Researchers have known that free radical-mediated neurodegenerative diseases can be prevented through the consumption of food rich in antioxidants. Researchers have shown that aqueous extracts of ripe and unripe Capsicum annum, Tepin (CAT) and Capsicum chinese, Habanero (CCH) can prevent lipid peroxidation induced by sodium nitroprusside and quinolinic acid in rat brain in vitro.  In [...]

Pepperoncini, or sweet Italian peppers, are a slightly sweet, salty pepper often used to garnish salads. The heat of a pepperoncini ranges between low and medium. They are usually 2 to 3 inches long and are found in grocery stores fresh or pickled. Members of the pepper family contain vitamins, minerals and compounds that increase [...]

Cluster headache, descriptively nicknamed the “suicide headache”  is a neurological disease that involves, as its most prominent feature, an immense degree of pain generally occurring unilaterally about the orbit of the eye.  Multiple researchers discovered that using capsaicin (one of the pungent principles of hot peppers) is an effective treatment for the disorder.  In fact, SiCap, [...]

This article recommends the usage of capsaicinoid-containing creams for relief of arthritis related pain.  It also stresses the fact that the analgesic effect can only be produced after prolonged and regular use.  Correction: the author refers to capsicum rather than capsaicin or capsaicinoids as being the effective compound(s) in the creams.  Capsicum, of course, refers to [...]

In recent years the field of cancer research has begun to shift toward natural solutions for treatment and prevention.  Urged by the recent trend in pharmaceutical R&D toward naturopathic solutions, researcher Dan Dou sought to  determine whether the level of “hotness” of a hot pepper correlated to cancer cell killing activity in vitro.  Extracts from ten different peppers [...]

Research published in the journal Circulation concludes that over-the-counter pain salve containing capsaicin rubbed on the skin during a heart attack could serve as a cardiac-protectant — reducing or even preventing damage to the heart. The researchers found an amazing 85 percent reduction in cardiac cell death when capsaicin was used. This is the most [...]

Consuming capsaicin, the active ingredient in such hotties as jalapenos, cayenne, red pepper flakes and hot sauces, can curb ones appetite through a variety of different mechanisms.  For example, capsaicin appears to prevent hunger signals from reaching your brain. In addition, it also activates about 20 different fat-burning proteins, which can increase your metabolism about [...]