The Anticancer Role of Capsaicin in Experimentallyinduced Lung Carcinogenesis

Abstract

Objectives:Capsaicin (CAP) is the chief pungent principle found in the hot red peppers and the chili peppers that have long been used as spices, food additives and drugs. This study investigated the anticancer potential of CAP through its ability to modify extracellular matrix components and proteases during mice lung carcinogenesis.Methods:Swiss albino mice were treated with benzo(a) pyrene (50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) orally twice a week for four successive weeks to induce lung cancer at the end of 14th week. CAP was administrated (10 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) intraperitoneally. Extracellular matrix components were assayed; Masson’s trichome staining of lung tissues was performed. Western blot analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 were also carried out.Results:In comparison with the control animals, animals in which benzo(a)pyrene had induced lung cancer showed significant increases in extracellular matrix components such as collagen (hydroxy proline), elastin, uronic acid and hexosamine and in glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The above alterations in extracellular matrix components were effectively counteracted in benzo(a)pyrene along with CAP supplemented animals when compared to benzo(a) pyrene alone supplemented animals. The results of Masson’s trichome staining for collagen and of, immunoblotting analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 further supported the biochemical findings.Conclusion:The apparent potential of CAP in modulating extracellular matrix components and proteases suggests that CAP plays a chemomodulatory and anti- cancer role working against experimentally induced lung carcinogenesis.

Dietary Capsaicin Protects Cardiometabolic Organs from Dysfunction

“…Several studies found that activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin attenuated abnormal glucose homeostasis by increasing insulin secretion, insulin responses, and glucagon-like peptide 1 levels [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Furthermore, TRPV1 was shown as a regulator of growth factor signaling in the suppression of tumorigenesis [ 22 ], and its anti-cancer effect was also confirmed [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Furthermore, the TRPV1 receptor can be desensitized with high administration of capsaicin in nervous tissue [ 26 ], but whether this effect exists in cardiometabolic tissues was never tested.…”

Phytochemicals based chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic strategies and modern technologies to overcome limitations for better clinical applications

“…Capsaicin‐induced apoptosis in human small cell lung cancer cells (NCI‐H82, NCI‐H69) was found to activate via the TRPV receptor and the calpain‐mediated pathways (Lau et al, ). Capsaicin played a chemo‐modulatory and anticancerous effects against Benzo[a]pyrene‐induced lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice (Anandakumar et al, ).…”

Evaluation of the Anti-Proliferative Effects of a Green Tea and <i>Capsicum</i> Powder Extract in Cancer Cell Lines

“…Capsaicin effects on prostate cancer using the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model was found to be chemopreventive [6], whereas it was also found to decrease prostate cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression through the inactivation of androgen receptor [7]. It was also found to modulate extracellular matrix components in an experimentally induced lung cancer model, suggesting it could also have an anti-tumor effect in lung cancer as well [8]. It was also shown to suppress the growth of leukemic cells via cell cycle arrest and apoptosis [9].…”