Research Highlights

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  • Cell & molecular biology

Published online: 1 September 2010 | doi:10.1038/nchina.2010.96

Cell metabolism: Chilli peppers have their benefits

Timon Chengyi Liu

Introduction

© (2010) istockphoto.com/Aleksandar Kolundzija

Capsaicin — a chemical compound found in capsicum — activates transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels in sensory neurons to promote the release of neuropeptides associated with pain and inflammation. Zhiming Zhu and Daoyan Liu at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing and co-workers¹ have demonstrated that capsaicin can also activate TRPV1 channels in blood vessels to exert a beneficial effect — the release of nitric oxide, which lowers high blood pressure.

Previous studies have identified the presence of TRPV1 in endothelial cells and shown that capsaicin increases the level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) enzymes and nitric oxide production. The researchers found that feeding mice capsaicin for six months increased the levels of TRPV1 expression, protein kinase A and eNOS phosphorylation in their arteries. Furthermore, feeding hypertensive rats a capsaicin-rich diet for seven months improved their vascular function and reduced blood pressure. These changes were accompanied by elevated levels of nitric oxide in the blood and protein kinase A and eNOS phosphorylation in blood vessels.

The findings show that capsaicin is good for improving vascular function and lowering high blood pressure. Although the results are preliminary, the study suggests that activating TRPV1 channels through capsaicin is a potential strategy for treating high blood pressure.

The authors of this work are from:
Center for Hypertension and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Hypertension and Endocrinology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Institute of Hypertension, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Institute of Vascular Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Medizinische Klinik Nephrologie, Charite Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.

Reference

1. Yang, D. et al. Activation of TRPV1 by dietary capsaicin improves endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and prevents hypertension. Cell Metabolism 12, 130–141 (2010). | Article | PubMed | OpenURL | | ChemPort |