Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China.
Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China.
Chem Biol Interact. 2019 Jan 5;297:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.10.006. Epub 2018 Oct 17.
Capsaicin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as some benefits on the cardiovascular system. The exact effects of capsaicin on atherosclerosis are poorly understood. To investigate the effects of capsaicin on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in guinea pigs fed on a high-fat diet, as well as its potential mechanisms. Guinea pigs (n = 48) were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8/group): normal diet (control); high fat diet (model); model + low-dose capsaicin (2.5 mg/kg); model + moderate-dose capsaicin (5 mg/kg); model + high-dose capsaicin (10 mg/kg), and model + simvastatin (1.5 mg/kg) (positive control). After 14 weeks, serum lipids, apolipoprotein B100, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 were measured. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were histologically examined. eNOS and iNOS were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The model group developed severe dyslipidemia and associated histologic changes and endothelial dysfunction. All doses of capsaicin decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P < 0.05). Capsaicin alleviated the plaque area (-17.9-70.5%), plaque area to intima ratio (-18.0-73.6%), and intima thickness (-20.5-83.6%) (all P < 0.05). Capsaicin decreased MDA (-45.5-76.1%), ET-1 (-19.6-51.6%), and average gray value (AGV) of eNOS (-10.9-48.8%), and increased SOD activity (+31.7-76.1%), NO (+11.2-36.8%), and AGV of iNOS (+6.8-+93.0%) (all P < 0.05). Similar changes were observed with simvastatin. Capsaicin is beneficial to hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in guinea pigs fed on a high-fat diet. Reduced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction were involved in these benefits. This could represent a novel approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
辣椒素具有抗炎和抗氧化作用，对心血管系统也有一些益处。然而，辣椒素对动脉粥样硬化的确切作用仍不清楚。为了研究辣椒素对高脂饮食喂养的豚鼠高脂血症和动脉粥样硬化的影响及其潜在机制，将 48 只豚鼠（n=8/组）随机分为 6 组：正常饮食（对照组）；高脂饮食（模型组）；模型+低剂量辣椒素（2.5mg/kg）；模型+中剂量辣椒素（5mg/kg）；模型+高剂量辣椒素（10mg/kg）和模型+辛伐他汀（1.5mg/kg）（阳性对照组）。14 周后，测定血清脂质、载脂蛋白 B100、丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、一氧化氮（NO）和内皮素-1。用组织学方法检查主动脉粥样硬化病变。通过免疫组化法评估 eNOS 和 iNOS。模型组出现严重的血脂异常和相关的组织学改变及内皮功能障碍。所有剂量的辣椒素均降低总胆固醇、甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和载脂蛋白 B-100，升高高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（均 P<0.05）。辣椒素减轻斑块面积（-17.9%-70.5%）、斑块面积与内膜比（-18.0%-73.6%）和内膜厚度（-20.5%-83.6%）（均 P<0.05）。辣椒素降低 MDA（-45.5%-76.1%）、ET-1（-19.6%-51.6%）和 eNOS 的平均灰度值（-10.9%-48.8%），增加 SOD 活性（+31.7%-76.1%）、NO（+11.2%-36.8%）和 iNOS 的平均灰度值（+6.8%-+93.0%）（均 P<0.05）。辛伐他汀也观察到类似的变化。辣椒素有益于高脂饮食喂养的豚鼠高脂血症和动脉粥样硬化。减少氧化应激和内皮功能障碍参与了这些益处。这可能代表了一种预防心血管疾病的新方法。
