Determination of capsaicinoid profile of different chilli peppers grown in Turkey

In this research the major pungent components of chilli peppers, namely capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and nordihydrocapsaicin, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Chilli pepper varieties Maras, Sus, Cin and Isot were collected from different regions (Maras and Urfa) of Turkey. Capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin and nordihydrocapsaicin contents of Maras peppers were 0.81-1.42, 0.38-0.70 and 0.01-0.04 mg g(-1) respectively. Total capsaicinoid contents of Sus, Cin and Isot peppers were 2.11, 4.70 and 0.55 mg g(-1) respectively, while total capsaicinoid contents of their seeds were 0.63, 1.70 and 1.60 mg g(-1) respectively. All the peppers in this study belong to the family Solanaceae, genus Capsicum and species annuum or frutescens.