A fresh look at siling
labuyo
Siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) has the potential to
reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cataract, and macular degeneration. This was stressed by Dr. Evelyn B. Rodriguez,
professor from the Institute of Chemistry at the University of the Los Baños
(UPLB) in a seminar on indigenous plants for health and wellness at the Bureau
of Agricultural Research (BAR) during its 19th National Research Symposium and
in celebration of the 8th National Agriculture and Fisheries R&D Week.
Also known as the chili pepper, siling labuyo is among the
indigenous plants that the Department of Agriculture (DA) promotes through the
Indigenous Plants for Health and Wellness RDE Program” of BAR. The said program aims to promote and
highlight the importance of indigenous plants and its products.
The fruit of siling-labuyo is a popularly used as a spicy and
chili condiment while its leaves are usually consumed as vegetables.
In medicinal terms, the labuyo fruit was earlier utilized as
an herbal plant to ease arthritis and rheumatism. Likewsie, the labuyo is an effective cure for
dyspepsia, flatulence, and toothache.
“Phytochemicals are what people need to stay healthy,” Dr.
Rodriguez stressed in her presentation.
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds that are abundant in
fruits, vegetables and other plant species.
These naturally-occurring compounds which act as anti-oxidants capable
of metabolizing free-radicals in the body that can cause cell death.
In chili pepper, carotenoids and phenolic acids are the
phytochemicals that can be derived from its leaves and fruits.
Based on the studies conducted by the team of Dr. Rodriguez,
the anti-oxidant activity of siling labuyo extracts (300ppm) in terms of free
radical scavenging activity is 60.1%.
Meanwhile, phenolic content of fruit and leaves of labuyo are 3536mg/Kg
and 839mg/Kg fresh sample, respectively.
Dr. Roriguez encouraged eating a variety of fruits and
vegetables to acquire the phytochemicals present in them along with its
promising health and wellness benefits.
Moreover, Dr. Rodriguez pointed that more studies should be
done on siling labuyo and with other indigenous plants like malunggay. The potential disease-preventive mechanisms
of pyhytochemicals in fruits, vegetables and their constituents are not limited
to antioxidant activity only. The
phytochemicals can also act in the modulation of detoxification enzymes,
stimulation of the immune system, alteration of cholesterol mechanism, and
blood pressure reduction.
Hot Benefits from
Siling Labuyo
FILED UNDER CAPSAICIN,
CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS L., HOT BENEFITS FROM SILING LABUYO, HOT PEPPER, , SILING
LABUYO
For sure, every Filipino knows hot pepper or siling labuyo
(Capsicum Frutescens L.).
It can be found everywhere in the backyard gardens in provinces
and a favorite condiments of our lolo’s and lola’s. Siling labuyo is the famous
ingredient of the proudly pinoy dish “Bicol Express”.
But, did you know that siling labuyo also gives a lot of
health benefits aside from that of condiments?
Siling Labuyo contains capsaicin – it is a chemical compound
that causes the burning sensation in the mouth. With that hot and burning
feeling, capsaicin triggers the brain to kick out flood of endorphins, a
natural pain killer of the body that promotes sense of well being and
stimulation.
Siling labuyo gives an amazing relief to arthritis and
rheumatism. It brings down blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, prevents
blood clots, halts bleeding quickly, knocks out cold and flu miseries. It also
reduces risk of heart diseases and tuberculosis. In addition it is an ulcer
healer.
Currently, there are numerous of studies going on for the
medicinal applications of siling labuyo since it is associated with therapeutic
actions such as: aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, expectorant, neural stimulant,
rubefacient, synergist vasomotor stimulant, topical vasodilator, etc.
TRIVIA:
The best remedy to combat the fire of siling labuyo are dairy
products such as milk, yogurt, or even ice cream. Starchy foods like white
bread, mashed potato or cooked white rice also have a neutralizing effect on
the natural alkaloids of capsaicin.
However, alcoholic beverages are just about the worst thing
to drink when consuming chili because they tend to increase the absorption rate
pf capsaicin within the body.
Chilli peppers reveal
red-hot health benefits
Habanero, jalapeno, Scotch bonnet — those hot but tasty
varieties of the capsicum frutescens have multiple health benefits — including
the ability to drive prostate cancer cells to kill themselves, according to a
report in The Washington Times.
A research team from the University of California at Los
Angeles and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that the hot stuff in peppers —
capsaicin — caused 80 per cent of active prostate cancer cells growing in mice
to "follow the molecular pathways leading to apoptosis" or cell
death.
The cancer cells essentially committed suicide. What's more,
the cancer tumours of the mice treated with a hot pepper extract were one-fifth
the size of untreated mice. "Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative
effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture," said Dr Soren Lehmann.
"It also dramatically slowed the development of prostate tumours formed by
those human cell lines grown in mouse models."
According to Dr Lehmann, the mice were fed a dose of pepper
extract equivalent to what a normal person might consume — 400 milligrams of
extract three times a week. That amount translates to three to eight fresh
habanero peppers.
Other research has shown peppers to have antioxidant
properties, and their anti-inflammatory properties have been tapped for
treatment of migraines, arthritis and muscle pain. Hot peppers also have been
found to suppress appetites
and clear a stuffy head and are a good source of vitamins A, C and E,
folic acid and potassium.
INABRAW,
INABRAW.WORDPRESS.COM
My tita Sabel is a
natural herbalist she has all the herbal plant in her backyard. She introduces
to me the wonders of Siling labuyo. She mentioned, Siling Labuyo healed her
almoranas? She said it is good in potassium,
arthritis, anti-inflammatory, etc. She said taking Sili Labuyo as capsule can make
you strong in your old age. To prove she’s right I made my own research. And
somehow my tita is right.
Very Nice, thank you. Visit Our Website.
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