Jalapeños cure cancer... (well, sorta)

[Bob Of Burleson]

Chili peppers for a healthy gut:
Spicy chemical may inhibit gut tumors

ScienceDaily.com

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that dietary capsaicin -- the active ingredient in chili peppers -- produces chronic activation of a receptor on cells lining the intestines of mice, triggering a reaction that ultimately reduces the risk of colorectal tumors.

The findings are published in the August 1, 2014 issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The receptor or ion channel, called TRPV1, was originally discovered in sensory neurons, where it acts as a sentinel for heat, acidity and spicy chemicals in the environment. "These are all potentially harmful stimuli to cells," said Eyal Raz, MD, professor of Medicine and senior author of the study. "Thus, TRPV1 was quickly described as a molecular 'pain receptor.' This can be considered to be its conventional function, which all takes place in the nervous system."

But Raz and colleagues have found that TPRV1 is also expressed by epithelial cells of the intestines, where it is activated by epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR. EGFR is an important driver of cell proliferation in the intestines, whose epithelial lining is replaced approximately every four to six days.

"A basic level of EGFR activity is required to maintain the normal cell turnover in the gut," said Petrus de Jong, MD, first author of the study. "However, if EGFR signaling is left unrestrained, the risk of sporadic tumor development increases."

The scientists discovered that TRPV1, once activated by the EGFR, initiates a direct negative feedback on the EGFR, dampening the latter to reduce the risk of unwanted growth and intestinal tumor development. They found that mice genetically modified to be TRPV1-deficient suffered higher-than-normal rates of intestinal tumor growths.

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[BillB]

I didn't know about that.
I do know that cayenne pepper will stop bleeding when nothing else will.
It stops it immediately.
We've used it for years.

[truep]

I didn't know about that.
I do know that cayenne pepper will stop bleeding when nothing else will.
It stops it immediately.
We've used it for years.

Doesn't it burn like crazy?

[BillB]

I didn't know about that.
I do know that cayenne pepper will stop bleeding when nothing else will.
It stops it immediately.
We've used it for years.

Doesn't it burn like crazy?

Not really. It feels about like putting rubbing alcohol on a cut. It stings a little.

This is off topic, but honey on a cut will make it close and heal overnight. It's messy. You have to bandage it up so it stays overnight. It works.