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Historically, Capsicum annuum or cayenne pepper has been administered for pain relief and increasing blood circulation (Loyd & Felter, 1898). Additionally, this herb is effective at ridding colds and fevers (King, 1854). There are various chemicals that help achieve this level of healing such as volatile oils, capsaicinoids, saponins, proteins, fats, vitamins, and provitamins (Skidmore-Roth, 2009). Specifically for tackling pain and viruses, the constituents capsaicin and capsicoside play an important part in making cayenne pepper a powerful herb.
First, capsaicin is one of the primary phytochemicals in cayenne pepper (Desai, 2016). This is what gives the pepper its impressive hot sensation. As a result of its immense burning capacity, the active chemical in pepper spray or Capsicum spray is capsaicin (Saljoughian, 2009). For medicinal purposes, this phenolic amide is typically employed to alleviate pain and can help arthritis and postherpetic neuralgia (Pengelly, 2021). This is because capsaicinoids have the ability to trigger neuron receptors and discharge the neuropeptides that oversee alerting the brain of pain and regulating inflammatory responses. In consequence, this chemical decreases the number of neuropeptides, which causes a drop in pain transmission to the brain. Ultimately, this leads to the reduction of pain.
Next, capsicosides provide cayenne with its antimicrobial skills (Skidmore-Roth, 2009). This phytochemical is a type of steroidal saponin, which are glycosidic compounds known for their ability to cause cell death (Escobar-Sánchez et al., 2015). Not only is this helpful in destroying bacteria, viruses, and fungi, this also makes them great at killing cancer cells. Additionally, capsicosides can decrease blood clots because they can boost cell membrane permeability, thus leading to blood cell apoptosis (Pengelly, 2021). However, if used in high amounts this can cause serious problems such as anemia and renal failure. In the end, this provides cayenne with various medicinal strengths such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cayenne pepper is a multifaceted herb that can heal several issues both topically and internally. However, they should be employed in proper amounts to avoid dangerous adverse effects. Capsaicin and capsicosides are phytochemicals that give cayenne an abundant amount of medicinal abilities. Overall, cayenne pepper is a highly recommended herb to keep around the house for effective therapeutics.
References
Desai, C. (2016). Meyler’s side effects of drugs: The international encyclopedia of adverse drug reactions and interactions. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 48(2), 224. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/capsicum-annuum#:~:text=Capsicum%20annuum%20(chili%20pepper)%20contains,%2C%20and%20steroids%2C%20including%20capsicoside
Escobar-Sánchez, M. L. , Sánchez-Sánchez, L., & JesúsSandoval-Ramírez, J. (2015). Steroidal Saponins and Cell Death in Cancer. In (Ed.), Cell Death – Autophagy, Apoptosis and Necrosis. IntechOpen. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/49208
King, J. (1854). Capsicum annuum. Cayenne Pepper. In The American Eclectic Dispensatory. essay, Moore, Wilstach & Keys. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/king1854/capsicum.html
Lloyd, J. U., & Felter, H. W. (1898). Capsicum (U. S. P.)—Capsicum. In King’s American Dispensatory (Vol. 1). essay, Ohio Valley Company. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/capsicum.html
Pengelly, A. (2021). The Constituents of Medicinal Plants. United Kingdom: CABI. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzEwODI5OF9fQU41?sid=4275d3d8-6422-421f-8ca6-5d97790c1a1b%40redis&vid=1&format=EB&lpid=lp_v&rid=0
Saljoughian, M. (2009, July 20). Capsaicin: Risks and Benefits. U.S. Pharmacist. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/capsaicin-risks-and-benefits
Skidmore-Roth, L. (2009). Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs & Natural Supplements. United States: Elsevier Health Sciences. Retrieved October 26, 2022, from https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=4275d3d8-6422-421f-8ca6-5d97790c1a1b%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=444863&db=nlebk
