Synonym: Chilies, cayenne pepper

Biological source: It is consist of dried ripe fruits of Capsicum annum

Family: Solanaceae

Geographical source: It widely grows in almost all the tropical countries like East Africa, West Africa, India are the regions producing the drug on commercial scale.

Macroscopic characters:

Colour: Dull orange red to brownish red

Odour: Characteristic

Taste: Pungent

Shape: it is conical or oblong

Size: 12 to 25 cm in length and up to 7 mm in width

Extra feature:

• Pedicel is attached to 5 toothed clays, about 2 to 3 cm in length.

• Surface is shriveled, glabrous and leathery.

• The fruit contains 10 to 20 brownish yellow flat seeds, which are about 3-4 mm in length.

• The seeds are either loose or attached to thin reddish dissepiments.

• The fruits are divided into 2 to 3 loculi.

• The fruits should not contain more than 3 % calyx and pedicel.

Chemical constituents:

• It contains about 0.5% to 0.9% colourless, crystalline and pungent principle, known as capsaicin which is volatile above 65 º C.

• Capsicum also contains fixed oil (4 to 16%), proteins and pigments viz. Capsanthin and carotene.

• Pigments are responsible for the red colour.

• Thiamine and ascorbic acid are the other contents of the drug.

Uses:

• It is used as a carminative,

• An appetizer and a stomachic.

• Externally, it is used as a counter irritant the treatment of rheumatism,

• Lumbago and neuralgia.

• It is also used as spices.

References:

1. Trease D. & Evans W.C.: Text Book of Pharmacognosy: W.B. Saunders.

2. Tyler V. E. Brady L. R. & Robbers J. E.: Pharmacognosy; Lea Feibger, USA.

3. Wallis T. E.; Text Book of Pharmacognosy; CBS Publishers, Delhi.

4. Kokate C. K., Purohit A. P. & Gokhale S. B.: Pharmacognosy; Nirali Publications, Pune.

5. Harbone J. B.: Phytochemical Methods: A guide to modern techniques Analysis: Chapman & Hall, London.

6. Bruneton J.: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants: Intercept Limited.