Analytical and technological aspects on bioactive compounds in spice red pepper

Abstract

During the last decades comprehensive data in the field of chemistry, biology and technology of spice red pepper (paprika) have rapidly accumulated. In food science and technology the research work focused on, among others, developing accurate, simple, rapid, reliable, and of high sensitivity analytical methods to determine paprika pigments and antioxidants. The research concentrated mainly on the development and optimisation of liquid chromatographic methods to determine the carotenoids, tocopherols (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). In the area of plant biology/physiology characterisation of ripening of traditional and new cultivars and hybrids of spice red pepper was the main objective of research work carried out by research groups in different countries. In the field of paprika processing and technology special interest has been given to the effect of different drying technologies on the quality components of paprika and their stability during drying, milling and storage. The aim of many research programs was to produce paprika with high colouring capacity, antioxidant content and storage stability. The objective of this article is to review the research works done on spice red pepper in the Central Food Research Institute, Budapest.