Carcinogenic vs. Anticarcinogenic Properties of Capsaicin in Hot Red Peppers-An Overview

Abstract

There has been a substantial body of data, supporting that dietary factors have a profound Impact on prevention as well as etiology of human cancer. Capsaicin, the principal pungent constituent of hot pungent, has numerous pharmacological and physiological effects. Capsaicin has been extensively tested fur mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, but results remain conflicting Thus, while certain groups have reported genotoxic and tumor-initiating or Promoting effects of capsaicin. oth-ers have found just the opposite effects. Capsaicin appears to be a double-edged sword, ana the op-posing dual roles this molecule plays in exferimental carcinogenesis and mutagenesis are the sub-ject of this review.