Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Insecticidal Activities of Capsicum annuum L. Extracts

Abstract

The present study focuses on the biological and phytochemical investigation of Capsicum annuum L., aiming to perform a phytochemical screening of the plant extracts, evaluate their biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and assess their insecticidal activity against aphids. This work also includes a general overview of the chili pepper plant, its taxonomy, morphology, chemical composition, nutritional importance, and pharmaceutical applications. Special attention was given to bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, capsaicinoids, and carotenoids due to their significant biological activities. Experimentally, extracts were prepared and analyzed for their phenolic composition using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays, while the anti-inflammatory potential was determined through the protein denaturation inhibition assay (BSA test). In addition, the insecticidal efficacy of the extracts was tested against aphids in order to assess their potential use as a natural biopesticide. The obtained results revealed that the extracts of Capsicum annuum L. contained considerable amounts of phenolic compounds, with total phenolic contents ranging from 2.20 ± 2.23 GAE/g extract. The extracts also exhibited significant antioxidant activity, as confirmed by the DPPH and FRAP assays, with inhibition percentages reaching 81.1% and reducing power values of 3.58 ± 0.04. Furthermore, promising anti-inflammatory effects were observed through the inhibition of protein denaturation, with inhibition rates varying according to extract concentration. In addition, the extracts demonstrated notable insecticidal activity against aphids, where the mortality rate increased progressively with both concentration and exposure time, reaching a maximum value of 96.66% after 2 hours. In conclusion, Capsicum annuum L. represents an important natural source of biologically active compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food industries. These findings support the valorization of chili pepper extracts as eco-friendly alternatives for biological control and therapeutic purposes.