Learn something new! Chili peppers are not only spicy, they can also be used to make lipsticks.

The weather is getting colder. It is such a happy thing to have a hot and spicy hot pot in the cold winter. It can not only keep warm, but also relax with a few friends. After eating, we always joke with each other that we get a "lipstick" of the hot pot color after eating a hot pot.

However, did you know that the main ingredient of spicy hot pot base, chili, is not only very delicious, but can actually be used to make lipstick!

Spicy hot pot. Copyright image, no permission to reprint

01

Little-known fact: Chili peppers can also be used to make lipstick

Chili peppers can be used to make lipstick, mainly because of capsanthin.

Capsanthin is a natural tetraterpenoid pigment rich in red peppers, with a molecular formula of C40H56O3. The color of peppers is mainly determined by capsanthin, so the fact that peppers can be used to make lipstick is entirely due to capsanthin.

Capsanthin structure. Image source: Baidu Encyclopedia

There are endless pigment substances, why should we pick capsanthin?

Some curious friends may want to ask, why do we still use capsanthin to make lipstick when there are so many kinds of pigment raw materials? This is due to the three unique advantages of capsanthin.

First, capsanthin is edible and highly safe for the human body. It is inevitable that a small part of the lipstick applied on the lips will be eaten by us, so the safety of the additives in lipstick is the first factor to be considered.

Capsanthin is extracted from edible chili peppers. After being ingested, it can be oxidized into capsanthinone and metabolized out of the body. At the same time, the half-life of capsanthin in the body is less than one day, while the half-life of lycopene, which is also used to make pigments, can be as long as 9 days. In addition, the bioavailability of capsanthin can reach about 10 times that of β-carotene, which is also used as a pigment.

This shows that capsanthin is safer for the human body.

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Second, capsanthin has good coloring power.

Lipsticks that do not stain cups, do not fade, and have high color rendering are often more popular in the market. "Color value" is an important indicator for evaluating the content of natural pigments and their coloring ability. The results of experimental measurements show that the color value of capsanthin is three times higher than that of similar products, and has a super "coloring" ability.

Third, capsanthin has good antioxidant properties and formula stability.

Through experiments, researchers found that the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde content in the liver of mice with hyperlipidemia fed with capsanthin increased significantly, and the total cholesterol content decreased significantly. This result shows that capsanthin has certain antioxidant properties. Based on this property, using it in lipstick production is more conducive to maintaining the stability of the formula.

In addition, studies have also shown that capsanthin also has outstanding performance in anti-radiation, anti-ultraviolet, and anti-inflammation.

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02

Will lipstick containing capsanthin irritate my lips?

The question is, will lipstick made with capsanthin irritate your lips? The answer is no!

The ingredient that determines the spicy taste of chili peppers is capsaicin, which is also called capsaicin, and its molecular formula is C18H27NO3. Although capsaicin and capsanthin differ by only one letter, they are two completely different substances.

The human body has receptors for capsaicin, and when capsaicin comes into contact with and binds to the receptors, we feel the "spicy" sensation. The content of capsaicin is directly proportional to the spiciness of the pepper, while capsanthin only affects the color of the pepper.

It can be seen from this that lipstick containing capsanthin does not have a spicy taste and can be used with confidence.

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03

What other uses does capsanthin have?

In fact, capsanthin can not only be used to make lipstick, we can also see it in our daily lives.

Because of its good color, strong coloring power, good stability, and non-toxicity, capsanthin is used as a food colorant and added to candies, jellies, and other foods. Based on its bright color properties, scientists use it to make sugar coating colorants for use in children's medicines. "Mom no longer has to worry about me crying when taking medicine!"

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Conclusion

It turns out that chili peppers can not only be used to make hot pot, but can also be transformed into a daily artifact to improve your complexion - lipstick. It can be said that "small chili peppers have a big effect". I believe that in the future, chili pepper derivatives will exist more and more in our lives.

References:

[1] Fan Sanhong, Wang Jiaojiao, Li Jiani, et al. Antioxidant activity and hypolipidemic function of capsanthin and capsaicin in vivo. Food Science, 2021.

[2] Li Zhihua, Wang Tian. Research progress on bioavailability, physiological function and mechanism of capsanthin. Food Science, 2020, 41(11):8.

[3] Li Tiantian, Wang Fei, Quan Qiaofeng, et al. Effects of different pretreatment processes on the yield and color value of capsanthin[J]. Food Research and Development, 2021, 42(20):9.

[4] Zhang Jiayuan, Xin Xin, Xing Zenong, Liu Yazhong, & Li Qiuxiao. (2019). Research progress on capsanthin. Modern Agricultural Science and Technology (12), 2.

Produced by | Science Popularization China

Author: Shi Wuyao

Producer｜China Science Expo

Submitted by: Computer Information Network Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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