Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world and a promising area of cancer research is concentrated on chemoprevention by nutritional compounds. Capsaicin, traditionally used as a food additive and an analgesic, is one of the main pungent ingredients in chili peppers. Recent studies have shown that capsaicin has anti-cancer effects in various types of cancer model. The purpose of this review is to outline the anticarcinogenic effect of capsaicin and its mechanism.
WHO (2014) Global Cancer Rates Could Increase by 50% to 15 Million by 2020. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr27/en
Park, S.Y., Kim, J.Y., Lee, S.M., Jun, C.H., Cho, S.B., Park, C.H., Joo, Y.E., Kim, H.S., Choi, S.K. and Rew, J.S. (2014) Capsaicin Induces Apoptosis and Modulates MAPK Signaling in Human Gastric Cancer Cells. Molecular Medicine Reports, 9, 499-502.
Ito, K., Nakazato, T., Yamato, K., Miyakawa, Y., Yamada, T., Hozumi, N., Segawa, K., Ikeda, Y. and Kizaki, M. (2004) Induction of Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells by Homovanillic Acid Derivative, Capsaicin, through Oxidative Stress: Implication of Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 Residue by Reactive Oxygen Species. Cancer Research, 64, 1071-1078. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-03-1670
Huh, H.C., Lee, S.Y., Lee, S.K., Park, N.H. and Han, I.S. (2011) Capsaicin Induces Apoptosis of Cisplatin-Resistant Stomach Cancer Cells by Causing Degradation of Cisplatin-Inducible Aurora-A Protein. Nutrition and Cancer, 63, 1095-1103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2011.607548
Ip, S.W., Lan, S.H., Lu, H.F., Huang, A.C., Yang, J.S., Lin, J.P., Huang, H.Y., Lien, J.C., Ho, C.C., Chiu, C.F., Wood, W. and Chung, J.G. (2012) Capsaicin Mediates Apoptosis in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma NPC-TW 039 Cells through Mitochondrial Depolarization and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 31, 539-549. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327111417269
Mori, A., Lehmann, S., O’Kelly, J., Kumagai, T., Desmond, J.C., Pervan, M., McBride, W.H., Kizaki, M. and Koeffler, H.P. (2006) Capsaicin, a Component of Red Peppers, Inhibits the Growth of Androgen-Independent, p53 Mutant Prostate Cancer Cells. Cancer Research, 66, 3222-3229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-0087
Govindarajan, V.S. and Sathyanarayana, M.N. (1991) Capsicum-Production, Technology, Chemistry, and Quality. Part V. Impact on Physiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition, and Metabolism; Structure, Pungency, Pain, and Desensitization Sequences. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 29, 435-474. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408399109527536
Reyes-Escogido, M.L., Gonzalez-Mondragon, E.G. and Vazquez-Tzompantzi, E. (2011) Chemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Capsaicin. Molecules, 16, 1253-1270. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules16021253
Bernal, M.A., Calderon, A.A., Pedreno, M.A., Ferrer, M.A., Merino, D.C.F. and Ros, B.A. (1994) Purification of a Basic Peroxidase Isoenzyme from Capsicum Fruits and the Immunoinhibition of Its Capsaicin Oxidation Capacity by Antibodies Raised against Horseradish Peroxidase. Zeitschrift für Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und Forschung, 199, 240-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01193453
Walpole, C.S., Bevan, S., Bloomfield, G., Breckenridge, R., James, I.F., Ritchie, T., Szallasi, A., Winter, J. and Wrigglesworth, R. (1996) Similarities and Differences in the Structure-Activity Relationships of Capsaicin and Resiniferatoxin Analogues. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 39, 2939-2952. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm960139d
Chinn, M.S., Sharma-Shivappa, R.R. and Cotter, J.L. (2011) Solvent Extraction and Quantification of Capsaicinoids from Capsicum chinense. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 89, 340-345. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2010.08.003
Deng, X. (2012) Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction Procedure of Capsaicinoids from Chili Peppers Using Orthogonal Array Experimental Design. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11, 13153-13161. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/ajb12.752
Nazari, F., Ebrahimi, S.N., Talebi, M., Rassouli, A. and Bijanzadeh, H.R. (2007) Multivariate Optimisation of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Capsaicin from Capsicum frutescens L. and Quantitative Analysis by 1H-NMR. Phytochemical Analysis, 18, 333-340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pca.987
Bajer, T., Bajerová, P., Kremr, D., Eisner, A. and Ventura, K. (2015) Central Composite Design of Pressurised Hot Water Extraction Process for Extracting Capsaicinoids from Chili Peppers. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 40, 32-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2014.12.008
de Aguiar, A.C., Sales, L.P., Coutinho, J.P., Barbero, G.F., Godoy, H.T. and Martínez, J. (2013) Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Capsicum Peppers: Global Yield and Capsaicinoid Content. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 81, 210-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2013.05.008
Maihofner, C. and Heskamp, M.L. (2013) Prospective, Non-Interventional Study on the Tolerability and Analgesic Effectiveness over 12 Weeks after a Single Application of Capsaicin 8% Cutaneous Patch in 1044 Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: First Results of the QUEPP Study. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 29, 673-683. http://dx.doi.org/10.1185/03007995.2013.792246
Baboota, R.K., Murtaza, N., Jagtap, S., Singh, D.P., Karmase, A., Kaur, J., Bhutani, K.K., Boparai, R.K., Premkumar, L.S., Kondepudi, K.K. and Bishnoi, M. (2014) Capsaicin-Induced Transcriptional Changes in Hypothalamus and Alterations in Gut Microbial Count in High Fat Diet Fed Mice. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 25, 893-902. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2014.04.004
Toyoda, T., Shi, L., Takasu, S., Cho, Y., Kiriyama, Y., Nishikawa, A., Ogawa, K., Tatematsu, M. and Tsukamoto, T. (2015) Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Capsaicin and Piperine on Helicobacter Pylori-Induced Chronic Gastritis in Mongolian Gerbils. Helicobacter, Epub Ahead of Print.
Qin, S.L., Liu, S.L. and Wang, R.R. (2008) Protective Effect of Capsaicin on Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Rat in Vivo. Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Science Edition), 39, 550-554.
Venier, N.A., Yamamoto, T., Sugar, L.M., Adomat, H., Fleshner, N.E., Klotz, L.H. and Venkateswaran, V. (2015) Capsaicin Reduces the Metastatic Burden in the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate Model. Prostate, 75, 1300-1311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pros.23013
Venier, N.A., Colquhoun, A.J., Sasaki, H., Kiss, A., Sugar, L., Adomat, H., Fleshner, N.E., Klotz, L.H. and Venkateswaran, V. (2015) Capsaicin: A Novel Radio-Sensitizing Agent for Prostate Cancer. The Prostate, 75, 113-125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pros.22896
Malagarie-Cazenave, S., Olea-Herrero, N., Vara, D., Morell, C. and Díaz-Laviada, I. (2011) The Vanilloid Capsaicin Induces IL-6 Secretion in Prostate PC-3 Cancer Cells. Cytokine, 54, 330-337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2011.03.010
Zheng, L., Chen, J., Ma, Z., Liu, W., Yang, F., Yang, Z., Wang, K., Wang, X., He, D. and Li, L. (2015) Capsaicin Causes Inactivation and Degradation of the Androgen Receptor by Inducing the Restoration of miR-449a in Prostate Cancer. Oncology Reports, 34, 1027-1034. http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/or.2015.4055
Parkin, D.M., Bray, F., Ferlay, J. and Pisani, P. (2005) Global Cancer Statistics, 2002. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 55, 74-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/canjclin.55.2.74
No Authors Listed (1998) Nutritional Aspects of the Development of Cancer. Report of the Working Group on Diet and Cancer of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy. Reports on Health and Social Subjects (London), 48, 1-274.
Chu, Y.F., Sun, J., Wu, X. and Liu, R.H. (2002) Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Common Vegetables. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50, 6910-6916. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf020665f
Lee, S., Richardson, R.L., Dashwood, R.H. and Baek, S.J. (2012) Capsaicin Represses Transcriptional Activity of β-Catenin in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 23, 646-655. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2011.03.009
Yang, J., Li, T.Z., Xu, G.H., Luo, B.B., Chen, Y.X. and Zhang, T. (2013) Low-Concentration Capsaicin Promotes Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Triggering ROS Production and Modulating Akt/mTOR and STAT-3 Pathways. Neoplasma, 60, 364-372. http://dx.doi.org/10.4149/neo_2013_048
Clark, R., Lee, J. and Lee, S.H. (2015) Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Capsaicin and 3,3’-Diindolylmethane in Human Colorectal Cancer. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63, 4297-4304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf506098s
Magesh, V., Singh, J.P., Selvendiran, K., Ekambaram, G. and Sakthisekaran, D. (2006) Antitumour Activity of Crocetin in Accordance to Tumor Incidence, Antioxidant Status, Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Histopathological Studies. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 287, 127-135. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-9088-0
Siegel, R., Naishadham, D. and Jemal, A. (2013) Cancer Statistics, 2013. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 63, 11-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21166
Anandakumar, P., Kamaraj, S., Jagan, S., Ramakrishnan, G., Asokkumar, S., Naveenkumar, C., Raghunandhakumar, S. and Devaki, T. (2012) Capsaicin Inhibits Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Lung Carcinogenesis in an in Vivo Mouse Model. Inflammation Research, 61, 1169-1175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00011-012-0511-1
Hecht, S.S., Upadhyaya, P., Wang, M., Bliss, R.L., McIntee, E.J. and Kenney, P.M. (2002) Inhibition of Lung Tumorigenesis in A/J Mice by N-Acetyl-S-(N-2-phenethylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine and myo-Inositol, Individually and in Combination. Carcinogenesis, 23, 1455-1461. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/carcin/23.9.1455
Anandakumar, P., Kamaraj, S., Jagan, S., Ramakrishnan, G. and Devaki, T. (2013) Capsaicin Provokes Apoptosis and Restricts Benzo(a)pyrene Induced Lung Tumorigenesis in Swiss Albino Mice. International Immunopharmacology, 17, 254-259. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2013.05.015
Anandakumar, P., Kamaraj, S., Jagan, S., Ramakrishnan, G., Asokkumar, S., Naveenkumar, C., Raghunandhakumar, S., Vanitha, M.K. and Devaki, T. (2015) The Anticancer Role of Capsaicin in Experimentally Induced Lung Carcinogenesis. Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 18, 19-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2015.18.011
Bergers, G. and Benjamin, L.E. (2003) Angiogenesis: Tumorigenesis and the Angiogenic Switch. Nature Reviews Cancer, 3, 401-410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrc1093
Chakraborty, S., Adhikary, A., Mazumdar, M., Mukherjee, S., Bhattacharjee, P., Guha, D., Choudhuri, T., Chattopadhyay, S., Sa, G., Sen, A. and Das, T. (2014) Capsaicin-Induced Activation of p53-SMAR1 Auto-Regulatory Loop Down-Regulates VEGF in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer to Restrain Angiogenesis. PLoS ONE, 9, e99743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099743
Kallianos, A., Rapti, A., Zarogoulidis, P., Tsakiridis, K., Mpakas, A., Katsikogiannis, N., Kougioumtzi, I., Li, Q., Huang, H., Zaric, B., Perin, B., Courcoutsakis, N. and Zarogoulidis, K. (2013) Therapeutic Procedure in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Journal of Thoracic Disease, 5, S420-S424.
Goldberg, S.B., Willers, H. and Heist, R.S. (2013) Multidisciplinary Management of Small Cell Lung Cancer. Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, 22, 329-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2012.12.002
Lau, J.K., Brown, K.C., Dom, A.M., Witte, T.R., Thornhill, B.A., Crabtree, C.M., Perry, H.E., Brown, J.M., Ball, J.G., Creel, R.G., Damron, C.L., Rollyson, W.D., Stevenson, C.D., Hardman, W.E., Valentovic, M.A., Carpenter, A.B. and Dasgupta, P. (2014) Capsaicin Induces Apoptosis in Human Small Cell Lung Cancer via the TRPV6 Receptor and the Calpain Pathway. Apoptosis, 19, 1190-1201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10495-014-1007-y
Jemal, A., Bray, F., Center, M.M., Ferlay, J., Ward, E. and Forman, D. (2011) Global Cancer Statistics. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 61, 69-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.20107
Liao, F., Yang, Z., Lu, X., Guo, X. and Dong, W. (2013) Sinomenine Sensitizes Gastric Cancer Cells to 5-Fluorouracil in Vitro and in Vivo. Oncology Letters, 6, 1604-1610.
Meral, O., Alpay, M., Kismali, G., Kosova, F., Cakir, D.U., Pekcan, M., Yigit, S. and Sel, T. (2014) Capsaicin Inhibits Cell Proliferation by Cytochrome C Release in Gastric Cancer Cells. Tumor Biology, 35, 6485-6492. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1864-6
López-Carrillo, L., Camargo, M.C., Schneider, B.G., Sicinschi, L.A., Hernández-Ramírez, R.U., Correa, P. and Cebrian, M.E. (2012) Capsaicin Consumption, Helicobacter pylori CagA Status and IL1B-31C>T Genotypes: A Host and Environment Interaction in Gastric Cancer. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 50, 2118-2122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.02.043
Vincent, A., Herman, J., Schulick, R., Hruban, R.H. and Goggins, M. (2011) Pancreatic Cancer. The Lancet, 378, 607-620. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62307-0
Raimondi, S., Maisonneuve, P. and Lowenfels, A.B. (2009) Epidemiology of Pancreatic Cancer: An Overview. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 6, 699-708. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2009.177
Wang, L., Yang, G.H., Lu, X.H., Huang, Z.J. and Li, H. (2003) Pancreatic Cancer Mortality in China (1991-2000). World Journal of Gastroenterology, 9, 1819-1823. http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v9.i8.1819
Li, D., Xie, K., Wolff, R. and Abbruzzese, J.L. (2004) Pancreatic Cancer. The Lancet, 363, 1049-1057. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15841-8
Stathis, A. and Moore, M.J. (2010) Advanced Pancreatic Carcinoma: Current Treatment and Future Challenges. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 7, 163-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.236
Arends, J.J., Sleeboom, H.P., Leys, M.B., Ten, B.H.D., de Jong, R.S., Smit, J.M., Nortier, J.W. and Tesselaar, M.E. (2005) A Phase II Study of Raltitrexed and Gemcitabine in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Carcinoma. British Journal of Cancer, 92, 445-448. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602368
Andersson, R., Aho, U., Nilsson, B.I., Peters, G.J., Pastor-Anglada, M., Rasch, W. and Sandvold, M.L. (2009) Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Solutions. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 44, 782-786. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365520902745039
Hartel, M., di Mola, F.F., Selvaggi, F., Mascetta, G., Wente, M.N., Felix, K., Giese, N.A., Hinz, U., Di Sebastiano, P., Buchler, M.W. and Friess, H. (2006) Vanilloids in Pancreatic Cancer: Potential for Chemotherapy and Pain Management. Gut, 55, 519-528. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2005.073205
Jemal, A., Siegel, R., Xu, J. and Ward, E. (2010) Cancer Statistics, 2010. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 60, 277-300. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.20073
Zhang, J.H., Lai, F.J., Chen, H., Luo, J., Zhang, R.Y., Bu, H.Q., Wang, Z.H., Lin, H.H. and Lin, S.Z. (2013) Involvement of the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway in Apoptosis Induced by Capsaicin in the Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Line PANC-1. Oncology Letters, 5, 43-48.
Wei, W.T., Chen, H., Ni, Z.L., Liu, H.B., Tong, H.F., Fan, L., Liu, A., Qiu, M.X., Liu, D.L., Guo, H.C., Wang, Z.H. and Lin, S.Z. (2011) Antitumor and Apoptosis-Promoting Properties of Emodin, an Anthraquinone Derivative from Rheum officinale Baill, against Pancreatic Cancer in Mice via Inhibition of Akt Activation. International Journal of Oncology, 39, 1381-1390.
Wei, W.T., Chen, H., Wang, Z.H., Ni, Z.L., Liu, H.B., Tong, H.F., Guo, H.C., Liu, D.L. and Lin, S.Z. (2012) Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy of Gemcitabine by Evodiamine on Pancreatic Cancer via Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 8, 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.8.1
Lin, S., Zhang, J., Chen, H., Chen, K., Lai, F., Luo, J., Wang, Z., Bu, H., Zhang, R., Li, H. and Tong, H. (2013) Involvement of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Capsaicin-Induced Apoptosis of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1-12.
Pramanik, K.C., Boreddy, S.R. and Srivastava, S.K. (2011) Role of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complexes in Capsaicin Mediated Oxidative Stress Leading to Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. PLoS ONE, 6, e20151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0020151
Skrzypski, M., Sassek, M., Abdelmessih, S., Mergler, S., Grötzinger, C., Metzke, D., Wojciechowicz, T., Nowak, K.W. and Strowski, M.Z. (2014) Capsaicin Induces Cytotoxicity in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cells via Mitochondrial Action. Cellular Signalling, 26, 41-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2013.09.014
Liu, N.C., Hsieh, P.F., Hsieh, M.K., Zeng, Z.M., Cheng, H.L., Liao, J.W. and Chueh, P.J. (2012) Capsaicin-Mediated tNOX (ENOX2) Up-Regulation Enhances Cell Proliferation and Migration in Vitro and in Vivo. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60, 2758-2765. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf204869w