CAYENNEPEPPER

Anticancer Research

It is also known as the cow-horn pepper, guinea spice, red hot chili pepper. Cayenneis used in cooking, as a powder or in its whole form. Cayenne consumption dilatesblood vessels and speeds the metabolism due to high levels of capsaicin (Lust 2014).Capsaicin has a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer, as wellas inhibiting tumour necrosis factor and inducing apoptosis through regulation ofmany gene expressions (Mori et al. 2006). Capsaicin was found to increase the levelsof certain proteins involved in apoptosis and also reduced the number of prostate-specificantigens (Scher et al. 1999). Other benefits include helping to preventulcers, opening and draining congested nasal passages, and reducing cell damagethat can lead to diabetic complications (Sánchez et al. 2007; Ramos-Torres et al.2015). Herbalists suggest 400 mg/day, three times/week of capsaicin to treat prostatecancer (Kapoor 2000).