Capsicum Waste as a Sustainable Source of Capsaicinoids for Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Capsaicinoids are pungent alkaloid compounds enriched with antioxidants, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesics, anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. These compounds are primarily synthesised in the placenta of the fruit and then transported to other vegetative parts. Different varieties of capsicum and chillies contain different capsaicinoid concentrations. As capsicums and chillies are grown extensively throughout the world, their agricultural and horticultural production leads to significant amount of waste generation, in the form of fruits and plant biomass. Fruit wastes (placenta, seeds and unused fruits) and plant biowaste (stems and leaves) can serve as sources of capsaicinoids which can provide opportunities to extract these compounds for development of nutraceutical products using conventional or advanced extraction techniques. Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin are two most abundantly found pungent compounds. Considering the health benefits of capsaicinoids, these compounds can help in reducing metabolic disease complications. The development of an advanced encapsulation therapy of safe and clinically effective oral capsaicinoid/capsaicin formulation seem to require evaluation of strategies to address challenges related to the dosage, limited half-life and bioavailability, adverse effects and pungency, and the impacts of other ligands antagonising the major capsaicinoid receptor.

One‐Pot Production of Vanillin from Capsaicinoids through a Retrosynthetic Enzyme Cascade

“…It is notable that almost 46% of Capsicum crops are estimated to be discarded in landfills annually due to non-marketable quaility. [35] We expect that such nonsaleable Capsicum waste could be harnessed as a costeffective and environmentally friendly feedstock for capsaicinoid extraction. [36] In comparison to microbial production methods often challenged by vanillin overoxidation by intracellular oxidoreductases, our enzyme cascade is free of undesirable byproducts, thereby enhancing product yield.…”

“…The ready availability of natural capsaicinoids from Capsicum fruits makes our approach promising for scalable vanillin production. It is notable that almost 46% of Capsicum crops are estimated to be discarded in landfills annually due to non‐marketable quaility [35] . We expect that such non‐saleable Capsicum waste could be harnessed as a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly feedstock for capsaicinoid extraction [36]…”

Use of Biomaterials in 3D Printing as a Solution to Microbial Infections in Arthroplasty and Osseous Reconstruction

“…Another avenue that can be explored to enhance the antimicrobial properties of the discussed biomaterials is phytochemicals [ 379 , 380 ]. Recent research has highlighted the antimicrobial potential of numerous phytochemicals (e.g., [ 381 , 382 , 383 , 384 , 385 , 386 ]); many purified plant compounds have been found to have antimicrobial properties, such as capsaicin [ 387 ] and other capsaicinoids [ 388 , 389 ], curcumin [ 390 , 391 , 392 ], kaempferol and its derivatives [ 393 , 394 ], catechins [ 395 , 396 ], turmeric [ 397 ], fucoidan [ 398 ], and other plant compounds (e.g., [ 399 , 400 ]). Phytochemicals have already been used as coatings for a variety of materials and for a variety of purposes.…”

A Capsicum annuum L. seed extract exerts anti-neuroexcitotoxicity in HT22 hippocampal neurons

“…17 However, the agricultural and horticultural sectors associated with its cultivation generate considerable waste, primarily comprising fruit components (placenta, seeds, and unused pulps) as well as plant parts (stems and leaves). 18 Recently, studies on Capsicum annuum L. seeds have reported diverse pharmacological effects, including anti-obesity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose homeostatic regulation properties. 19 Notably, the extract from Capsicum annuum L. seeds exhibited superior hippocampal ROS scavenging abilities compared to extracts from fifteen other types of seeds.…”