BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AND SOME VITAMINS FROM VARIETIES OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM) GROWN IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE

The aim of this work was to isolate groups of bioactive compounds of biological interest from some varieties of pepper (Capsicum) grown and consumed in Cote d'Ivoire, to assess the ability of organic solvent to extract these compounds and to determine ascorbic acid and beta-carotene content. Polar, non polar and acid compounds of intermediate polarity obtained by thin layer chromatography (TLC) were used to isolate from the acetone extracts, from 33 to 34 compounds for C. annuum and from 27 to 33 for C. frutescens. The number of lipid compounds isolated from C. annuum varies from 32 to 33 and 24 to 29 in C. frutescens. The total non-lipid compounds obtained by the dichloromethane, acetone and methanol extract ranges from 88 to 103 for C. annuum, and from 84 to 96 for C. frutescens. The number of lipid compounds was higher for C. annuum than for C. frutescens. The lipid compounds and non-lipid compounds were highly variable depending on the variety of Capsicum. The ascorbic acid and beta carotene contents were obtained by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Beta-carotene content in pepper studied ranged from 68 to 535 µg 100 g -1 FW and ascorbic acid from 86 to 96 mg 100 g -1 FW. The current study may contribute to the knowledge of the nutritional and the bioactive compounds of the fruit and may offer knowledge of the potential health benefits for bell pepper consumers in Cote d’Ivoire..