Capsicum and capsaicin--a review: case report of the use of hot peppers in child abuse

Innate inflammatory response to acute inhalation exposure of riot control agent oleoresin capsicum in female rats: An interplay between neutrophil mobilization and inflammatory markers

Aim: The use of oleoresin capsicum (OC) sprays, due to their irreversible health effects has now grown into a matter of heated debate. In the present study, the early phase pulmonary events involving chemotactic and inflammatory mediators after short-exposure duration to OC have been presented.Materials and methods: Female Wistar rats used in the evaluation of respiratory parameters at 1 h, 3 h, and 24 h post-exposure, were sacrificed for the evaluation of blood cell counts, BALF cytokine estimation, lung capillary leakage, study of oxidative stress and histopathology of the lungs.Results: Results confirmed a dose-dependent effect of OC exposure on serum clinical chemistry and hematological parameters. Subsequent upregulation of IL-l and TNF-α indicated lung's responses to acute oxidant-induced injury and inflammation after OC exposure. Significant alterations in the pulmonary levels of reactive oxygen intermediates were seen following the inhalation of OC. Infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, mostly neutrophils, into the site of infection was evident in the cytocentrifuged samples of BALF. Histological samples of rat lung sections revealed the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the airways and around blood vessels in the subepithelium of conducting airways.Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that, exposure to OC spray may mitigate inflammatory response and development of acute lung injury in rats. However, it can be concluded that although OC spray causes pulmonary hazards in the aforementioned concentrations, it can be used as a non-lethal riot control agent in minimal concentration. Understanding the in-depth mechanism of action in the molecular and receptor level will help in developing effective antagonist against OC.

Topical capsaicin for the treatment of acute lipodermatosclerosis and lobular panniculitis

Topical capsaicin is well known to reduce nociceptive pain and neurogenic inflammation by depleting substance P. Its fibrinolytic and antithrombotic effects are less well known. We report two cases of acute lipodermatosclerosis which did not respond to several conventional treatment regimens and one case of acute lobular panniculitis in a pregnant woman with venous insufficiency, who were successfully treated within a short period of 3 weeks with topical 0.075% capsaicin cream.

In vitro and in vivo evaluations of topically applied capsaicin and nonivamide from hydrogels

The purpose of this study was designed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo skin absorption of capsaicin and nonivamide from hydrogels. Various commercialized creams of capsaicin were also compared with hydrogels. Both skin stripping technique and Mexameter were applied to evaluate the level of capsaicin and nonivamide retained in stratum corneum (SC) and skin erythema in vivo. The partition of drug between skin and the hydrogel matrix was considered to play an important role in the permeation process. The in vitro permeation of capsaicin from hydrogels depends on the physicochemical nature and the concentration of the polymer used. The incorporation of nonionic Pluronic F-127 polymer into hydrogels resulted in a retarded release of capsaicin. On the other hand, the in vitro capsaicin permeation showed higher levels in cationic chitosan and anionic carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogels than cream bases. The permeation of nonivamide was retarded at the late stage of in vitro application. The inter-subject variation was more significant in the in vivo study than in vitro skin permeation experiments. The cream induced in vivo skin erythema depending on the drug concentration, however, the dose-dependence was not observed in hydrogels. Nonivamide-treated skin showed stronger erythema than capsaicin-treated skin. The present study indicates that there is a moderate correlation between in vitro skin permeation and in vivo erythema responses of topically applied capsaicin and nonivamide. The correlation between drug amount in SC and skin erythema test in vivo was also observed.

Delayed pulmonary edema and bronchospasm after accidental lacrimator exposure

Clinical manifestations of lacrimator exposure can be immediate or significantly delayed. In both phases, the sequelae can be severe and life-threatening. As personal protection devices, these agents have become readily available to the public in many areas of the country. Emergency physicians should gain a firm understanding of the presentation, management, and disposition of the lacrimator-exposed patient. A case of accidental prolonged lacrimator exposure inducing pulmonary edema and bronchospasm is presented.

Neonatal capsaicin administration: effects on behavioral development of the rat

The effect of a single dose of capsaicin administered neonatally on the development of six motor behavioral patterns (scratching, rearing, grooming, searching, remaining still, and sniffing) was examined in Wistar rats. Treated animals exhibited a significant increment in scratching, rearing, grooming, and searching. Capsaicin also provoked precocious eye opening of one to two days and a reduction in remaining still, sniffing, and body weight. These effects were accompanied by pelage dishevelment and presence of skin ulcers in the region of the head, neck, and shoulders. The distribution of skin ulcers suggests that the fifth cranial nerve and roots innervating C1-C3 spinal cord segments contain a high proportion of capsaicin-sensitive "C" and A delta fibers.

A 4-week feeding study of ground red chilli (Capsicum annuum) in male B6C3F1 mice

The toxicity of red chilli was examined in male B6C3F1 mice fed a commercial meal diet mixed with ground Capsicum annuum (Linn.) at levels of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% by weight. Mice were offered control or test diets ad lib. starting at 6 wk of age. Food consumption was measured daily and individual body weights recorded weekly for the 4-wk feeding period. General health, body weight and food intake were apparently not adversely affected at any level of pepper consumption. Histopathological evaluation revealed slight glycogen depletion and anisocytosis of hepatocytes in the 10% group. However, other organs did not reveal any lesions attributable to the chilli exposure. It appears that red chilli is relatively non-toxic at the doses tested in male B6C3F1 mice.