Red pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a type of vegetable that commonly used in the food industry as a spice and hot flavoring agent. It has been used in traditional medicine for many cultures for centuries. Red pepper contains a wide range of bioactive compounds including capsaicinoids, carotenoids, quercetin, and luteolin. Capsaicin is one of the main bioactive compounds which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiobesity, antiallergenic, and anticarcinogenic activities
Red pepper's antioxidant properties are due to scavenging free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), protecting cells and tissues from oxidative damage.
There have been numerous studies on the many health benefits of red pepper in humans and multiple species of animals. In chickens, most of the research has been related to improved "performance" related to growth of cornish chickens and egg laying qualities in hens.
Poultry Specific Studies
| Type | Plant Part | Dosage | Specific use | Results | Ref |
|---|
| Chickens | dried flakes | 7 mg/100 g of feed | blood biochemical parameters and egg quality | Improved lipid metabolism by increasing serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreasing triglyceride levels. Enhanced egg yolk pigmentation | S Kojima 2026 |
| Chickens | essential oil | | acaricide against poultry red mites | Had a significantly higher vapor efficacy than others essential oils studied after 24-48 h, with mite mortality of 100.0 %. | C Ran et al., 2025 |
| Chickens | powder | 0.75-1% of diet | Blood Biochemical Indices | Demonstrated significant improvements in blood biochemical parameters, particularly in lowering serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels while enhancing antioxidant status. Findings also revealed an improved nutritional composition of the eggs through modifications in egg yolk lipid profiles | Aikpitanyi, K. U., & Imasuen, J. A. 2024 |
| Chickens | oil | 0.25-1 mL to diet | "performance" | Decreased total lipid, triglycerides (Trig), cholesterol (Cho) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but did not affect high density lipoprotein (HDL) values. Enhanced liver function | S Hassam et al., 2023 |
| Chickens | | 2-4 mg/kg of diet for 42 days | "performance" | Enhanced digestive enzymes activities
improved jejunal development, and increased the relative liver and Bursa of Fabricius weight in growing cornish chickens. | Z Li et al., 2022 |
| Chickens | extract | 80 mg/kg of diet | "performance" | Improved growth "performance", nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, and immune function. | S Liu et al., 2021 |
| Quail | oil | 0.8 g/kg diet | antioxidant | Enhanced the performance and antioxidant indices and decrease intestinal pathogens. | F Reda et al., 2019 |
| Chickens | | 0.5% of diet | GI health | Resulted in a simulated effect on intestinal villi and the structure of epithelial cells and increased bile secretion by stimulating pancreatic and intestinal enzymes. | K Lokaewmanee et al., 2013 |
| Chickens | powder | 0.8% of diet | egg quality | Enhanced yolk color | H Li et al., 2012 |
References
- C Hunter. "Chili Pepper: Herbal Fire for Digestion and Circulation" The Practical Herbalist (2015)
- Beukovic, M., Puvaca, N., Ljubojevic, D., Teodosin, S., Kostadinovic, L., & Stanacev, V.. "Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum L.) and Hot Red Pepper (Capsicum Annum L.) in Broiler Chicken Nutrition" (2015)
- Puvaa, N., KOSTADINOVI, L., Ljubojevi, D., Luka, D., Levi, J., Popovi, S. & uragi, O. "Effect of garlic, black pepper and hot red pepper on productive performances and blood lipid profile of broiler chickens." European Poultry Science (2015)
- Lokaewmanee K, Yamauchi K, Okuda N.. "Effects of dietary red pepper on egg yolk colour and histological intestinal morphology in laying hens." Journal of Animal Physiology & Nutrition (2012)
- George DR, Sparagano OA, Port G, Okello E, Shiel RS, Guy JH.. "Repellence of plant essential oils to Dermanyssus gallinae and toxicity to the non-target invertebrate Tenebrio molitor." Veterinary Parasitology (2009)
- Mtambo, M. M. A., Mushi, E. J., Kinabo, L. D. B., Maeda-Machang’u, A., Mwamengele, G. L. M., Yongolo, M. G. S., & Temu, . "Evaluation of the efficacy of the crude extracts of Capsicum frutescens, Citrus limon and Opuntia vulgaris against Newcastle disease in domestic fowl in Tanzania" Journal of ethnopharmacology (1999)
