Pungency of capsicum

Suzuki T, Fujiwake H, Iwai K (1980) Intracellular localization of capsaicin and its analogues, capsaicinoid, in Capsicum fruit. 1. Microscopic investigation of the structure of the placenta of Capsicum annuum var. annuum cv. Karayatsubusa. Plant Cell Physiol 21 839-853 Ohta Y (1963) Physiological and genetical studies on the pungency of Capsicum IV. Secretory organ, receptacles and distribution of capsaicin in the Capsicum fruits. Jap J Breed 12 179-183... 

The threshold values obtained by this improved procedure for the different capsaicinoids and some synthetics are given in Table X. These values were used to calculate actual pungency of capsicum extract from the gas chromatographic determination of individual capsaicinoids, and a significant correlation with sen-sorily estimated pungency was found (See later, Figure 3). 

The traditional assessment of capsicum is by means of a pungency test. Obviously such a test leaves much to be desired and a method is now available for the determination of capsaicin which is known to be the only substance responsible for the pungency of capsicum. The method given below, which is based on one recommended by the joint Pharmaceutical Society/Society for Analytical Chemistry Committee on methods of assay... 

Heiser CB, Smith PG (1953) The cultivated Capsicum peppers. Econ Bot 7 214-227 Blum E, Liu K, Mazourek M, Yoo EY, Jahn MM, Paran I (2002) Molecular mapping of the C locus for presence of pungency in Capsicum. Genome 45 702-705... 

Votava E, Bosland P (2002) Novel sources of non-pungency in Capsicum species. Capsicum Eggplant Newslett 21 66-68... 

Ben Chaim A, Borovsky Y, Ealise M, Mazourek M, Kung BC, Paran 1, Jahn MM (2006) QTL analysis for capsaicinoid content in Capsicum. Theor Appl Genet 113 1481-1490 HarveU K, Bosland PW (1997) The environment produces a significant effect on pungency of chiles. HortScience 32 1292... 

Table I. Capsaicinoids and pungency of world varieties of capsicum some...

Table II. Pungency stimulants of capsicum -the natural capsaicinoids...

It is, therefore, clearly possible to evaluate by instrumental methods the quantity of synthetics present as adulterants in a sample of capsicum extract or oleoresin, to determine individual capsaicinoids or total capsaicinoids, and to predict the pungency of the capsicum preparations. 

The pungency of ginger is mild compared with capsicum. Gingerols and shogaols have... 

Sato et al. (1999) developed a rapid quantitative method for estimating capsai-cinoids in placentas of Capsicum. This was achieved by employing a direct connection of supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography. They suggested this method was useful as a rapid (20 min) and safe screening test for the pungency of C. annuum fruits. 

The immunity of birds to the pungency of capsaicinoids underlies the development of pepper-laced bird seeds that are avoided by squirrels and other competing foraging animals. Since CPS has an interesting adivity against Salmonella sp. [82], the insensitivity of birds to the pungency of peppers has also served as the basis to develop capsicum-based produds as an alternative to antibiotics to prevent salmonella infedion in poultry. CPS is apparently not absorbed, since the flesh of the animals remain nonpungent. 

It is interesting to discuss the SEE of capsaicin next, directly after the discussion of the SEE of vanillin. Capsaicin is an amide (containing isoprene units) derivative of vanillin. Ten parts per milhon can be detected by tasting. Capsaicin is the compound responsible for the pungency (heat) of Jalapena and other peppers. It is the pungent principle in fruit of various species of Capsicum Solanaceae. 

Sanatombi, K. and Sharma, G. J. 2008. Capsaicin content and pungency of different Capsicum spp. cultivars. Not. Bot. Hort. Agrobot. Cluj. 36 89-90. 

Thonsands of paprika varieties belong to the Capsicum genns and they vary widely in their sizes, shapes, colors, flavors, and pungency levels. The major carotenoids fonnd in red paprika are capsanthin and capsornbin, which posses k end gronp. Yellow pigments such as lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, and 3-carotene... 

Capsicum annum is cultivated in Hungary, and fed to canaries in order to improve the appearance of the plumage. Known as "tasteless Cayenne," this is quite free from pungency.)... 

The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) (12). adopted, in 196B, an official method (21.0) for pungency evaluation for capsicum, which appears to be an adaptation of procedures then in use by some flavour houses. These methods were probably developed as a routine quality control procedure, on samples obtained usually... 

The most important of the spices known for pungency are the chillies, the larger and less pungent variety, Capsicum annum L., the smaller, pungent variety Capsicum frutescens L. and the bird chilli a Capsicum frutescens variety. Apart from color, which is important in the case of paprika, a large variety, pungency is the most important quality attribute of the capsicums used in foods. 

Estrada, B., Diaz, J., Merino, F. and Bernal, M.A. (1 999b) The effect of seasonal changes on the pungency level of Padron pepper fruits. Capsicum and Eggplant Newsletter 1 8, 28-31. 

Govindarajan, V.S. and Sathyanarayana, M.N. (1 986) Capsicum production, technology, chemistry, and quality. Part III. Chemistry of the color, aroma, and pungency stimuli. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 24(3), 245-355. 

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