Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens (한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지)
- Volume 15 Issue 2
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- Pages.81-87
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- 1995
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- 1225-6307(pISSN)
Genotoxicity of Capsaicin in Cultured Human Lymphocytes
- Lee, Sang-Sup (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University) ;
- Park, Young-Ho (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University) ;
- Sohn, Yeowon (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University) ;
- Ryu, Soo-Jung (College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University) ;
- Surh, Young-Joon (Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center)
- Published : 1995.09.01
Abstract
The clastogenic activity of capsaicin, a major pungent and irritating constituent of hot chili pepper, was evaluated in cultured human lymphocytes. Capsaicin (125, 250, and 500 $\mu$M) caused cytogenetic damage as determined by increased frequency of chromosome/chromatid aberrations compared to the solvent control. The mitotic indices were also decreased in a concentration-related manner in capsaicin-treated cells. Moreover, capsaicin suppressed [$^3$]thymidine incorporation into lymphocytes. The clastogenicity and cytotoxicity of capsaicin towards human lymphocytes were evident without an external metabolic activation system. Taken together, these findings suggest that capsaicin is a genotoxic agent and may thus represent a potential health hazard in humans.