Capsicum annuum (fruit)

Nomenclature

Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum   Solanaceae  
Syn. Capsicum frutescens L.  
Standardized common name (English): cayenne

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Capsicum annuum L. var annuum - Botanical Voucher Specimen - Alkemists Laboratories Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories	Source: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Organoleptic Characteristics

Scent Odor characteristic, sternutatory.  Flavor Intensely pungent. Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed.

Macroscopic Characteristics

Plant: Small, spreading shrub, .6-1 M. (2-3°) high; stem much branched; leaves alternate 5-7.5 Cm. (2-3') long, entire, glabrous; flowers 2-3 together in the bifurcations, greenish-yellow, July-Aug.; ovary 2-celled, many ovules. Fruit: Oblong-conical, 8-20 Mm. (1/3-4/5') long, 2-15 Mm. (1/12-3/5') thick, brownish-red, orange (pericarp), shining, membranous, translucent; 2-3-locular, united below, containing 6-17 flat, reniform, yellowish seeds attached to placenta, frequently detatched. Calyx when present light greenish-brown, inferior, inconspicuous, 5-toothed, usually attached to long straight peduncle. Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed. Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org Source: PlantaPhile Capsicum annuum L. var annuum - Botanical Powdered Fruit material - Alkemist Laboratories Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories

Microscopic Characteristics

Powder, yellowish-brown; microscopically--mounts with hydrated chloral T. S. (under microscope) show yellowish-red oil globules; stone cells 2 kinds, elongated, uniformly thin-walled (endocarp), irregular, thick-walled (seed-coat). Source: Culbreth, D. (1917) A Manual of Materia Media and Pharmacology, 6th ed. Red oil secretions viewed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories Large yellow cells of the testa epidermis with wavy, strongly thickened and pitted radial inner walls viewed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification

Capsicum annuum var. annuum L. HPTLC ID - Vanillin Sulfuric Acid White RT Cayenne (fruit) (Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.) Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample): 2 μL Capsaicin ~0.1% in Methanol 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-1 (fruit) 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-2 (fruit) 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-3 (fruit) 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-3 (fruit) 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-4 (fruit) 2 μL Capsicum annuum var. annuum L.-5 (fruit) 2 μL Capsaicin ~0.1% in Methanol Reference materials used here have been authenticated by macroscopic, microscopic &/or TLC studies according to the reference source cited below held at Alkemists Laboratories, Costa Mesa, CA.  Stationary Phase Silica gel 60, F254, 10 x 10 cm HPTLC plates  Mobile Phase toluene: ethyl acetate [7/3]  Sample Preparation Method 0.5g+5ml dichloromethane, sncte/cntrfge/dcnt, evap dry (N2), qs 1.0 ml Toluene  Detection Method Vanillin/H2SO4 Reagent -> 110° C 5 min -> Visible light  Reference see British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1996 Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories

Capsicum annum / Capsicum frutescens HPTLC ID - Dichloroquinone chlorimide reagent and ammonia vapour, white RT Cayenne pepper (fruit) (Capsicum annum / Capsicum frutescens) Lane Assignments Lanes, from left to right (Track, Volume, Sample): 3 µL Capsicum annum (Ph.Eur.) 4 µL Capsicum annum (Ph.Eur.) 5 µL Capsicum annum (Ph.Eur.) 3 µL Capsicum annum 4 µL Capsicum annum 5 µL Capsicum annum 2 µL Capsaicin 2 µL Dihydrocapsaicin 2 µL Capsicum frutescens 1 2 µL Capsicum frutescens 2 8 µL Cayenne pepper 1 10 µL Cayenne pepper 1 6 µL Cayenne pepper 2 8 µL Cayenne pepper 2  Reference Sample(s) Reference: Dissolve 2 mg of capsaicin in 5 mL of methanol. Dissolve 2 mg of dihydrocapsaicin in 5 mL of methanol.  Stationary Phase Stationary phase, i.e. Silica gel 60, RP-18, F254  Mobile Phase Water, methanol 20:80 (v/v)  Sample Preparation Method Sample: Mix 1 g of powdered sample with 10 mL of methanol and sonicate for 10 minutes, then centrifuge or filter the solutions and use the supernatants / filtrates as test solutions. Derivatization reagent: Dichloroquinone chlorimide reagent Preparation: 50 mg dichloroquinone chlorimide in 200 mL of ethyl acetate Use: Dip (time 0, speed 5), dry with cold air for 5 min, then expose to ammonia vapor  Detection Method Saturated chamber; developing distance 70 mm from lower edge; relative humidity 33%  Other Notes Images presented in this entry are examples and are not intended to be used as basis for setting specifications for quality control purposes. System suitability test: Capsaicin: blue zone at Rf ~ 0.47; Dihydrocapsaicin: blue zone at Rf ~ 0.40 Identification: Compare result with reference images. The fingerprint of the test solution is similar to that of the corresponding botanical reference sample. Additional weak zones may be present. The chromatogram of the test solution shows two blue zones at Rf ~ 0.40 and Rf ~ 0.47. Source: HPTLC Association