Chili Peppers Can Help Fight Lung Cancer

We've heard a lot about the benefits of eating chili to help with natural pain, boosting immunity and fighting off inflammation. New research recently shows that it can also prevent the development of lung cancer. Capsaicin compound is an element that causes the heat of chili; it can slow down the metastasis of cancer cells in the patient's body.

The compound found in chili can prevent metastasis of cancer

Jamie Friedman, a Ph.D. at Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University and who also conducted this study in the laboratory of Piyali Dasgupta, said cancers including lung cancer would spread to other secondary parts such as bone, liver or brain over time. This makes them more difficult to treat. The research team's new findings suggest that capsaicin naturally found in chili can be used to slow the metastasis of lung cancer.

According to their research, capsaicin can inhibit the movement of cancer cells through other tissues, which is the first process in the metastasis of the disease. Based on the results obtained from experimental mice, the mice consuming capsaicin will have metastatic areas of cancer cells in the lungs that are smaller than other cancerous metastatic mice.

Src is an essential controller in the human body that controls growth, adhesion of cells, differences and movement. Capsaicin can interfere with the protein Src's activity, which significantly slows the metastasis of lung cancer. Friedman said the researchers hope that capsaicin will become an ingredient in combination with much other chemotherapy to treat lung cancer patients more effectively.

However, the use of capsaicin also has some noticeable side effects such as gastric distress, gastrointestinal irritation, and burning sensation. Scientists will reduce these unwanted effects so that they can be applied clinically.

Lung cancer is one of the most difficult to treat

Lung cancer is one of the most challenging types to handle. Therefore, it is the leading cause of death for both women and men compared to other types of cancer.

The disease is often found late because they do not show any symptoms in the early stages. Patients often discover it when they are already in the metastasis stage. When it spreads cancer cells to other parts, it is tough for us to prevent and treat.

There are still many studies that need to be done with capsaicin. However, the potential of capsaicin in combination with other chemotherapy to fight cancer is quite high and desirable. The researchers are currently looking for substances similar to capsaicin but do not bring many side effects and still work well to prevent metastasis from being a part of treating lung cancer.

This research is published by Experimental Biology.