**2.5 Uses and application**

*Capsicum* is used for food flavoring, as a coloring agent, and as an essential condiment in food. Vitamins A, C and E are also present in its fruit. The green fruit of capsicum contains three times the vitamin C content of an orange and provides the minimum daily requirement for humans [16]. As the green pod turns red,

## *Postharvest Handling Methods, Processes and Practices for Pepper DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.106592*

pro-vitamin A content increases until it contains twice the pro-vitamin A of a carrot. Half a tablespoon of pepper powder furnishes the minimum daily requirement of vitamin A [14]. *Capsicum* coating and powder are used to control browsing animals and insects. The acetone and petroleum ether extracts caused complete mortality of rice weevil (*Sitophillus oryzae*) in 15 days, while fruit powder was much less effective. As a pharmaceutical ingredient, its usage has grown exceedingly. It has been used in the neurogenic bladder, osteo-arthritis-psoriasis, diabetes and neuropathy [20]. It is used for cluster headaches, indigestion, heartburn, itching, obesity, rheumatoid, arthritis, bursitis, migraine and headache. It is also utilized as a counter-irritant for asthma, coughs, sore throat and relieving toothache. It relieves itching in dialysis patients; reduces long-time inflammation [21]. Red or hot peppers from *Capsicum annum* and C*apsicum frutescen*s are used extensively in Mexican and Italian food. As a traditional medicinal plant, capsicum has been used as a calmative, digestive irritant, stomach stimulant, rubefacient and tonic. Other purposes of capsicum include folk remedies for dropsy, colic, diarrhea, muscle cramp and toothache. *C. frutescens* L has been reported to have hypoglycemic properties and can cause contact dermatitis and blisters. Excessive consumption can cause gastroenteritis and kidney damage. Pepper may aggravate symptoms of duodenal ulcers. With increased body temperature, the flow of saliva and gastric juices may be stimulated by capsicum pepper. The medicinal application of capsaicinoids has brought innovative ideas for their use. Medicinal use of capsicum has a long history dating back to the Mayas, who used it to treat cough and sore throats. The Aztecs used chile pungency to relieve toothaches. The pharmaceutical industry uses capsaicin as a counter-irritant balm for external applications [21]. Pepper is the active ingredient in heat and Sloan's liniment to rub down liniments, used for sore muscle. It is used as an antiseptic, topical vasodilator, neural stimulant and depressant; diaphoretic for the first stage of cold when the skin is hot and dry has a protective effect on the tracheobronchial system. Capsaicin was determined to inhibit the growth of the gastric pathogen *Helicobacter pylori,* which is associated with gastric ulcers [22].
