Capsaicin and Its Role in Chronic Diseases
A significant number of experimental and clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals have demonstrated promising pharmacological properties of capsaicin in relieving signs and symptoms of non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases). This chapter
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Abstract A significant number of experimental and clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals have demonstrated promising pharmacological properties of capsaicin in relieving signs and symptoms of non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases). This chapter provides an overview made from basic and clinical research studies of the potential therapeutic effects of capsaicin, loaded in different application forms, such as solution and cream, on chronic diseases (e.g. arthritis, chronic pain, functional gastrointestinal disorders and cancer). In addition to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of capsaicin largely recognized via, mainly, interaction with the TRPV1, the effects of capsaicin on different cell signalling pathways will be further discussed here. The analgesic, anti-inflammatory or apoptotic effects of capsaicin show promising results in arthritis, neuropathic pain, gastrointestinal disorders or cancer, since evidence demonstrates that the oral or local application of capsaicin reduce inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis, promotes gastric protection against ulcer and induces apoptosis of the tumour cells. Sadly, these results have been paralleled by conflicting studies, which indicate that high concentrations of capsaicin are likely to evoke deleterious effects, thus suggesting that capsaicin activates different pathways at different concentrations in both human and rodent tissues. Thus, to establish effective capsaicin doses for chronic conditions, which can be benefited from capsaicin therapeutic effects, is a real challenge that must be pursued. Keywords Red pepper Pain relief Cancer
Capsaicin Chronic diseases Respiratory diseases
E.S. Fernandes Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Ceuma, São Luís-MA, Brazil E.S. Fernandes Vascular Biology Section, Cardiovascular Division, King’s College London, London, UK A.R.A. Cerqueira A.G. Soares S.K.P. Costa (&) Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524 - Room 326, Butantan, São Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil e-mail: [email protected] © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 S.C. Gupta et al. (eds.), Drug Discovery from Mother Nature, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 929, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-41342-6_5
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1 Introduction 1.1
Physico-Chemical Properties of Capsaicin
In parallel to the popular use of red and green chilli peppers as spices and/or additives in food, over the last 70 years, at least 12,000 Medline reports have assigned the pharmacological and physiological contribution of capsaicin, an alkaloid isolated from chillies as a medicinal plant, to treat pain, cough [222, 224] and other host conditions, such as cancer (vide review: 47), allergic [228] and gastro-intestinal diseases [235]. It is believed that the gates were opened to the field of neurogenic inflammation with the work produced by Jancsó et al. in the mid-60s [121]; however, the effects of capsaicin on heat regulati
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