antioxidants Review Carotenoids of Capsicum Fruits: Pigment Profile and Health-Promoting Functional Attributes Norazian Mohd Hassan 1,* , Nurul Asyiqin Yusof 2, Amirah Fareeza Yahaya 1, Nurul Nasyitah Mohd Rozali 1 and Rashidi Othman 3,4 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Malaysia;
[email protected] (A.F.Y.);
[email protected] (N.N.M.R.) 2 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Malaysia;
[email protected] 3 International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), Herbarium Unit, Department of Landscape Architecture, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environment Design, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 53100, Malaysia;
[email protected] 4 Department of Landscape Architecture, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 53100, Malaysia * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +60-9-570-4937 Received: 23 August 2019; Accepted: 5 October 2019; Published: 9 October 2019 Abstract: Pepper of the Capsicum species is a common ingredient in various food preparations by different cultures worldwide. The Capsicum is recognised by its five main domesticated species, namely Capsicum annuum, C. baccatum, C. chinense, C. frutescens and C. pubescens. The genetic diversity in Capsicum offers fruits in wide ranges of morphology and carotenoid profile. Carotenoids enhance the value of pepper from a nutritional standpoint, despite being commonly prized for the pharmacologically active pungent capsaicinoids. Carotenoids of pepper comprise mainly of the unique, powerful and highly stable capsanthin and capsoroubin, together with β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin. These carotenoids are present at diverse profile and varying levels, biosynthetically connected to the fruit maturity stages.