**2. Indigenous** *Capsicum* **varieties of India**

The plant of *Capsicum* belongs to the genus *Capsicum,* which is a member of the family Solanaceae [8]. The genus *Capsicum* has approximately 27 species, out of which 5 species are widely domesticated in various parts of India. These are namely, *Capsicum annuum* L.*, Capsicum chinense* Jacq.*, Capsicum frutescens* L.*, Capsicum baccatum* L., and *Capsicum pubescens* L. [9]*.* The images of indigenous *Capsicum* varieties of India are presented in **Figure 1**.

*Capsicum annuum* is the most cultivated species across different parts of India. *Capsicum chinense* and *Capsicum frutescens* are also the most common cultivated species, particularly in the north-eastern region of India. Other three species including *Capsicum baccatum* and *Capsicum pubescens* are also found to be cultivated in the north-eastern states of India [10]. **Table 1** describes five indigenous *Capsicum* varieties of India.

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in **Figure 2**.

**Table 1.**

India is depicted in **Table 2**.

Capsicum*: Chemistry and Medicinal Properties of Indigenous Indian Varieties*

**Description**

aroma

aroma

*Maam Jolokia* Elongated, 1.5–1.75 cm long, width 0.5–0.75 cm,

*Totta Bias* Elongated, 4.0–5.0 cm long, 1.0 cm wide, smooth

smooth surface, light red, characteristic odor

undulating rough surface, dark red, characteristic

wide, smooth surface, light red, characteristic

smooth surface, light red, characteristic aroma

2.0–2.5 height, and base divided into three lobes,

2.0–2.2 cm diameter, 1.5 cm height, smooth surface, dark red, characteristic aroma

surface, orange to light red in color

each having 3–4 grooves, dark red

*Capsicum annum Jati Jolokia* Elongated, 2.5–3.0 cm long, width 0.8–1.0 cm,

*Capsicum chinense Bhut Jolokia* Elongated, 5.0–7.0 cm long, 2.53.0 cm width,

*Capsicum frutescens Dhan Jolokia* Tiny in size, elongated, 1.0–1.5 cm long, 0.5 cm

*Capsicum baccatum Ohm Jolokia* Rough shape with a flat base, 2.0–3.0 cm diameter,

*Capsicum pubescens Bhikue Jolokia* Bell shaped like a tomato with a flat base,

**vernacular name**

The pungency of *Capsicum* pods is mainly attributed to the presence of a group of closely related compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicinoids refer to a group of pungent alkaloids that accumulate in the placenta of matured *Capsicum* pods [12]. Chemically, these are acid amides of vanillylamine with C9–C12 branched-chain fatty acid. All capsaicinoids possess a common 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylamide (vanilloid) skeleton, but differ in their hydrophobic alkyl side chain. Differences in the side chain include saturation of the carbon carbon double bond, absence of a methyl group and also changes in the length of hydrocarbon chain [13]. Some important capsaicinoids are capsaicin, followed by dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, and homocapsaicin. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin together account for approximately 80% of total capsaicinoids content of *Capsicum* pods. These two compounds are the most important and potent members of capsaicinoids family [14]. The chemical structures of capsaicinoids are displayed

Most of the *Capsicum* species cultivated in India contain around 1% of capsaicinoids, but *Capsicum chinense* L. (*Bhut Jolokia*) and *Capsicum frutescens* (*Dhan Jolokia*) possess around 2–4% of capsaicinoids [15]. However, though seven different indigenous varieties of *Capsicum* are found to be cultivated in the Assam state of India, the *Bhut Jolokia* and *Dhan Jolokia* have been documented to be the most potential *Capsicum* varieties in terms of their capsaicinoids content and level of pungency [16]. The capsaicinoids content (%) of indigenous *Capsicum* varieties of

It is noteworthy that the capsaicinoids content is a measure of the degree of hotness or the level of pungency of *Capsicum* pods. However, it is also responsible for medicinal properties as well as for the nutritional value of *Capsicum* spice. The Defense Research Laboratory, Tezpur, India reported that the potential of the *Bhut* 

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92241*

**Species/botanical name** *Capsicum* **variety/**

**3. Chemistry and pungency**

*Indigenous* Capsicum *varieties of India [10, 11].*

**Figure 1.** *Photographs showing indigenous* Capsicum *varieties of India.*


Capsicum*: Chemistry and Medicinal Properties of Indigenous Indian Varieties DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92241*

**Table 1.**

Capsicum

in Assamese language of India [5–7].

**2. Indigenous** *Capsicum* **varieties of India**

varieties of India are presented in **Figure 1**.

Several indigenous varieties of *Capsicum* are known to be cultivated in the north-eastern region of India. Some of such indigenous varieties have been well documented to be the hottest *Capsicum* varieties in the world [4]. These indigenous varieties are popularly known by different local names among various communities of the north-eastern states of India. These are namely, *Bih Jolokia* (*Bih* means poison, *Jolokia* means pepper), *Bhut Jolokia* (Bhut means ghost) in Assamese language, *Oo-Morok* (*Oo* means Tree, *Morok* means Chili) in Manipuri language, and *Naga Jolokia* (or *Naga Morich*) in Nagamese language and *Raja Chili* (King of Chili). The word *Jolokia* usually refers to the vernacular name of *Capsicum* pod or chili pepper

The plant of *Capsicum* belongs to the genus *Capsicum,* which is a member of the family Solanaceae [8]. The genus *Capsicum* has approximately 27 species, out of which 5 species are widely domesticated in various parts of India. These are namely, *Capsicum annuum* L.*, Capsicum chinense* Jacq.*, Capsicum frutescens* L.*, Capsicum baccatum* L., and *Capsicum pubescens* L. [9]*.* The images of indigenous *Capsicum*

*Capsicum annuum* is the most cultivated species across different parts of India. *Capsicum chinense* and *Capsicum frutescens* are also the most common cultivated species, particularly in the north-eastern region of India. Other three species including *Capsicum baccatum* and *Capsicum pubescens* are also found to be cultivated in the north-eastern states of India [10]. **Table 1** describes five indigenous *Capsicum* varieties of India.

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**Figure 1.**

*Photographs showing indigenous* Capsicum *varieties of India.*

*Indigenous* Capsicum *varieties of India [10, 11].*
