the market, varying from low-concentration creams, lotions, and patches to high-concentration patches containing capsaicin concentration of 8 per cent wt/wt basis.
Chilli extracts have the ability to lower cholesterol, dissolve fibrin, lower internal haemorrhage, reduce risks of varicose vein, clean low density lipoproteins and bad triglycerides from the arteries.
Therefore, consume more fresh pepper just like fresh vegetables as a chemo-preventive remedy to mortality and morbidity caused by lifestyle ailments.
Were is based at the Department of Dairy, Food Science and Technology, Egerton University.
