title: In vivo and in vitro evaluation for nutraceutical purposes of capsaicin, capsanthin, lutein and four pepper varieties.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the nutraceutic potential of different Capsicum sp, capsaicin, capsanthin and lutein and provide data in order to clarify the conflicting results obtained for capsaicin by different authors. To achieve these objectives, in vivo (geno/antigenotoxicity and lifespan assays in the animal model Drosophila) and in vitro (cytotoxicity and DNA-fragmentation assays in HL60 promyelocytic cell line) assays were carried out. Results showed that i) none of the tested substances were genotoxic except green hot pepper and capsaicin at the highest tested concentration (5 mg/mL and 11.5 μM respectively), ii) all tested substances except green hot pepper are antimutagenic against H2O2-induced damage, iii) only red sweet pepper significantly extend the lifespan and healthspan of D. melanogaster at 1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL, iv) all pepper varieties induce dose-depended cytotoxic effect in HL60 cells with different IC50, and v) all pepper varieties and capsaicin exerted proapoptotic effect on HL60 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (i) sweet peppers could be suggested as nutraceutical food, (ii) hot peppers should be moderately consumed, and (iii) supplementary studies are necessary to clarify the synergic effect of the carotenoids and capsaicinoids in the hot pepper food matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, 14071, Spain. Electronic address: b12febez@uco.es.
authors.forename: Zahira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fernández-Bedmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetic, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, 14071, Spain. Electronic address: ge1almoa@uco.es.
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso-Moraga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D029222:Piper nigrum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D024341:Xanthophylls; C006889:capsanthin; D002211:Capsaicin; D014975:Lutein
keywords: Capsaicin; Carotenoids; Cytotoxicity; DNA-fragmentation; Genotoxicity; Pepper