Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Tumor Biology
Published in: Tumor Biology 7/2014

01-07-2014 | Research Article

Capsaicin inhibits cell proliferation by cytochrome c release in gastric cancer cells

Authors: Ogunc Meral, Merve Alpay, Gorkem Kismali, Funda Kosova, Dilek Ulker Cakir, Mert Pekcan, Serbulent Yigit, Tevhide Sel

Published in: Tumor Biology | Issue 7/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Capsaicin (trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) is the principal pungent component in hot peppers. The role of capsaicin in carcinogenesis is quite controversial. Although some investigators suspect that capsaicin is a carcinogen, co-carcinogen, or tumor promoter, others have reported that it has chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and chemosensitizing activities of capsaicin alone and on 5-flourouracil (5-FU)-treated gastric cancer cells. In this study, the gastric cancer cell line HGC-27 was used and capsaicin used as a chemosensitizer and 5-flourouracil (5-FU) was used as chemotherapeutic. Cytotoxicity and chemosensitizing activities were analyzed with MTT assay; supernatant levels of LDH and glucose were detected as biochemical markers of cell viability; cytochrome c and AIF were evaluated with western blot; and additionally, wound-healing assays were employed. Results suggested that capsaicin had significant anticancer abilities; such capsaicin were capable of causing multifold decreases in the half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 value of 5-FU. The continuing controversy surrounding consumption or topical application of capsaicin clearly suggests that more well-controlled epidemiologic studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of capsaicin use. In summary, the present study demonstrated that capsaicin has the potential to be used for treating gastric carcinoma with 5-FU in vitro.
Literature
1.
Jemal A, Bray F, Center MM, Ferlay J, Ward E, Forman D. Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin. 2011;61:69–90.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Zheng Z, He X, Li J, Yu B, Chen X, Ji J, et al. RhoGDI2 confers resistance to 5-fluorouracil in human gastric cancer cells. Oncol Lett. 2013;5:255–60.PubMedCentralPubMed
3.
Moon JY, Cho M, Ahn KS, Cho SK. Nobiletin induces apoptosis and potentiates the effects of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil in p53-mutated SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 2013;65(2):286–95.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Yadav VR, Prasad S, Sung B, Kannappan R, Aggarwal BB. Targeting inflammatory pathways by triterpenoids for prevention and treatment of cancer. Toxins (Basel). 2010;2(10):2428–66.CrossRef
5.
6.
7.
Liao F, Yang Z, Lu X, Guo X, Dong W. Sinomenine sensitizes gastric cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil in vitro and in vivo. Oncol Lett. 2013;6:1604–10.PubMedCentralPubMed
8.
Zhang N, Yin Y, Xu S, Chen W. 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of resistance and reversal strategies. Molecules. 2008;13:1551–69.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Arias JL. Novel strategies to improve the anticancer action of 5-fluorouracil by using drug delivery systems. Molecules. 2008;13:2340–69.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Gubta SC, Kannappan R, Reuter S, Kim JH, Aggarwal BB. Chemosensitization of tumors by resveratrol. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2011;1215:150–60.CrossRef
11.
12.
Yang KM, Pyo JO, Kim GY, Yu R, Han IS, Ju SA, et al. Capsaicin induces apoptosis by generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting mitochondrial transmembrane potential in human colon cancer cell lines. Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2009;14:497–510.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Huang SP, Chen JC, Wu CC, Chen CT, Tang NY, Ho YT, et al. Capsaicin-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Anticancer Res. 2009;29:165–74.PubMed
14.
Sanchez AM, Sanchez MG, Malagarie-Cazenave S, Olea N, Diaz-Laviada I. Induction of apoptosis in prostate tumor PC-3 cells and inhibition of xenograft prostate tumor growth by the vanilloid capsaicin. Apoptosis. 2006;11:89–99.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Surh YJ, Lee SS. Capsaicin in hot chili pepper: carcinogen, co-carcinogen or anticarcinogen? Food Chem Toxicol. 1996;34:313–6.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Surh YJ, Lee SS. Capsaicin, a double-edged sword: toxicity, metabolism, and chemopreventive potential. Life Sci. 1995;56:1845–55.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Oyagbemi AA, Saba AB, Azeez OI. Capsaicin: a novel chemopreventive molecule and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action. Indian J Cancer. 2010;47:53–8.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Ito K, Nakazato T, Yamato K, Miyakawa Y, Yamada T, Hozumi N, et al. Induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells by homovanillic acid derivative, capsaicin, through oxidative stress: implication of phosphorylation of p53 at Ser-15 residue by reactive oxygen species. Cancer Res. 2004;64:1071–8.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Amantini C, Mosca M, Nabissi M, Lucciarini R, Caprodossi S, Arcella A, et al. Capsaicin-induced apoptosis of glioma cells is mediated by TRPV1 vanilloid receptor and requires p38 MAPK activation. J Neurochem. 2007;102:977–90.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Kim MY, Trudel LJ, Wogan GN. Apoptosis induced by capsaicin and resveratrol in colon carcinoma cells requires nitric oxide production and caspase activation. Anticancer Res. 2009;29:3733–40.PubMed
21.
Gupta SC, Kim JH, Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Regulation of survival, proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of tumor cells through modulation of inflammatory pathways by nutraceuticals. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2010;29:405–34.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
22.
23.
Gupta SC, Kismali G, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin, a component of turmeric: from farm to pharmacy. Biofactors. 2013;39(1):2–13.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Chaturvedi MM, Sung B, Yadav VR, Kannappan R, Aggarwal BB. NF-κB addiction and its role in cancer: ‘one size does not fit all’. Oncogene. 2011;30:1615–30.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
25.
Sethi G, Sung B, Aggarwal BB. Nuclear factor-kappaB activation: from bench to bedside. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2008;233:21–31.CrossRef
26.
Bitencourt S, Mesquita F, Basso B, Schmid J, Ferreira G, Rizzo L, et al. Capsaicin modulates proliferation, migration, and activation of hepatic stellate cells. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2014;68(2):387–96.
27.
Shin DH, Kim OH, Jun HS, Kang MK. Inhibitory effect of capsaicin on B16-F10 melanoma cell migration via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/Rac1 signal pathway. Exp Mol Med. 2008;40(5):486–94.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
28.
Liu NC, Hsieh PF, Hsieh MK, Zeng ZM, Cheng HL, Liao JW, et al. Capsaicin-mediated tNOX (ENOX2) up-regulation enhances cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. J Agric Food Chem. 2012;60(10):2758–65.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Yang J, Li TZ, Xu GH, Luo BB, Chen YX, Zhang T. Low-concentration capsaicin promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by triggering ROS production and modulating Akt/mTOR and STAT-3 pathways. Neoplasma. 2013;60(4):364–72.CrossRefPubMed
30.
31.
Kerr JFR, Wyllie AH, Currie AR. Apoptosis: a basic biological phenomenon with wide ranging implications in tissue kinetics. Br J Cancer. 1972;26:239–57.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
32.
Hu XZ, Xu Y, Hu DC, Hui Y, Yang FX. Apoptosis induction on human hepatoma cells Hep G2 of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE-209). Toxicol Lett. 2007;171:19–28.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Cande C, Vahsen N, Garrido C, Kroemer G. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF): caspase-independent after all. Cell Death Differ. 2004;11:591–5.PubMed
34.
Ow YP, Green DR, Hao Z, Mak TW. Cytochrome c: functions beyond respiration. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2008;9:532–42.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Serra I, Yamamoto M, Calvo A, Cavada G, Baez S, Endoh K, et al. Association of chili pepper consumption, low socioeconomic status and longstanding gallstones with gallbladder cancer in a Chilean population. Int J Cancer. 2002;102:407–11.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Lopez-Carrillo L, Hernandez Avila M, Dubrow R. Chili pepper consumption and gastric cancer in Mexico: a case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 1994;139:263–71.PubMed
37.
Notani PN, Jayant K. Role of diet in upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Nutr Cancer. 1987;10:103–13.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Buiatti E, Palli D, Decarli A, Amadori D, Avellini C, Bianchi S, et al. A case-control study of gastric cancer and diet in Italy. Int J Cancer. 1989;44:611–6.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Chuang YC, Yoshimura N, Huang CC, Wu M, Chiang PH, Chancellor MB. Intraprostatic botulinum toxin a injection inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 expression and suppresses prostatic pain on capsaicin induced prostatitis model in rat. J Urol. 2008;180(2):742–8.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Bommareddy A, Eggleston W, Prelewicz S, Antal A, Witczak Z, McCune DF, et al. Chemoprevention of prostate cancer by major dietary phytochemicals. Anticancer Res. 2013;33(10):4163–74.PubMed
Metadata
Title
Capsaicin inhibits cell proliferation by cytochrome c release in gastric cancer cells
Authors
Ogunc Meral
Merve Alpay
Gorkem Kismali
Funda Kosova
Dilek Ulker Cakir
Mert Pekcan
Serbulent Yigit
Tevhide Sel
Publication date
01-07-2014
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Tumor Biology / Issue 7/2014
Print ISSN: 1010-4283
Electronic ISSN: 1423-0380
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1864-6

Other articles of this Issue 7/2014

Tumor Biology 7/2014 Go to the issue

Research Article

Association of a genetic variant in microRNA-146a with risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study

Research Article

Quantitative assessment of the association between L769L and S836S polymorphisms at RET gene and medullary thyroid carcinoma risk

Review

The role of microRNAs in human breast cancer progression

Research Article

Correlation between overexpression of EpCAM in prostate tissues and genesis of androgen-dependent prostate cancer

Research Article

Quantitation of rare circulating tumor cells by folate receptor α ligand-targeted PCR in bladder transitional cell carcinoma and its potential diagnostic significance

Research Article

The significant diagnostic value of human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) gene detection in high-grade cervical lesions and invasive cancer
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Image Credits