Astanga Hrudaya
दीपनः पाचनो रुच्यः शोधनोऽन्नस्य शोषणः। छिनत्ति बन्धान् स्रोतांसि विवृणोति कफापहः॥१८॥
Pungent taste increases hunger, it is digestive, improves taste, Shodhana (cleansing, eliminates the Dosas), dries up moisture of the food, breaks up hard masses, dilates (expands) the channels and balances Kapha.
english translation
dIpanaH pAcano rucyaH zodhano'nnasya zoSaNaH। chinatti bandhAn srotAMsi vivRNoti kaphApahaH॥18॥
hk transliteration by Sanscript