Capsicum genus (Solanaceae) is native to the Americas. Today, it is an important agricultural crop cultivated around the world, not only due to its economic importance, but also for the nutritional value of the fruits. Among their phytochemical constituents, capsaicinoids are characteristic and responsible of the pungency of sharp-tasting cultivars. Moreover, Capsicum and capsaicinoids (mainly, capsaicin) have been largely studied because of their health benefits. Thus, this study reviews the scientific knowledge about Capsicum spp. and their phytochemicals against cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, pain, and metabolic syndrome, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. These bioactivities can be the basis of the formulation of functional ingredients and natural preservatives containing Capsicum extracts or isolated compounds.

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Biologically active peptides are of particular interest in food science and nutrition because they have been shown to play different physiological roles, including antihypertensive, opioid, antimicrobial, and immunostimulating activities. Because these peptides are generated by protein hydrolysis or fermentation, they can represent only minor constituents in a highly complex matrix and therefore, identification of biologically active peptides in food matrixes is a challenging task in food technology. In this context, mass spectrometry (MS) has developed into a necessary tool to assess quality and safety of food and, more recently, to determine the presence and behavior of functional components such as these bioactive peptides. This review highlights the existing methods based on MS to identify, characterize, and quantify food-derived biologically active peptides, taking into account the different ionization sources used for the analysis of these high-value food components. The quantitative determination of bioactive peptides in food products or biological fluids is also discussed.

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