MEDICINAL USES OF CHILI PEPPER FRUIT
Botanical name Capsicum frutescens
Local names ata_ijosi(Yoruba)
Chili pepper is the oldest and the most pepperish species of cultivated pepper in Nigeria. It is one of the major spices used by our ancestors. Unfortunately, because of the demand for higher agricultural yield, different varieties of pepper was developed which produce bigger sizes of fruit. Because the chili pepper has small fruit, most of the farmers hardly cultivate this varieties of pepper. As a result, chili pepper is not commonly found in the market, and if found its often more expensive than the hybrid varieties. Despite the higher medicinal importance of chili pepper above other varieties, only few people consume it in their daily diet.
Chili pepper is cardio- tonic. It is very effective for conditions of the heart such as high cholesterol, high blood viscosity which normally prevent normal circulation of the blood in the vessels. High cholesterol and excessive blood clothing are few of the silence causes of major cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, stroke, arteriosclerosis etc.
Chili pepper also called ‘bird pepper’ fruit is very effective in pain reliever. When use as mouth gargle it relieve tooth ache, throat pain and sinus infection. When formulated in balm it can be applied on the skin to relieve pains from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, nerve pain and skin spasm.
I often use bird pepper to cure cold and catarrh. Use one grounded tablespoon of dried chili pepper to prepare halve- done green vegetable. Eat the vegetable twice daily for at list two days and abstain from cold water during the period.
SIDE EFFECT OF CHILI PEPPER FRUIT
The active chemical in chili pepper is ‘capsaicin’ and its approved by the FDA as an over-the-counter product. Medicinal lotions and creams that contain chili pepper extracts are safe for most adults when applied on the skin. Consumption of the fruit is safe as it has past through the test of time.
Side effects include skin irritation, burning and itching, irritating to the eyes.
Do not use during or after surgery it can increase bleeding.
VITAMIN COMPOSITION OF CHILI PEPPER(%)
vitaminC (22.4), vitaminA(1.07), vitaminE(0.35), Niacin(0.47), vitaminB6(0.10), folic acid(7.16), vitaminK(5.81).
MINERAL COMPOSITION OF CHILI PEPPER(mg/100g)
Ca(106.27), Na(1.11), K(331.32), Mg(236.72), P(31.44), Fe(67.16), Cu(17.08), Zn(32.18), Co(4.38), Ni(1.08).
PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF CHILI PEPPER (%)
Moisture (10.14), protein(11.97), fat(0.35), ash(16.67), insoluble(1.02), soluble(0.76), carbohydrate(58.81).
PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CHILI PEPPER
Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, Phenolic, saponin, glycosides, terpenoids and carotenoids.
OLASCOHERBAL 