New cancer prevention discovery: Can red peppers also treat cancer?

Capsaicin is a compound in chili peppers that causes burning sensations. It is often used in creams to help relieve pain. Recent studies have shown that high doses of capsaicin can help kill prostate cancer cells. Now, in a research paper published in the international journal The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, researchers from abroad have found new clues that may help explain why capsaicin can kill prostate cancer cells. The relevant research results may help researchers develop new therapies for prostate cancer.

About 10 years ago, scientists reported that capsaicin can help kill prostate cancer cells in mice, but is harmless to healthy cells; converting it into a dose suitable for humans may require individuals to consume large amounts of chili peppers every day; and revealing the working mechanism of capsaicin can help scientists develop new specific drugs for treating prostate cancer in the form of injections or tablets.

The researchers said that capsaicin molecules can bind to the cell surface and affect the function of the cell membrane, which is an outer membrane that surrounds the cell surface and protects the cell; researcher Ashok Kumar Mishra pointed out that they will conduct more research in the future to understand the cancer cell-killing effect of capsaicin more deeply, so capsaicin may help develop new therapies in the future.

Currently, researchers are able to detect how capsaicin molecules react to cell membranes by monitoring natural fluorescence. This study shows that capsaicin can remain in the membrane close to the cell surface. When the dose is sufficient, capsaicin can effectively promote the separation of cell membranes and cells, thereby killing cancer cells. Of course, researchers will conduct in-depth research to develop new strategies based on capsaicinoids to help fight cancer and other diseases.