Abstract

The effect of oral ingestion of aqueous extracts of two species of pepper, Capsicum annum var fastigatum (Linn) and Capsicum frutescens var minima (Linn) on the basal metabolic rate and histophysiology of the gastrointestinal tract and liver ofRattus norvegicus (L) was investigated.  Body weight data was recorded weekly during the period of investigation.  The various species of pepper produced a decrease in basal metabolic rate as the concentrations of the extract increased.  Gross and histopathological changes observed in the gastrointestinal tract and liver were demonstrated as cellular damage under light microscopy and weight loss.  The implications of these findings are discussed.

Key Words: Histophysiology, metabolic rate, albino rat pepper extracts.