Capsaicin: A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia

Capsaicin, the principal spicy component of red pepper, shows numerous bioactivities these years. Based on the results of past studies, capsaicin may have potential effects on the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). However, most studies mainly investigate functional dyspepsia-treatment effects of capsaicin by discussing the relationship between capsaicin and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1). In fact, capsaicin may relieve the symptoms of FD in various ways. These effects involve desensitizing C nociceptive fibers, regulating kinds of neurotransmitters, counteracting viruses and inflammation, balancing the gut microbiota, inhibiting the secretion of gastric acid, and reducing oxidative stress damage. A full understanding of these mechanisms will help further development and utilization of capsaicin in food and medical fields.     

辣味感觉的产生及其调控机制研究进展

辣椒素类物质是辣椒果实中“辣味”的来源,辣椒素类物质通过刺激神经末梢,在神经末梢上和某些分子反应产生生物电脉冲,激活人体神经中的辣椒素受体通道,然后将信号传导到大脑,产生辣味感觉（以下简称辣味）。研究发现,辣味与味觉之间存在协同或抑制作用,不同浓度的辣椒素类物质与味觉的相互作用也不同,因此,本文对辣椒素类物质的种类、化学性质及应用进行概括,阐述辣味的产生,即辣椒素激活辣椒素受体通道的生物学机制,同时探讨辣味与酸味、甜味、苦味、咸味以及鲜味的相互作用,指出目前辣味与味觉相互作用及其潜在影响机制研究方面存在的不足,并展望未来的研究方向,以期为辣味产业的进一步发展提供理论支持。     

Capsaicin and gastric ulcers

In recent years, infection of the stomach with the organism Helicobacter Pylori has been found to be the main cause of gastric ulcers, one of the common ailments afflicting humans. Excessive acid secretion in the stomach, reduction in gastric mucosal blood flow, constant intake of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), ethanol, smoking, stress etc. are also considered responsible for ulcer formation.The prevalent notion among sections of population in this country and perhaps in others is that "red pepper" popularly known as "Chilli," a common spice consumed in excessive amounts leads to "gastric ulcers" in view of its irritant and likely acid secreting nature. Persons with ulcers are advised either to limit or avoid its use. However, investigations carried out in recent years have revealed that chilli or its active principle "capsaicin" is not the cause for ulcer formation but a "benefactor." Capsaicin does not stimulate but inhibits acid secretion, stimulates alkali, mucus secretions and particularly gastric mucosal blood flow which help in prevention and healing of ulcers. Capsaicin acts by stimulating afferent neurons in the stomach and signals for protection against injury causing agents. Epidemiologic surveys in Singapore have shown that gastric ulcers are three times more common in the "Chinese" than among Malaysians and Indians who are in the habit of consuming more chillis.Ulcers are common among people who are in the habit of taking NSAIDS and are infected with the organism "Helicobacter Pylori," responsible for excessive acid secretion and erosion of the mucosal layer. Eradication of the bacteria by antibiotic treatment and avoiding the NSAIDS eliminates ulcers and restores normal acid secretion.     

Spices as influencers of body metabolism: an overview of three decades of research

The safety of the consumption of spices – turmeric, red pepper and black pepper and their respective active principles was established in animal studies by observing the influence on growth, organ weights, nitrogen balance and blood constituents upon feeding at levels close to human intake as well as upto 100-times the normal human intake. Exhaustive animal studies documented the beneficial influence of turmeric/curcumin, red pepper/capsaicin, and garlic on lipid metabolism, especially anti-hypercholesterolemic effect of the three spices and anti-lithogenic effect of curcumin and capsaicin. The anti-diabetic effects of turmeric/curcumin, onion and cumin seeds were also evidenced with particular ameliorative influence of curcumin and onion on diabetic nephropathy. The antioxidant effects of curcumin (of turmeric), capsaicin (of red pepper) and eugenol (of clove) were evidenced both in in vitro and in vivo systems and the consequential health beneficial anti-inflammatory influence in experimentally induced arthritis was documented. The mechanism of digestive stimulant action of common spices examined in experimental animals revealed to be mediated through phenomenal stimulation of bile secretion with an enhanced bile acid concentration (ingredients essential for fat digestion and absorption) and an appropriate stimulation of the activities of digestive enzymes of pancreas and small intestine. The protective influence of hypolipidemic spices – curcumin, capsaicin and garlic on the altered fluidity of erythrocytes under hypercholesterolemic situation was evidenced in experimental animal models. Antioxidant spices were also shown to greatly reduce LDL-oxidation and also modulate the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Several spices or their extracts were also found to beneficially inhibit platelet aggregation. All these observations strongly indicate that many spices and their active principles are excellent nutraceuticals.     

Spices as Beneficial Hypolipidemic Food Adjuncts: A Review

Abstract

The spices fenugreek, garlic, ginger, onion, red pepper, and turmeric are effective as hypocholesterolemics under conditions of experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, fenugreek is effective in human diabetics, whereas garlic and onion are effective in humans with induced lipemia. Capsaicin and curcumin, the active principles of red pepper and turmeric, respectively, are also documented to be efficacious even at doses comparable to calculated human intake. Capsaicin, curcumin, fenugreek, ginger, and onion are understood to cause an enhanced biliary secretion of bile acids also. Considerable human experimentation has been done with garlic and onion, but similar evaluation of the four other spices needs to be done. Limited information is also available on the hypolipidemic influence of spice combinations. Among these six spices, beneficial effects on lipid metabolism would probably be in the order: garlic?>?onion?>?red pepper/capsaicin?>?turmeric/curcumin?>?fenugreek?>?ginger. The mechanisms underlying the hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic influence of these spices have also been fairly well understood.     

Ginger—Mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A review

Despite advances in antiemetic therapy, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) still poses a significant burden to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nausea, in particular, is still highly prevalent in this population. Ginger has been traditionally used as a folk remedy for gastrointestinal complaints and has been suggested as a viable adjuvant treatment for nausea and vomiting in the cancer context. Substantial research has revealed ginger to possess properties that could exert multiple beneficial effects on chemotherapy patients who experience nausea and vomiting. Bioactive compounds within the rhizome of ginger, particularly the gingerol and shogaol class of compounds, interact with several pathways that are directly implicated in CINV in addition to pathways that could play secondary roles by exacerbating symptoms. These properties include 5-HT₃, substance P, and acetylcholine receptor antagonism; antiinflammatory properties; and modulation of cellular redox signaling, vasopressin release, gastrointestinal motility, and gastric emptying rate. This review outlines these proposed mechanisms by discussing the results of clinical, in vitro, and animal studies both within the chemotherapy context and in other relevant fields. The evidence presented in this review indicates that ginger possesses multiple properties that could be beneficial in reducing CINV.     

Capsicum--production, technology, chemistry, and quality. Part V. Impact on physiology, pharmacology, nutrition, and metabolism; structure, pungency, pain, and desensitization sequences

The spice Capsicum is the fruit of the cultivated species of the genus Capsicum (family, Solanaceae), C. annuum principally, and C. frutescens L. to a lesser extent. A third variety of C. annuum var. annuum fruits, the large-sized, fleshy bell capsicum is used as a fresh vegetable and valued for its aroma, color, and crisp texture, but with no pungency. This variety is not considered in this series of reviews covering primary processing, production, international trade, chemistry, and biochemistry of functional components--the red keto carotenoids, the aromatic volatiles and the pungent capsaicinoids in Parts I to III. The valid qualitative aspects correlating the specific components of capsicum and their sensory responses are critically covered in Part IV. In this the concluding part of the series of reviews, the significant preference of the spice for initially evoking an aversive response, its potent physiological and pharmacological effects, and the aspects of structure-activity relationships of the pungent stimuli of the capsaicinoids are reviewed. The beneficial effects particularly associated with long usage by some ethnic groups and its safe consumption levels, with a critical review of the studies on the gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system, the sensory system, thermoregulation, nutritional impacts, and an overview of the five series is also detailed.     

Benefits of flavanol-rich cocoa-derived products for mental well-being: A review

This review explores the possibility that central actions of flavanol-rich cocoa-derived products are of benefit in the prevention and treatment of mood disorders. Flavanol-rich cocao-derived products have been studied in both neuromolecular and psychological tests. Neuromolecular effects of flavanols in cocoa-derived products include antioxidant, vasodilatory, anticoagulant, and antiinflammatory properties that may serve to counteract depressive brain disorders. Psychological studies in humans have described links between intake of flavanol-rich cocoa-derived products such as dark chocolate and improved mood, while behavioral studies in laboratory animals have reported antidepressant effects of flavanols. It is therefore likely that flavanol-rich cocoa-derived products such as dark chocolate may have beneficial effects as add-on items together with traditional antidepressant regimes.     

辣椒素剂量对去势雌性大鼠血脂、肝脂及盲肠内环境的影响

目的：探讨辣椒素剂量对去势雌性大鼠血脂、肝脂及盲肠内环境的影响。方法：选用30 只雌性SD大鼠随机分组为5 组,其中1 组大鼠进行伪切除手术作对照（伪切除组）,另外4 组大鼠做双侧卵巢切除手术,基础饲料喂养恢复1 周后,分为不灌胃辣椒素（空白组）和灌胃5.0、10.0、15.0 mg/（kg·d）辣椒素剂量组（低、中、高剂量组）。喂食相同基础饲料28 d后解剖,测定大鼠血清和肝脏中胆固醇、甘油三酯含量及盲肠面积,盲肠内容物水分含量、pH值、短链脂肪酸和微生物等指标。结果：空白组大鼠的体质量、采食量、血脂、肝脏总脂肪、总胆固醇、甘油三酯总含量均显著高于伪切除组。辣椒素可降低双侧卵巢切除大鼠的体质量增加量、血清和肝脏中胆固醇和甘油三酯含量,且具有明显的剂量关系;同时可以降低盲肠组织总质量、盲肠体质量比、盲肠内容物短链脂肪酸含量,显著降低盲肠内容物有益菌数量（P＜0.05）;辣椒素可以显著升高游离氨含量和pH值,增加有害菌数量（P＜0.05）,但辣椒素各剂量组之间没有显著性差异。结论：辣椒素对因雌激素缺乏引起高脂血症雌性大鼠具有较好的降血脂、降肝脂作用,但对盲肠内环境具有一定的损伤作用。     

Capsaicinoid Contents in Peppers and Pepper-Related Spicy Foods

The quantification of the major capsaicinoids, namely nordihydrocapsaicin, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, and homodihydrocapsaicin, present in spicy foods made from peppers has been performed. The capsaicin content is directly related to the pungency properties of foods that contain hot peppers. The samples studied included 10 different dried hot peppers, 19 hot sauces, 4 kinds of paprika, and 4 different ketchups. The range of concentrations of capsaicinoids found were as follows: dried hot peppers (554.1–1705.9 mol kg^?1), paprikas (582.0–665.0 mol kg^?1), spicy ketchups (4.0–12.4 mol kg^?1), and hot sauces (4.6–843.8 mol kg^?1). Variability in the capsaicinoid content was found, with capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin present at the highest levels. The capsaicin content was generally higher than the dihydrocapsaicin content.     

辣椒素发酵产物对小鼠营养性肥胖的预防作用

目的:研究辣椒素发酵产物对小鼠营养性肥胖的预防效果。方法:小鼠始终饲喂高脂饲料,并以灌胃方式给药,观测体重、Lee’s指数、脂肪组织湿重、脂肪细胞数目和大小及血清总胆固醇和甘油三酯等指标。结果:除血糖外给药组小鼠各项指标与对照组相比均有统计学差异。结论:辣椒素发酵产物对小鼠营养性肥胖有预防作用。     

反相高效液相色谱法测定辣椒中4种辣椒碱类成分的含量

目的：建立同时测定辣椒中辣椒素、二氢辣椒素、降二氢辣椒素和高辣椒素 4 种辣椒碱类成分的反相高效液相色谱方法,并对30个辣椒品种中辣椒碱含量进行比较。方法：采用Nucleosil C18色谱柱(4.6mm×250mm,5μm);流动相乙腈-水,梯度洗脱;柱温45℃;流速1.0mL/min;检测波长280nm。结果：辣椒素、二氢辣椒素、降二氢辣椒素和高辣椒素的线性关系良好,范围均为1.0～160.0μg/mL,相关系数在0.9965～0.9993之间,精密度、稳定性实验的相对标准偏差均低于2.7%,加标回收率介于97%～99%。辣椒碱在不同辣椒品种中含量差异显著。结论：对30个样品测定结果稳定,重现性好。当辣椒素和二氢辣椒素含量大于0.1%时,辣椒有明显的辣感。     

辣椒素类物质辣味的研究进展

辣椒素类物质是一类带有香草基团和中长链脂肪酰胺结构的生物碱,其中辣椒素和二氢辣椒素辣度最高。部分辣椒素类物质可激活相关受体,引起痛觉与热觉神经信号的传导,使人感到辣味。斯科维尔指数法是评价辣度最常见的方法,但评价结果仅与辣味物质的含量有关,无法真正反映样品的辣度,而时间-强度法可获得多个与辣度相关的定量指标,具有更高的参考价值。除增加辣椒素类物质的含量外,使用水基分散系、提高体系温度、增感作用的产生甚至其他感觉刺激均可显著提升辣椒素类物质辣味感知强度,在感官评价中应当特别注意。综上,本文总结辣椒素类物质的结构、分布,辣味呈现机制、评价方法以及影响辣味感知的因素等方面,以期为食品辣味强度预测和辣味食品的开发提供参考。     

碱法提取辣椒素工艺条件的优化

以干辣椒为原料,利用L9(34)正交试验设计研究pH值、乙醇体积分数、温度、时间对辣椒素提取率的影响,并利用气相色谱-质谱法(gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,GC-MS)测定不同提取条件下的辣椒素含量。结果表明：高于50℃辣椒素易受热破坏;微碱性pH值有利于辣椒素提取;影响辣椒素提取量的因素依次为：温度＞乙醇体积分数＞pH值＞时间,其最佳工艺条件为pH8、乙醇体积分数70%、50℃浸提3.5h,该组合条件下的平均提取量为6.812mg/g。     

Bioactivity of Flavonoids on Insulin‐Secreting Cells

ABSTRACT: Flavonoids are usually found in fruits and other plant organs and therefore widely consumed. They are antioxidants, anti‐inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and protective against coronary disease and metabolic disorders. These beneficial effects make them good candidates for the development of new functional foods with potential protective/preventive properties against several diseases. We must consider that this fact could lead to a higher intake of some of these flavonoids. Most of the studies concerning their beneficial effects showed peripheral activity of these molecules, but there is no clear information about their central effects on a key organ on metabolic control: the endocrine pancreas. The pancreas has an endocrine function of major importance to regulate nutrient metabolism, such as control of glucose homeostasis via insulin and glucagon secretion. Its importance in whole body nutrient equilibrium is highlighted by the fact that several pathologies, such as type 1 and/or 2 diabetes, are related at some point to a pancreatic cell deregulation. In this review, we compile the most relevant results concerning the effects of flavonoids on several aspects of pancreatic functionality. Studies using animals with drug‐induced diabetes support the hypothesis that flavonoids can ameliorate this pathogenesis. The great diversity of flavonoid structures makes it difficult to establish common effects in the pancreas. Published data suggest that there might be direct effects of flavonoids on insulin secretion, as well as on prevention of beta‐cell apoptosis, and they could even act via modulation of proliferation. The mechanisms of action involve mainly their antioxidant properties, but other pathways might also take place.     

影响辣椒碱稳定性因素的研究

研究了不同调味料和不同温度处理对辣椒碱稳定性的影响。试验结果表明：高盐度对辣椒碱破坏性较大，而高浓度的油则有利于辣椒碱的保存。在中性条件下辣椒素最稳定，偏酸或偏碱性越强，越不利于辣椒碱。温度越高对辣椒碱的破坏性越大。     

Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of pungent capsaicin analogues

Pungency in peppers (Capsicum spp.) is a sensation produced by a group of molecules known as capsaicinoids. Capsaicin has been reported as the capsaicinoid with the strongest pungency. Based on the molecular structure of capsaicin the enzymatic synthesis and pungent properties of structural analogues was investigated. These analogues were based on modification of the length of the acyl chain (from C4 to C16) and the chemical substituents of the aromatic ring (–OH and –OCH₃). The syntheses were carried out in 2-methyl-2-butanol with lipase B of Candida antarctica, with conversions ranging from 83% to 97.5%. The initial reaction rates were not significantly influenced by the nature of acyl-donor but rather by the substituents in the aromatic ring of the evaluated amines. The relative pungency of 10 capsaicin analogues was sensorially evaluated, using a sensory method for relative pungency. All the compounds were tested at a dose equivalent to 20 times the threshold capsaicin concentration. Two analogues were found pungent; the vanillylamides of caprylic (C-8) and capric (C-10) acids, showing a relative pungency of 66% and 36%, respectively, while the vanillylamides of caproic (C-6) and lauric (C-12) acids had a very low relative pungency (2.1% and 1.2%, respectively). From these results structural features related to pungency are discussed.     

辣椒精的精制及辣椒素的HPLC测定

根据物理化学性质对辣椒油树脂进行精制,以得到结晶物;由高效液相色谱的分析结果推定该结晶物中含有较高纯度的辣椒素。     

Effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on aspects of eye health

Lutein and zeaxanthin are members of the oxygenated carotenoids found particularly in egg yolks and dark‐green leafy vegetables. A great deal of research has focused on their beneficial roles in eye health. The present article summarises the current literature related to the bioactivity of these carotenoids, emphasising their effects and possible mechanisms of action in relation to human eye health. Available evidence demonstrates that lutein and zeaxanthin are widely distributed in a number of body tissues and are uniquely concentrated in the retina and lens, indicating that each has a possible specific function in these two vital ocular tissues. Most of epidemiological studies and clinical trials support the notion that lutein and zeaxanthin have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of certain eye diseases such as age‐related macular degeneration, cataract and retinitis pigmentosa. The biological mechanisms for the protective effects of these carotenoids may include powerful blue‐light filtering activities and antioxidant properties. Although most studies point towards significant health benefits from lutein and zeaxanthin, further large‐scale randomised supplementation trials are needed to define their effects on ocular function in health and disease. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry