Phytochemicals: 13 Health Benefits of Capsaicin

Phytochemicals Capsaicin can be found abundant in chili peppers, which are genus Capsicum, belonging to the family Solanaceae and has been used in herbal medicine to relieve muscle and arthritic pain over thousand of year. It is type of irritant which can cause burning sensation of in any tissue if comes to contact, effecting mammals, excluding birds. According to the study of Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future. by Tapsell LC, Hemphill I, Cobiac L, Patch CS, Sullivan DR, Fenech M, Roodenrys S, Keogh JB, Clifton PM, Williams PG, Fazio VA, Inge KE. from the Source of National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods, University of Wollongong, NSW, posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that these developments are well underway through evidence-based frameworks for substantiating health claims related to foods. At present, recommendations are warranted to support the consumption of foods rich in bioactive components, such as herbs and spices. With time, we can expect to see a greater body of scientific evidence supporting the benefits of herbs and spices in the overall maintenance of health and protection from disease.

neuralgia
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronically painful condition causing by shingles as a result of recurrence of the varicella-zoster virus which cause chicken pot initially.
In an article of Which Treatment for Postherpetic Neuralgia?" (PLoS Med 2(7): e238. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020238) posted in Plos Science, The author wrote that Altogether, the authors conclude that the evidence base supports the first-line use of a tricyclic antidepressant for orally administered treatment of PHN, reserving the gabapentinoids for second-line use. Topical treatments, such as B. Alters the Excitability of the Human Jaw-stretch Reflex
In a study of Capsaicin-induced Muscle Pain Alters the Excitability of the Human Jaw-stretch Reflex" by K. Wang1, L. Arendt-Nielsen, P. Svensson posted in JDS Journal Dental research, researchers found that in the present study, the amplitude of the short-latency reflex response was investigated with different stretch parameters before, during, and after capsaicin-induced muscle pain. The main finding was that acute muscle pain was associated with a velocity-dependent, but not length-dependent, increase in the amplitude of the jaw-stretch reflex.

US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that No systemic side effects were observed in patients treated with topical capsaicin. Most patients receiving amitriptyline experienced at least one systemic side effect, ranging from somnolence (46%) to neuromuscular (23%) and cardiovascular (9%) adverse effects. Topically applied capsaicin is an equally effective but considerably safer alternative to amitriptyline for relief of the pain of diabetic neuropathy.

E. Treating diabetes
In an article of "Breakthrough sheds light on cause of diabetes" at15 December 2006 by Alison Motluk and Linda Geddes, posred in NewScientist, the authirs reported that when the researchers examined the nerves of diabetes-prone mice and compared them with normal mice, they found that the nerves of diabetes-prone mice do not producing enough substance P. This causes islet cells to overproduce insulin, leading to insulin-resistance and eventually islet-cell death. It is at this point, says Dosch, that the immune system is called into action, triggering diabetes.

"Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects" by Manuela P. G. M. Lejeune, Eva M. R. Kovacs and Margriet S. Westerterp-Plantenga posted in British Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that
These results indicate that capsaicin treatment caused sustained fat oxidation during weight maintenance compared with placebo. However, capsaicin treatment has no limiting effect on 3-month weight regain after modest weight loss.

"Capsaicin, a Component of Red Peppers, Inhibits the Growth of Androgen-Independent, p53 Mutant Prostate Cancer CellH. Knee Osteoarthritis
In a study of "Treatment Options in Knee Osteoarthritis" by Liana Fraenkel, MD, MPH; Sidney T. Bogardus, Jr, MD; John Concato, MD, MS, MPH; Dick R. Wittink, PhD, researchers found that Of the characteristics studied, variation in therisk of common adverse effects and gastrointestinal ulcer had the greatest impact on patients’ choice. Assuming patients are responsible for the full cost of their medications,over 40% prefer capsaicin. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors become patients’ preferred choice only if they are described as being 3 times as effective as capsaicin and
are covered by insurance. Nonselective NSAIDs are amongconclude that When evaluating multiple alternatives,many older patients with knee osteoarthritis are willing to forgo treatment effectiveness for a lower risk of adverseeffects. The patient treatment preferences derivedin this study conflict with the current widespread use of nonselective NSAIDs in older patients with arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis
In a study of Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: a double-blind trial." byDeal CL, Schnitzer TJ, Lipstein E, Seibold JR, Stevens RM, Levy MD, Albert D, Renold F. ( Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.) posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that According to the global evaluations, 80% of the capsaicin-treated patients experienced a reduction in pain after two weeks of treatment. Transient burning was felt at the sites of drug application by 23 of the 52 capsaicin-treated patients; two patients withdrew from treatment because of this side effect. It is concluded that capsaicin cream is a safe and effective treatment for arthritis.

(Geisinger Clinical Oncology Program, Danville, PA, USA.) posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that a topical capsaicin cream decreases postsurgical neuropathic pain and, despite some toxicities, is preferred by patients over a placebo by a three-to-one margin among those expressing a preference.L. Cluster headaches
In a study of Preventative effect of repeated nasal applications of capsaicin in cluster headache.

Fusco BM, Marabini S, Maggi CA, Fiore G, Geppetti P/ (Institute of Internal Medicine VI, University La Sapienza Rome, Italy.) posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, researchers found that The efficacy of repeated nasal applications of capsaicin in cluster headache is congruent with previous reports on the therapeutic effect of capsaicin in other pain syndromes (post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia) and supports the use of the drug to produce a selective analgesia.

"Topical capsaicin--a novel and effective treatment for idiopathic intractable pruritus ani: a randomised, placebo controlled, crossover study." by Lysy J, Sistiery-Ittah M, Israelit Y, Shmueli A, Strauss-Liviatan N, Mindrul V, Keret D, Goldin E.(Department of Gastroenterology, Hadassah University Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, posted in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Healthm researchers found that Thirty one of 44 patients experienced relief during capsaicin treatment periods and did not respond to menthol; all patients not responding to capsaicin also failed on menthol (p<0.0001). In 13 patients, treatment with capsaicin was unsuccessful: eight patients did not respond to capsaicin treatment, one responded equally to capsaicin and placebo, and four others dropped out because of side effects. During the follow up period (mean 10.9 (SD 5.8) months), 29 "responders" needed a mean application of capsaicin every day (1.6 (SD 1.2); range 0.5-7 days) to remain symptom free (or nearly symptom free).

N. Etc.  For the Sources of the studies, please paste the tittle of the studies for the related links, as the limitation of links in this publcation