Capsicum has been used since ancient times not only as a traditional medicine but also as a natural colorant. The medicinal properties of capsicum make it popular in both ayurvedic and homeopathic treatments. In Capsicum: The Genus Capsicum, experts provide information on all aspects of this plant, including its ethnobotany, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, cultivation, tissue culture and commercial uses. Capsaicin, the pungent, principle component of capsicum, was used in the recent discovery of a "hot receptor," or pain sensor, in the human heart. This and a variety of other therapeutic properties have earned capsicum much industrial importance. This book details the therapeutic applications of capsaicin together with its action on different biological systems.
Biography
Amit Krishna De
"[This book] provides a scholarly, comprehensive review of one plant genus. … Extensively referenced. … Recommended for special agriculture libraries and academic libraries especially those with curricula in the areas of botany, chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, toxicology and agriculture."
- E-Streams, Vol. 7, No. 5, May 2004"It does not disappoint the reader. A major reference source for anyone with an interest in Capsicum, Amit Krishna De and his collaborators present intensive coverage of many aspects of the evolution, production, and worldwide trade in chili peppers. Delightful reading … . This is an essential reference … that the reader will return to time and again. Anyone who does any type of research involving Capsicum species will find this work an excellent investment."
– Deborah J. Clifton, Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium, University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Economic Botany, Vol. 60, 2006
