Arpan Kumar Tripathi

Bhut Jholokia, or "Bhut Jolokia" or "ghost pepper" (Capsicum chinense Jacq.), is one of the world's hottest chili varieties and an important part of the ethnobotany of northeast India. Its high capsaicinoid content has created a lot of interest in its phytochemical chemistry and wide range of biological activities, such as analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, metabolic modulation, and possible cardiovascular benefits. This review offers a concise synthesis of its botanical characterization, traditional therapy, phytochemical profile, pharmacology, toxicology, and agronomic and quality concerns. It also highlights current knowledge gaps and suggests research priorities for upcoming translational and clinical investigations.

The present study evaluated the antifungal potential of methanolic bark and leaf extracts of Caryota urens (family: Arecaceae), a palm species traditionally used in folk medicine. Extracts were prepared and screened against Trichoderma asperellum using the disc diffusion method, with Amphotericin B (180 µg/disc) serving as the positive control. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, and saponins, compounds known for their antimicrobial properties. Both extracts exhibited moderate antifungal activity in a dose-dependent manner. At 1000 µg/disc, the leaf extract produced an inhibition zone of 7 mm, whereas the bark extract showed stronger activity with zones of 9–10 mm. In comparison, Amphotericin B produced a 10 mm inhibition zone at a lower concentration, confirming its higher potency. These findings suggest that C. urens possesses bioactive constituents with antifungal activity, particularly in the bark, and highlight its potential as a natural source for the development of novel antifungal agents.