Carotenoid Composition and Vitamin A Value in Ají (Capsicum baccatum L.) and Rocoto (C. pubescens R. & P.), 2 Pepper Species from the Andean Region

Abstract

The carotenoid patterns of fully ripe fruits from 12 Bolivian accessions of the Andean peppers Capsicum baccatum (ají) and C. pubescens (rocoto) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array detector (PDA)-mass spectrometry (MS). We include 2 California Wonder cultivars as C. annuum controls. A total of 16 carotenoids were identified and differences among species were mostly found at the quantitative level. Among red-fruited genotypes, capsanthin was the main carotenoid in the 3 species (25% to 50% contribution to carotenoid fraction), although ajíes contained the lowest contribution of this carotenoid. In addition, the contribution of capsanthin 5,6-epoxide to total carotenoids in this species was high (11% to 27%) in comparison to rocotos and red C. annuum. Antheraxanthin and violaxanthin were, in general, the next most relevant carotenoids in the red Andean peppers (6.1% to 10.6%). Violaxanthin was the major carotenoid in yellow-/orange-fruited genotypes of the 3 species (37% to 68% total carotenoids), although yellow rocotos were characterized by lower levels (<45%). Cis-violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and lutein were the next most relevant carotenoids in the yellow/orange Andean peppers (5% to 14%). As a whole, rocotos showed the highest contributions of provitamin A carotenoids to the carotenoid fraction. In terms of nutritional contribution, both ajíes and rocotos provide a remarkable provitamin A activity, with several accessions showing a content in retinol equivalents higher than California Wonder controls. Furthermore, levels of lutein in yellow/orange ajíes and rocotos were clearly higher than California Wonder pepper (≥1000 μg·100/g). Finally, the Andean peppers, particularly red ajíes, can be also considered as a noticeable source of capsanthin, the most powerful antioxidant compound among pepper carotenoids. Practical Application: Capsicum peppers are known for their content in carotenoids, although there is no information about 2 species with Andean origin: ajíes and rocotos. Due to their relevance for the Andean cuisine and increasing importance in ethnic restaurants in Europe, we studied their carotenoid pattern and vitamin A contribution.

Phytochemicals in native Peruvian Capsicum pubescens (Rocoto)

“…Only the red-/orangecolored accessions 2, 6 and 17 had ASTA values at 50 and above, all other were below 30. According to [15], no red carotenoids can be observed in yellow-fruiting C. pubescens varieties. C. pubescens had the lowest median of all Peruvian Capsicum species for extractable color.…”

“…Open-field conditions increased the carotenoid content of red and yellow fruits [15]. The different color was reflected by different carotenoid patterns.…”

“…Eight C. pubescens varieties provided 14 mg to 32 mg ascorbic acid/100 g fresh weight and phenolics with concentrations between 88 and 166 mg/100 g [15] when analyzed by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Two other publications applying the same analytical method reported 132 mg/100 g [16] and 113 mg/100 g [17].…”

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Capsicum baccatum: From traditional use to scientific approach

“…The red pepper Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum is widely consumed in Brazil, and the few reports found in the literature focus on its carotenoid and capsaicinoid compositions and the antioxidant activity of its crude juice (Kappel et al, 2008;Rodriguez-Burruezo et al, 2010;Kollmannsberger et al, 2011). In a preliminary study about the anti-inflammatory activity, Spiller et al (2008) assayed a crude extract of Capsicum baccatum via i.p.…”

Bioactive compounds and some vitamins from varieties of pepper (Capsicum) grown in CÔTE D’IVOIRE

“…In the United State of America, vitamin A values now are expressed as retinol activity equivalents (RAE), rather than RE. These carotenoids function as antioxidant at low oxygen pressure and they may protect tissues against free radical damage and peroxidation [12]. Carotenoids also play an important role in human health for their antioxidant and free-radical scavenging effect; prevention of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, eye disorders, skin degeneration and aging.…”