The potential antitumor effects of capsaicin

Prog Drug Res. 2014:68:181-208. doi: 10.1007/978-3-0348-0828-6_8.

Abstract

Capsaicin, one of the major pungent ingredients found in red peppers, has been recently demonstrated to induce apoptosis in many types of malignant cell lines including colon adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and many others. The mechanism whereby capsaicin induces apoptosis in cancer cells is not completely elucidated but involves intracellular calcium increase, reactive oxygen species generation, disruption of mitochondrial membrane transition potential, and activation of transcription factors such as NFkappaB and STATS. Recently, a role for the AMP-dependent kinase (AMPK) and autophagy pathways in capsaicin-triggered cell death has been proposed. In addition, capsaicin shows antitumor activity in vivo by reducing the growth of many tumors induced in mice. In this chapter, we report the last advances performed in the antitumor activity of capsaicin and review the main signaling pathways involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy
  • Capsaicin / chemistry
  • Capsaicin / pharmacology
  • Capsaicin / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • TRPV Cation Channels / drug effects
  • TRPV Cation Channels / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • TRPV Cation Channels
  • TRPV1 receptor
  • Capsaicin