Anti-inflammatory effects of red pepper (Capsicum baccatum) on carrageenan- and antigen-induced inflammation.
Inflammation is a pivotal component of a variety of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and tumour progression. Various naturally occurring phytochemicals exhibit anti-inflammatory activity and are considered to be potential drug candidates against inflammation-related pathological processes. Capsicum baccatum L. var. pendulum (Willd.) Eshbaugh (Solanaceae) is the most consumed species in Brazil, and its compounds, such as capsaicinoids, have been found to inhibit the inflammatory process. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of C. baccatum have not been characterized. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of C. baccatum juice in animal models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan and immune inflammation induced by methylated bovine serum albumin. Pretreatment (30 min) of rats with pepper juice (0.25-2.0 g kg(-1)) significantly decreased leucocyte and neutrophil migration, exudate volume and protein and LDH concentration in pleural exudates of a pleurisy model. This juice also inhibited neutrophil migration and reduced the vascular permeability on carrageenan-induced peritonitis in mice. C. baccatum juice also reduced neutrophil recruitment and exudate levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in mouse inflammatory immune peritonitis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the main constituent of C. baccatum juice, as extracted with chloroform, is capsaicin. In agreement with this, capsaicin was able to inhibit the neutrophil migration towards the inflammatory focus. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the anti-inflammatory effect of C. baccatum juice and our data suggest that this effect may be induced by capsaicin. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect induced by red pepper may be by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production at the inflammatory site.
Spiller
Fernando
F
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. ferspiller@usp.br
Alves
Márcia K
MK
Vieira
Sílvio M
SM
Carvalho
Toni A
TA
Leite
Carlos E
CE
Lunardelli
Adroaldo
A
Poloni
José A
JA
Cunha
Fernando Q
FQ
de Oliveira
Jarbas R
JR
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D002351:Carrageenan; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002351:Carrageenan; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002211:Capsaicin