Effects of capsaicin on biliary free fatty acids in rats.

The effects of capsaicin, a major pungent agent of capsicum fruits, on biliary free fatty acids (FFAs) were studied in male rats. Animals were dosed 100 mg/kg capsaicin after the administration of olive oil, and the bile was obtained for 6 hours continuously after dosing with capsaicin for analysis of FFAs using HPLC methods. Capsaicin significantly decreased the total biliary FFA concentration in the animals which had been previously increased by the administration of olive oil. The main FFAs in the bile of control rats are lauric and palmitic acids, followed by linoleic, oleic, stearic and palmitoleic acids. Capsaicin alone decreased the values of these main FFAs. While lauric, palmitic, linoleic, stearic and arachidonic acids were increased significantly by the treatment with olive oil, elevation of these FFAs was inhibited by the treatment with capsaicin.