title: The Anticancer Role of Capsaicin in Experimentallyinduced Lung Carcinogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Capsaicin (CAP) is the chief pungent principle found in the hot red peppers and the chili peppers that have long been used as spices, food additives and drugs. This study investigated the anticancer potential of CAP through its ability to modify extracellular matrix components and proteases during mice lung carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss albino mice were treated with benzo(a) pyrene (50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) orally twice a week for four successive weeks to induce lung cancer at the end of 14(th) week. CAP was administrated (10 mg/kg body weight dissolved in olive oil) intraperitoneally. Extracellular matrix components were assayed; Masson's trichome staining of lung tissues was performed. Western blot analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 were also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control animals, animals in which benzo(a)pyrene had induced lung cancer showed significant increases in extracellular matrix components such as collagen (hydroxy proline), elastin, uronic acid and hexosamine and in glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The above alterations in extracellular matrix components were effectively counteracted in benzo(a)pyrene along with CAP supplemented animals when compared to benzo(a) pyrene alone supplemented animals. The results of Masson's trichome staining for collagen and of, immunoblotting analyses of matrix metalloproteases 2 and 9 further supported the biochemical findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The apparent potential of CAP in modulating extracellular matrix components and proteases suggests that CAP plays a chemomodulatory and anti- cancer role working against experimentally induced lung carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Pandi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anandakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sattu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sundaram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Gopalakrishnan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Selvamani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asokkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Chandrashekar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naveenkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghunandhakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Manickam Kalappan
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Vanitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Thiruvengadam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Devaki
keywords: benzo(a)pyrene; capsaicin; collagen; glycosaminoglycans; lung cancer; matrix metalloproteases