published on 28/09/2024The beneficial effects of chili peppers have been known for a long time and extend to many functions of the human body. A recent comprehensive review of scientific literature highlights, in particular, the protective action of capsaicin (in biochemistry, 8-methyl N-vanillyl-6-noneamide), the spicy compound in chili peppers, on the brain and the entire central and peripheral nervous system.
It's not just the analgesic effect, which is related to specific receptors activated by capsaicin that allow the blocking of C and Aδ nerve fibers responsible for transmitting pain sensations to the nerve ganglia and spinal cord up to the brain.
Various experimental and clinical studies highlight the protective action on the brain by reducing the risk of stroke through microvascular effects and direct effects on brain cells (neurons) and other nerve cells that interact with neurons, such as astrocytes.
Additionally, capsaicin acts as a preventive measure against the degeneration and subsequent death of neurons, making it effective in maintaining memory and mental efficiency. The protective action also extends to serious infections that spread throughout the body and cause brain damage (sepsis). On a peripheral level, there is evident anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action through specific receptors on the vagus nerve.
The beneficial and anti-inflammatory effects also concern various degenerative neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
di Armando Sarti
References for further reading:
Omar M.E. Abdel‐Salam & Gyula Mózsik. Capsaicin, The Vanilloid Receptor TRPV1 Agonist in Neuroprotection: Mechanisms Involved and Significance. Neurochemical Research (2023) 48:3296–3315 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-023-03983-z
