HISTOCHEMICAL-LOCALIZATION OF PEROXIDASE IN CAPSICUM FRUITS

Pepper peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) is capable of oxidizing capsaicin. To confirm that peroxidase plays a part in capsaicin turnover and degrada tion, the histochemical localization of peroxidase was studied in pepp er (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) fruits through blotting of frozen/tha wed slices on nitrocellulose membranes and subsequent staining with 4- methoxy-alpha-naphthol/H2O2. The results reveal that peroxidase, like capsaicin, is mainly located in both placental and outer-most epiderma l cell layers, thus supporting the role of peroxidase in capsaicin tur nover in pepper fruits at maturation.