Paper chromatographic determination of total capsaicinoids in green chillies (Capsicum annuum).

Total capsaicinoids were extracted from fresh and sun-dried green chillies and bell capsicum. Sun-drying of green chillies before extraction showed economy in raw material, solvent, energy, time and ease of handling. Sun-dried samples gave clear homogeneous transparent extracts and it also prevented over-estimation especially in bell capsicum. The difference between determined and predicted pungency is larger for fresh extracts than sun dried extracts, because some of the non-pungent Gibbs-positive phenolics and related compounds are eliminated by sun drying. About 30 samples could be handled in a day after extraction.