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Journey of capsaicin: From traditional to contemporary medicine and beyond
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Alternative & Integrative Medicine

ISSN: 2327-5162

Open Access

Journey of capsaicin: From traditional to contemporary medicine and beyond


International Conference and Exhibition on Traditional & Alternative Medicine

December 09-11, 2013 Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India

Suaib Luqman

Accepted Abstracts: Altern Integ Med

Abstract :

Capsaicin, a pungent molecule present in chilies repels a variety of mammals from rats to squirrels to dogs is found pleasurable by humans since time immemorial much before people became familiar with the medicinal aspect of this wonder ingredient. Observed with interest, capsaicin has long been used as a traditional medicine to treat pain, indigestion, diarrhea, ulcer, loss of consciousness, delirium, sore throat, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, flatulence and in recent times its mechanism of pain-relieving action has been revealed. Capsaicin has also been demonstrated to enhance energy metabolism in mammals and reduce the levels of serum cholesterol. Highly selective for VR and TRPV receptors, capsaicin alleviates pain in arthritis, cluster headache, psoriasis, neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. The pharmacological actions of capsaicin in the thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory and sensory systems have been reviewed and studied extensively. It releases a number of pro- inflammatory mediators involved in pain pathways and helps in the metabolism of epoxide aromatic hydrocarbons that impede with their ability of binding to DNA. Being an incredibly versatile creation of nature and a merchandise of evolution, capsaicin is actively used nowadays in foods, pepper sprays (self defense) and ointments (healer) however its molecular mechanism remains perplexed. Very few studies have been done to explore the effect of capsaicin on erythrocytes and our observations revealed an array of transformation in erythrocyte enzyme activities and concentration of intracellular metabolites. Despite a lot of methodical prospection in capsaicin research, investigations and the journey of biological activity is still far from complete. Current developments of modern biological tools and techniques will pave up the way for its wider availability as a drug like candidate, phytoceutical and/or bioactive.

Biography :

Suaib Luqman has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 28 years from University of Allahabad and postdoctoral studies from University of Hawaii, USA. He is presently working as a Scientist on Bioprospection activity and Molecular aspects of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), which are traditionally used in Traditional system of medicine in a frontier research institute (CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow). He is a recipient of several international and national awards, fellowships and scholarships for his academic achievements and research works. He has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member of Annals of Phytomedicine and Conference Papers in Pharmacology.

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Citations: 476

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