**3. Role of hot pepper in micronutrient deficiencies**

To enhance the micronutrient status in humans, nutritionists suggest integrating foods, which are rich in micronutrients, in diet. Among various vegetables, chili fruits are rich in capsaicinoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, provitamin A, ascorbic acid, and several antioxidants. Chilies are also an excellent source of xanthophylls and vitamins B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), and P (citrin) [18]. Hot pepper contains proteins (1.9 g), sugars (5.3 g), fiber (1.5 g), fat (0.4 g), energy (8.8 g), ascorbic acid (240%), pyridoxine (39%), vitamin A (32%), copper (14%), iron (13%), potassium (7%), and magnesium (6%) [19]. Nutrient constituents and their composition present in chili species in different countries are represented in **Table 1**. Red sweet

**91**

**Table 1.**

*Hot Pepper (*Capsicum annuum *L.): An Alternative Food to Reduce Micronutrient Deficiencies…*

India *Capsicum* 

2 Capsaicin Brazil *C. chinense* 14.0 mg/g DW [24]

Ethiopia *C. annuum* 

3 Crude protein America *C. annuum* 2.9 g/100 g DW [28]

4 Carbohydrates America *C. annuum* 3.0 g/100 g DW [28]

Ethiopia *C. annum* 

*Nutrient constituents and their composition in chili species in different countries.*

Ethiopia *C. annum* 

**Fruit species Composition References**

109.36 mg/100 g

89.011 mg/100 g

118.09 g/100 g DW

DW

DW

DW

35.3 ± 0.6 g/100 g

5.5 mg/g DW [27]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[29]

[21]

[21]

[29]

*C. Francisca* 122.0 mg/100 g DW

DW

DW

DW

*C. annuum* 0.042 mg/g DW [25]

India *C. frutescens* 4.45 mg/g DW [26]

India *C. chinense* 17.5 g/100 g DW [22]

India *C. chinense* 78.1 g/100 g DW [22]

Brazil *C. chinense* 125 mg/100 g

*chinense Jacquin*

Ethiopia *C. annuum* 84.011–

*(Marako fana)*

*(Marako fana)*

Brazil *C. chinense* 0.08–4.5 g/100 g

Brazil *C. chinense* 1.8–10.8 g/100 g

*(Marako fana)*

**of the country**

States

Central America

pepper consists of twice the provitamin A than in carrot and double the amount of vitamin C of green pepper, and it also acts as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrient [30]. Sweet pepper is fibrous in nature and is the sources of dietary fiber which could help in fighting blood cholesterol level and diabetes better from

Capsaicin is a pungent alkaloid present in hot pepper species, and it is the principal capsaicinoid that accounts for about 71% of the pungent types, followed by dihydrocapsaicin [32]. Structures of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are in **Figure 1**. The percentage of pungency varies among species by varying the capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin contents which are due to influence of factors like the developmental stages of fruit and the environmental conditions [33]. Capsaicin possesses good medicinal properties like antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and analgesic properties. Some studies reveal that fruits having higher amounts

the body and bloodstream, respectively [31].

**4. Medicinal uses of hot pepper**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92198*

**So. no Constituent Name** 

1 Vitamin C United


*Hot Pepper (*Capsicum annuum *L.): An Alternative Food to Reduce Micronutrient Deficiencies… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92198*

**Table 1.**

Capsicum

to as "hidden hunger" which affects about 2 billion people [6] and may lead to high rates of illness, obesity, underdevelopment, and even deaths in children of age below 5 years [7]. Among various vegetables and fruits that are rich in micronutrients, chilies have various essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins (A, C, E), and other important phytochemical compounds [8]. They also pose some human health benefits like preventing diseases such as obesity, heart diseases, and different cancers [9]. An alkaloid, namely, capsaicin, is present in pepper which has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects on the digestive system and is used in relieving pain and also to lose weight [10]. Thus providing diet that is rich in pepper can be supportive in an ongoing quest to ease micronutrient deficiencies.

Some studies reveal the importance of micronutrients in pregnant women and generally given as supplements, which include vitamins, viz., A, cobalamin, pyridoxine, C, D, and E, iron, zinc, iodine, copper, and selenium. Micronutrient deficiencies may mimic radiation or some chemicals which damage the nucleic acids and lead to cancer [11]. Some studies reveal that these deficiencies are related with the danger of HIV infection progression and deaths [12]. Deficiency of vitamin A may cause low serum level of retinol which affects nearly 15% of pregnant women and which leads to night blindness in 8% of them [4]. The reduced form of vitamin C [ascorbic acid (AA)] is the principal chemical structure that appears as an important micronutrient that involves in various physiological functions. Ascorbic acid plays a vital role in reducing the antioxidants and enhances the production of ROS to prevent cancer [13]. Vitamin D is generally known as fat-soluble compound with antiproliferative effect and also involved in the development of bone and immune system [14]. Some studies

reported that vitamin D metabolites help in protection against cancer [15].

**3. Role of hot pepper in micronutrient deficiencies**

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to enhanced peroxidation which leads to symptoms like walking difficulties and severe development of speech, reduced fat absorption syndrome, and lipoprotein abnormalities [16]. Deficiencies of iron may affect the growth and mental development and also decreases the capability to do physical work [3]. Some studies reported that the supplementation of zinc along with other micronutrients can reduce the severity of diarrhea diseases and respiratory infections [17]. These deficiencies occur in individuals who do not consume food that provides micronutrients sufficiently like fortified foods, fruits, and animal products. This is usually due to its excessive cost or may domestically unreachable. Among the various vegetables available, chili (*Capsicum annuum*), which are available to common man at affordable price and provide various vitamins like E, C, B6, B12, and provitamin A and some minerals, possibly will give rise to significantly enhanced nutrition [8].

To enhance the micronutrient status in humans, nutritionists suggest integrating

foods, which are rich in micronutrients, in diet. Among various vegetables, chili fruits are rich in capsaicinoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, provitamin A, ascorbic acid, and several antioxidants. Chilies are also an excellent source of xanthophylls and vitamins B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), and P (citrin) [18]. Hot pepper contains proteins (1.9 g), sugars (5.3 g), fiber (1.5 g), fat (0.4 g), energy (8.8 g), ascorbic acid (240%), pyridoxine (39%), vitamin A (32%), copper (14%), iron (13%), potassium (7%), and magnesium (6%) [19]. Nutrient constituents and their composition present in chili species in different countries are represented in **Table 1**. Red sweet

**2. Micronutrient deficiency in humans**

**90**

*Nutrient constituents and their composition in chili species in different countries.*

pepper consists of twice the provitamin A than in carrot and double the amount of vitamin C of green pepper, and it also acts as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrient [30]. Sweet pepper is fibrous in nature and is the sources of dietary fiber which could help in fighting blood cholesterol level and diabetes better from the body and bloodstream, respectively [31].
