Exploration of metabolic variations, anti-cholinesterase, anti-heme biocrystallization, and anti-protein denaturation activities of ten Capsicum accessions under different stages of ripening

Hydro-methanolic extracts of pericarps and seeds of 10 different Capsicum cultivars from three different species viz., Capsicum chinense, C. annuum and C. frutescens were assessed to determine metabolic variations and anti-cholinesterase, anti-malarial and anti-protein denaturation activities at four different stages of ripening, namely green unripe (GU), turning green-orange (TGO), orange ripe (OR) and red fully ripe (RFR) stages. Many of the ripening stages of the tested cultivars showed significant bioactivities in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, metabolites were identified using GC/MS. On the other hand, HPLC analysis revealed the highest capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin content in the pericarp of GU, TGO and RFR stages of C. chinense. β-Carotene, capsanthin and lutein contents of C. chinense were also measured using HPTLC technique. The GU and RFR stages of C. chinense contained appropriate amounts of all three carotenoids. These results may be helpful in selecting the cultivars with the best attributes.