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Review
. 2020 Nov 27;25(23):5573.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25235573.

Chili Pepper Carotenoids: Nutraceutical Properties and Mechanisms of Action

Maria Guadalupe Villa-Rivera  1 , Neftalí Ochoa-Alejo  1
Affiliations
Review

Chili Pepper Carotenoids: Nutraceutical Properties and Mechanisms of Action

Maria Guadalupe Villa-Rivera et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Chili pepper is a prominent cultivated horticultural crop that is traditionally used for food seasoning and is applied for the treatment and prevention of multiple diseases. Its beneficial health properties are due to its abundance and variety of bioactive components, such as carotenoids, capsaicinoids, and vitamins. In particular, carotenoids have important nutraceutical properties, and several studies have focused on their potential in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. In this article, we reviewed the state of knowledge of general aspects of chili pepper carotenoids (biosynthesis pathway, types and content in Capsicum spp., and the effects of processing on carotenoid content) and recent findings on the effects of carotenoid nutraceuticals, such as antioxidant, cancer preventive, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular disorder preventive, and anti-obesity effects.

Keywords: Capsicum; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; cancer; cardiovascular disorders; carotenoids; chili pepper; nutraceutical effects; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Commercial bell pepper fruits of Capsicum spp. showing different colors due to the presence of (a) chlorophylls and (b–d) carotenoids.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chili pepper fruit carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. PSY (phytoene synthase), PDS (phytoene desaturase), Z-ISO (ζ-carotene isomerase), ZDS (ζ-carotene desaturase), CRTISO (carotene isomerase), LCYB (β-lycopene cyclase), LCYE (ε-lycopene cyclase), BCH (β-carotene hydroxylase), CYP (β-carotene hydroxylase cytochrome 450 type A and B), ZEP (zeaxanthin epoxidase), VDE (violaxanthin epoxidase), CCS (capsanthin-capsorubin synthase), NSY (neoxanthin synthase), NCED (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase). Modified from [35,36].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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