Cayenne pepper

Perennial, bushy semi-shrub up to 1 m high with dirty white flowers and shiny red fruits. These pointed conical peppers are smaller than sweet peppers. There are over 200 cultivars of Capsicum. The Capsicum anuum plant originally comes from Central America, while Capsicum frutescens comes from tropical South America and is now cultivated in many tropical countries.

The spice consists of the dried, ground fruits. The pungency of cayenne pepper is caused by capsaicin , which is present at a content of 0.6-0.9%.

The dried, ripe fruits(Capsici fructus acer) are used phytotherapeutically.

The capsaicinoids, including capsaicin (see also capsaicin receptor), are medically important. These pungent substances stimulate the pain and heat receptors of the skin and mucous membranes. They cause hyperemia in the area of application. Cayenne pepper extracts play an important role in medicine.

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1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/cayennepfeffer.php
2. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 93-94
3. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 144-146