Abstract：
The use of natural food items as antioxidants has gained increasing popularity and attention in recent times supported by scientific studies validating the antioxidant properties of natural food items. Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are also important sources of antioxidants and several studies published during the last few decades identified and quantified various groups of phytochemicals with antioxidant capacities as well as indicated the influence of several pre- and postharvest factors on the antioxidant capacity of pepper. Therefore, this review summarizes the research findings on the antioxidant activity of pepper published to date and discusses their potential health benefits as well as the factors influencing the antioxidant activity in pepper. The major antioxidant compounds in pepper include capsaicinoids, capsinoids, vitamins, carotenoids, phenols, and flavonoids, and these antioxidants potentially modulate oxidative stress related to aging and diseases by targeting reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, lipid peroxidation products, as well as genes for transcription factors that regulate antioxidant response elements genes. The review also provides a systematic understanding of the factors that maintain or improve the antioxidant capacity of peppers and the application of these strategies offers options to pepper growers and spices industries for maximizing the antioxidant activity of peppers and their health benefits to consumers. In addition, the efficacy of pepper antioxidants, safety aspects, and formulations of novel products with pepper antioxidants have also been covered with future perspectives on potential innovative uses of pepper antioxidants in the future.
摘要：
近年来,在验证天然食品的抗氧化特性的科学研究的支持下,使用天然食品作为抗氧化剂已经获得越来越多的普及和关注。辣椒（辣椒属。）也是抗氧化剂的重要来源，在过去的几十年中发表的几项研究确定并量化了具有抗氧化能力的各种植物化学物质，并指出了几种采前和采后因素对辣椒抗氧化能力的影响。因此,这篇综述总结了迄今为止发表的关于辣椒抗氧化活性的研究结果，并讨论了辣椒潜在的健康益处以及影响辣椒抗氧化活性的因素。辣椒中的主要抗氧化化合物包括辣椒素，capsinoids,维生素,类胡萝卜素，酚类物质,和类黄酮，这些抗氧化剂可能通过靶向活性氧和氮来调节与衰老和疾病相关的氧化应激，脂质过氧化产物，以及调节抗氧化反应元件基因的转录因子基因。该综述还提供了对维持或改善辣椒抗氧化能力的因素的系统理解，这些策略的应用为辣椒种植者和香料行业提供了选择，以最大限度地提高辣椒的抗氧化活性及其对消费者的健康益处。此外,辣椒抗氧化剂的功效,安全方面,以及含有胡椒抗氧化剂的新型产品的配方也涵盖了未来胡椒抗氧化剂潜在创新用途的未来观点。
