Podravka and Slavonka Varieties of Pepper Seeds (Capsicum annuum L.) as a New Source of Highly Nutritional Edible Oil

The aim of this study was to evaluate Croatian pepper seed varieties (Podravka and Slavonka) as a new source of added value ingredients. Pepper seed is mostly considered a by-product. For the first time, the pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds of the Slavonka and Podravka varieties were examined as the source material for oil production by the two methods of extraction: cold pressing (CP) and supercritical CO₂ extraction (SC-CO₂). Further, fatty acid profile, tocopherols, and sensory analysis of the oils were examined, as well as the chemical characteristics and antioxidant potential of seed flour. The antioxidant potential of pepper seed flour was different between varieties (Podravka 107 antioxidant unit (AU); Slavonka 70 antioxidant unit (AU)). The Podravka variety pepper seed oil has shown higher γ-tocopherol content (CP 80.1 mg/100 g; SC-CO₂ extraction 65.3 mg/100 g) than the Slavonka variety (CP 65.3 mg/100 g; SC-CO₂ extraction 16.0 mg/100 g). According to the obtained results, cold pressing (CP) would be a more favourable method for pepper seed oil extraction, taking into account sensory evaluation and nutritional quality. The pepper seed oil has potential for culinary application with a nutritional quality comparable to vegetable oils of a higher price class.

Effect of defatted pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seed extracts on high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice

This study investigated the effect of defatted pepper seed ethanolic extract (DPSE) on high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were fed a normal diet (ND), high fat diet (HFD), or HFD in combination with DPSE (100 and 200mg/kg body weight) for 7 weeks. Supplementing the HFD of mice with DPSE significantly decreased body weight gain and food efficiency ratio induced by HFD. The amount of epididymal fat and size of adipocytes were also dramatically reduced by DPSE supplementation. Although no statistical significance was found between the HFD and HFD plus DPSE groups in plasma fat deposition, liver weight, and hepatic cholesterol contents were significantly reduced in the DPSE-treated group. In conclusion, these results suggest that DPSE could prevent obesity and adiposity. These effects may be important in developing therapeutic agents against obesity in future.

Effect of the Capsicoside G-rich Fraction from Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Seeds on High-fat Diet-induced Obesity in Mice

Obesity is one of the most common metabolic syndromes and is a major threat to human health worldwide. Given the size of this problem, there is growing interest in natural agents that may decrease obesity. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of a capsicoside G-rich fraction (CRF; 13.35% capsicoside G) isolated from pepper seeds in diet-induced obese mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD), with or without CRF (HFD + CRF; 10 and 100 mg/kg body weight). The body weight and food efficiency ratio of mice fed HFD + CRF were lower in comparison to that of mice fed only an HFD. Epididymal adipose tissue weight and adipocyte hypertrophy were significantly lower in HFD + CRF mice than in HFD mice. The fat deposition in the liver of mice fed HFD + CRF was lower compared to that of mice fed only an HFD. CRF significantly reversed the HFD-induced elevation of the expression of key adipocyte differentiation regulators, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c, and their target genes. These results suggest that CRF could be used as dietary therapy for the prevention of obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.