Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Properties of Hot Pepper Flower (Capsicum annuum L.)

At present, the various medical treatments of obesity involve side effects. The aim of the research is therefore to find natural compounds that have anti-obesity activity with minimum disadvantages. In this study, the hypolipidemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of flowers from Capsicum annuum L. was examined through the evaluation of inhibition of pancreatic lipase. Antioxidant activity was assessed using different tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide ((NO)-N-center dot) and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Phytochemical analysis indicated that total phenolic and flavonoid content in the extract was 128.7 +/- 4.5 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent/g of crude extract and 17.66 +/- 0.11 mg of quercetin equivalent/g of crude extract, respectively. The extract inhibited pancreatic lipase with IC50 value equal to 3.54 +/- 0.18 mg/ml. It also inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC50 value of 27.61 +/- 2.25 mu g/ml after 30 min of incubation and 41.69 +/- 1.13 mu g/ml after 60 min of incubation. The IC50 value of radical scavenging activity was 51.90 +/- 2.03 mu g/ml. The extract was also able to inhibit NO production (IC50 = of 264.3 +/- 7.98 mu g/ml) without showing any cytotoxic effect.