RESUMO
SCOPE: Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise is a sweet pepper containing health promoting compounds that can be modified by ripening and drying. This study focuses on finding the peppers with the best antioxidant properties, which are evaluated on an experimental model of obesity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity are evaluated on several peppers obtained from the same cultivar at different ripening stages. Red sweet peppers show the highest content in polyphenols, ß-carotene, lycopene, and capsinoids, and demonstrate the best antioxidant activity in vitro. Mice fed a high fat diet are orally treated with an extract from these peppers (Capsicum annuum extract [CAE]) (1, 10, and 25 mg/kg/day). It promotes weight loss and improves plasma markers related to glucose and lipid metabolisms. CAE also ameliorates obesity-associated systemic inflammation reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in adipose and hepatic tissues and improving the expression of different markers involved in the gut epithelial barrier function. These effects are associated with a modulation of the intestinal microbiome, which appears altered. CONCLUSIONS: The extract can be considered a new potential approach for the treatment of obesity, complementary to dietary restrictions.