Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

QUALITY EVALUATION OF CAPSICUM CONSUMED BY THE POPULATION OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

K.B. Burade, N.S. Naikwade, A.Y. Nalawade, S.S. Wankhede and A.R. Chopade

Abstract

Capsaicin was used as index to evaluate the quality of the most popularly consumed capsicum brands by the population of the central and southern Maharashtra (i.e., districts of Pune, Solapur, Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli, Maharashtra, India. The phenolic group in capsaicin was reduced by phosphomolybdic acid to lower acids of molybdenum, while the resulting blue colored component was read at 650nm as its intensity was directly proportional to its concentration. This was also accompanied by the estimates for foreign matter, moisture content, alcohol, and acetone and ether soluble extractives. After evaluation it was clear that the Pravin sample was the most therapeutic as high capsaicin content was present.Thus it was advisable, that the population should consume only the packed Agmark grade capsicum samples / brands when the medicinal or the therapeutic value capsicum is desired also in the preparation of various food items.