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PubMed1993

Capsaicin: identification, nomenclature, and pharmacotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief overview of the chemical history, analysis, nomenclature, biology, pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy of capsaicin. DATA SOURCES: Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, and a MEDLINE search were used to identify pertinent literature; selected literature was used in this review. DATA EXTRACTION: Original articles, reviews, and abstracts of articles were used to select material pertinent to the objectives of the review. The volume of material available prohibits comprehensive data extraction. CONCLUSIONS: A history of the use of Capsicum spp. and the predominant active ingredient, capsaicin, the parent compound of a group of vanillyl fatty acid amides, is presented. Distinct structural differences are noted between this compound and the capsaicinoids, especially the synthetic analog nonivamide, which has appeared as an adulterant in capsaicin-labeled products. Analysis shows that although some of these synthetic analogs eventually may prove to be true natural products, conclusive evidence based on isolation and structure elucidation is still absent after decades of attempted isolation from several potential natural sources. Although the crude, dark oleoresin extract of capsicum contains over 100 distinct volatile compounds and therefore may function in many ways dissimilar to capsaicin, the oleoresin continues to be marketed in products with a high degree of variability in efficacy. Capsaicin as a pure white crystalline material, however, acts specifically by depleting stores of substance P from sensory neurons, and has been successful in the treatment of several painful conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathies.

Capsaicin↗
PubMed2002

Optimization of high-performance liquid chromatographic parameters for the determination of capsaicinoid compounds using the simplex method.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the analysis of capsaicinoid compounds, the pungent principles of capsicum fruits. A sequential simplex method was applied to optimize the chromatographic response function used to assess the quality of separation by varying the chromatographic parameters. The separation was achieved in 11 min using a C-8 column of 15-cm length and 4.6 mm diameter using a UV detector. A flow rate of 1.15 ml min(-1) at a column temperature of 43.5 degrees C using 63.7% methanol in water gave the most efficient separation. The method was found to be suitable for the determination of the major capsaicinoid compounds in the capsicum samples.

Calibration↗
PubMed1998

Unexpected death related to restraint for excited delirium: a retrospective study of deaths in police custody and in the community.

BACKGROUND: Some people in states of excited delirium die while in police custody. Emerging evidence suggests that physical restraint in certain positions may contribute to such deaths. In this study the authors determined the frequency of physical restraint among people in a state of excited delirium who died unexpectedly. METHODS: The authors reviewed the records of 21 cases of unexpected death in people with excited delirium, which were investigated by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario between 1988 and 1995. Eyewitness testimony, findings during postmortem examinations, clinical history, toxicological data and other official documents describing the events surrounding the deaths were analyzed. Specific reference was made to documented eyewitness testimony of restraint method, body position and use of capsicum oleoresin (pepper) spray. Because cocaine was detected in the blood of some of these people during the postmortem examination, the role of cocaine in excited delirium was examined by comparing the cocaine levels in these cases with levels in 2 control groups: 19 people who died from acute cocaine intoxication and 21 people who had used cocaine shortly before they died but who had died from other causes. RESULTS: In all 21 cases of unexpected death associated with excited delirium, the deaths were associated with restraint (for violent agitation and hyperactivity), with the person either in a prone position (18 people [86%]) or subjected to pressure on the neck (3 [14%]). All of those who died had suddenly lapsed into tranquillity shortly after being restrained. The excited delirium was caused by a psychiatric disorder in 12 people (57%) and by cocaine-induced psychosis in 8 (38%). Eighteen people (86%) were in police custody when they died. Four (19%) had been sprayed with capsicum oleoresin, and heart disease was found in another 4 at autopsy. The blood level of cocaine in those whose excited delirium was cocaine induced was similar to levels found in recreational cocaine users and lower than levels found in people who died from cocaine intoxication. INTERPRETATION: Restraint may contribute to the death of people in states of excited delirium, and further studies to test this hypothesis are recommended. Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities and others should bear in mind the potential for the unexpected death of people in states of excited delirium who are restrained in the prone position or with a neck hold.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Protection of lipid peroxidation and carbonyl formation in proteins by capsaicin in human erythrocytes subjected to oxidative stress.

Capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonemide) is the major pungent principle found in hot peppers of the plant genus Capsicum. The present work was undertaken to investigate the antioxidative property of capsaicin on markers of oxidative stress; membrane lipid peroxidation (formation of malondialdehyde) and membrane carbonyl groups in human erythrocytes. The effect of capsaicin has been compared with l-ascorbic acid. Subjecting erythrocytes to oxidative stress by incubating them with t-BHP caused a significant increase in MDA level and protein carbonyl group content above the basal value. The presence of capsaicin (10 microm) in the incubation medium protected the erythrocytes from t-BHP-induced oxidative stress as evidenced by the decrease in MDA level and protein carbonyl group content, l-ascorbic acid also showed similar protective effect. The results conclusively prove the efficacy of the antioxidant property of capsaicin. This evidence suggests that dietary factors that act as antioxidants to decrease membrane lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl formation may contribute to a protective effect against cancer, atherosclerosis and age related diseases. This antioxidant effect may, in part, explain the high consumption of capsicum in certain regions of the world.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1978

Cercaricidal activity of some essential oils of plants from Brazil.

Extended screening tests on the cercaricidal activity of various plants from northeast Brazil have shown that the extracts of the leaves and fruits of Piper marginatum, Protium heptaphyllum, and Capsicum annuum show a remarkable effect on the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni. In the case of the oils of Piper marginatum and Capsicum annuum, 90--96% of the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni were killed within 15 min. According to the NMR spectra, the active principles of the extracts seem to be water-soluble unsaturated compounds from the oils or their hydrolysis products. Natural substances provide an attractive alternative for preventive actions against schistosomiasis, as the perturbation of the ecological equilibrium of natural waters can be avoided in this manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhou lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China).

In 1985, the collapse of the tailing dam in Chenzhou lead/zinc mine (Hunan, southern China) led to the spread of mining waste spills on the farmland along the Dong River. After the accident, an urgent soil cleaning up was carried out in some places. Seventeen years later, cereal (rice, maize, and sorghum), pulses (soybean, Adzuki bean, mung bean and peanut), vegetables (ipomoea, capsicum, taro and string bean) and the rooted soils were sampled at four sites: (1) the mining area (SZY), (2) the area still covered with the mining tailing spills (GYB), (3) the cleaned area from mining tailing spills (JTC), and (4) a background site (REF). Metal concentrations in the crops and soils were analyzed to evaluate the long-term effects of the spilled waste on the soil and the potential human exposure through food chains. The results showed that the physical-chemical properties of the soils obviously changed due to the different farming styles used by each individual farmer. Leaching effects and plant extraction of metals from some soils were quite weak. Certain soils were still heavily polluted with As, Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu. The contamination levels were in the order of GYB>SZY>JTC showing that the clean-up treatment was effective. The maximum allowable concentration (MAC) levels for Chinese agricultural soils were still highly exceeded, particularly for As and Cd (followed by Zn, Pb and Cu), with mean concentrations of 709 and 7.6 mg kg(-1), respectively. These concentrations exceed the MAC levels by 24 times for As and 13 times for Cd at GYB. Generally, the edible leaves or stems of crops were more heavily contaminated than seeds or fruits. Ipomoea was the most severely contaminated crop. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were 3.30 and 76.9 mg kg(-1) in ipomoea leaves at GYB, which exceeded the maximum permit levels (0.5 mg kg(-1) for Cd and 9 mg kg(-1) for Pb) by 6.6 and 8.5 times, respectively. Taro (+skin) could accumulate high concentrations of Zn and Cd in the edible stem, and rice and capsicum had high Cd concentration in the edible parts. However, the toxic element concentrations in maize, sorghum, Adzuki bean, soybean and mung bean remained lower than the threshold levels. The bio-accumulation factors (BAFs) of crops were in the order: Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb>As. BAF was typically lower in the edible seeds or fruits than in stems and leaves. The accumulation effect strongly depends on the crop's physiological properties, the mobility, of the metals, and the availability of metals in soils but not entirely on the total element concentrations in the soils. Even so, the estimated daily intake amount of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb from the crops grown in the affected three sites and arsenic at SZY and GYB exceeded the RDA (Recommended dietary allowance) levels. Subsequently, the crops grown in Chenzhou Pb/Zn mine waste affected area might have a hazardous effect on the consumer's health. This area still needs effective measures to cure the As, Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu contamination.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

Capsaicin or feeding with red peppers during gestation changes the thermonociceptive response of rat offspring.

Capsaicin is responsible for the pungent sensation produced by red peppers on the body's mucous membranes. This substance is found naturally in the gender Capsicum, widely used in the diet of different cultures in America, Asia, and Africa. In this paper we used the hot plate model (53 +/- 0.5 degrees C) to study the effect of acute thermonociceptive stimulus on escape response latency in the offspring of rats that were treated during gestation, either with an aqueous red pepper solution (Capsicum frutescens, approximately 2.75 mg of capsaicin in 1 ml/day, by gavage during the second week), or with capsaicin (0.5 mg/day SC, during the second week). These groups were compared with their respective controls. We found that the difference between the manipulated control group and the one given the aqueous red pepper solution was 41.33%, and between the vehicle control and the one treated with capsaicin was 30.59%. These increments on the escape response latency were statistically significant. Our results show that both treatments, the aqueous red pepper extract and low doses of capsaicin on pregnant rats. produce an increment on escape response latency due to a thermonociceptive stimulus.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Elicitin 172 from an isolate of Phytophthora nicotianae pathogenic to tomato.

Elicitin 172, an acid protein with elicitor activity, has been isolated in true form from culture filtrates of Phytophthora nicotianae, the causal agent of crown and root rot of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The M(r) (10,349 +/- 1) of the purified protein, determined by ES-MS, is identical to that calculated for parasiticein using the mean isotopic composition and assuming the occurrence of three disulfide bridges. The primary structure of elicitin 172, determined using also MALDI-MS experiments, shows complete identity with parasiticein, with elicitin 310 and a cloned elicitin gene from P. parasitica (= P. nicotianae), confirming conservation of the elicitin sequence within a single species. The protein induces necrosis (hypersensitive reaction) on tobacco, but no symptoms on tomato, when applied on the leaves. Tomato pretreated with elicitin 172 was affected by P. nicotianae, as well as by the phytotoxic aggregates, naturally occurring with the elicitin in the non permeated dialysis fraction of culture filtrates. Finally, the elicitin induce protection of capsicum (Capsicum annuum) and vegetable marrow (Cucurbita pepo) from P. capsici.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Effect of the new H1-antagonist ReN1869 on capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia in human skin/Human phase-I trial using somatosensory evoked potentials induced by a CO2 laser.

Extensive pre-clinical investigations have shown that the tricyclic compound ReN1869 ((R)-1-(3-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ylidene)-1-propyl)-3-piperidine carboxylic acid, CAS 170149-99-2) is a potent H1-antagonist with pronounced antinociceptive properties. In this human phase-I trial the effect of different acute and multiple doses of ReN1869 on capsaicin induced neurogenic inflammation and hyperalgesia was investigated. Twenty-one healthy male subjects were enrolled in this randomised, double-blind, three-period, crossover trial design--consisting of acute and one week b.i.d. oral administration of 25 and 50 mg doses of ReN1869 and matching placebo--separated by 3 week washout periods. Capsaicin solution (1%) (INCI: Capsicum frutescens--containing capsaicinoides from Capsicum annuum annuum, CAS 84603-55-4) was applied in an occlusive mode for 30 min on the skin of the back in all three acute and subchronic medication periods to induce neurogenic inflammation. When the nociceptive laser pulses were applied to the capsaicin pre-treated skin, ReN1869 exerted a highly significant reduction of the pain response--as predominantly detected by suppression of the (central) P2-component in the laser-induced somatosensory evoked potentials (LSEPs) from Vertex-EEG. The primary efficacy endpoint, the N1/P2 peak to peak amplitude, was significantly reduced with the administration of ReN1869--primarily by a suppression of the P2-component of the LSEP. This suppression was dose-dependent and was more pronounced after a one week treatment (subchronic mode) with ReN1869 than after the first dose (acute mode). In contrast to the (central) P2-component there was no significant effect on the (peripheral) N1-component of the LSEPs taken from capsaicin-treated skin. As ReN1869 had no significant effect when the laser pulses were applied to normal skin, and the compound's effect was mainly restricted to the (central) P2-component, when LSEPs were taken from capsaicin treated skin, it can be concluded that ReN1869 exerts its positive effect to reduce capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia by a primarily central mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Analgesic effects of low-dose intravenous orphenadrine in the state of capsaicin hyperalgesia. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over study using laser somatosensory evoked potentials obtained from capsaicin-irritated skin in healthy volunteers.

The present investigation aimed to elucidate the analgesic efficacy of 30 mg of intravenous orphenadrine citrate (CAS 4682-36-4) in a human pain model. Eighteen healthy female and male subjects were enrolled and received single infusions of 30 mg orphenadrine citrate and matching placebo in two periods which were separated by a 1 week washout period. The study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period, cross-over trial. The intended neurogenic inflammation and hyperalgesia were induced by topical, occlusive application of 1% capsaicin solution (INCI: Capsicum frutescens, containing capsaicinoides from Capsicum annuum annuum, CAS 84603-55-4) for 30 min on defined skin areas of the back. The pain response to CO2 laser pulses applied to the capsaicin pre-treated skin was measured by event related Vertex-EEG recordings. This technique allowed studying the influence of orphenadrine citrate on the (central) P2-component and the (peripheral) Ni-component of the pain response (LSEP). Both, orphenadrine citrate and placebo were given as intravenous infusions over 60 min. Orphenadrine citrate exerted a significant reduction in central and peripheral components of the pain response when compared to placebo. The effect on the central component was highly significant and more pronounced than the peripheral effect of the drug. The analgesic effect developed fast, was already present during infusion, was ongoing, and exceeded the observational period of 4 h after start of infusion. In summary, orphenadrine citrate was able to exert an analgesic/anti-hyperalgesic effect in a low-dose paradigm (30 mg dose) which was predominantly due to central/spinal mechanisms in this capsaicin model with laser somatosensory evoked potentials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Herbal medicine for low back pain: a Cochrane review.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of herbal medicine compared with placebo, no intervention, or "standard/accepted/conventional treatments" for nonspecific low back pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Low back pain is a common condition and a substantial economic burden in industrialized societies. A large proportion of patients with chronic low back pain use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and/or visit CAM practitioners. Several herbal medicines have been purported for use in low back pain. METHODS: The following databases were searched: Medline (1966 to April 2003), Embase (1980 to April 2003), Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 1, 2003), and Cochrane Complementary Medicine (CM) field Trials Register. Additionally, reference lists in review articles, guidelines, and in the retrieved trials were checked. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), using adults (>18 years of age) suffering from acute, subacute, or chronic nonspecific low back pain. Types of interventions included herbal medicines defined as a plant that is used for medicinal purposes in any form. Primary outcome measures were pain and function. Two reviewers (J.J.G. and M.W.T.) conducted electronic searches in all databases. One reviewer (J.J.G.) contacted content experts and acquired relevant citations. Authors, title, subject headings, publication type, and abstract of the isolated studies were downloaded or a hard copy was retrieved. Methodologic quality and clinical relevance were assessed separately by two individuals (J.J.G. and M.W.T.). Disagreements were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Ten trials were included in this review. Two high-quality trials utilizing Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's claw) found strong evidence for short-term improvements in pain and rescue medication for daily doses standardized to 50 mg or 100 mg harpagoside with another high-quality trial demonstrating relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of rofecoxib. Two moderate-quality trials utilizing Salix alba (White willow bark) found moderate evidence for short-term improvements in pain and rescue medication for daily doses standardized to 120 mg or 240 mg salicin with an additional trial demonstrating relative equivalence to 12.5 mg per day of rofecoxib. Three low-quality trials using Capsicum frutescens (Cayenne) using various topical preparations found moderate evidence for favorable results against placebo and one trial found equivalence to a homeopathic ointment. CONCLUSIONS: Harpagophytum procumbens, Salix alba, and Capsicum frutescens seem to reduce pain more than placebo. Additional trials testing these herbal medicines against standard treatments will clarify their equivalence in terms of efficacy. The quality of reporting in these trials was generally poor; thus, trialists should refer to the CONSORT statement in reporting clinical trials of herbal medicines.

Herbal Medicine↗
PubMed1973

Diurnal variations in photosynthetic products and nitrogen metabolism in expanding leaves.

Expanding leaves of Capsicum frutescens L. cv. California Wonder, Cucumis melo L. cv. Hales Best, and Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck cv. Washington Navel showed a marked diurnal periodicity in the incorporation of (14)C from photosynthetically fixed (14)CO(2) into amino acids. Incorporation was virtually nil at the beginning of the photoperiod, reached a maximum in the 6th to 7th hour and decreased during the latter part of the photoperiod. In Capsicum frutescens this was apparently a reflection of the availability of reduced nitrogen controlled by the activity of nitrate reductase in the leaves. This also controlled the periodicity of the incorporation of (14)C into fraction I protein. Possible control mechanisms and the relation of nitrogen metabolism to the periodicity of leaf expansion growth are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Terpenoid metabolism in plastids : sites of phytoene synthetase activity and synthesis in plant cells.

The biosynthesis of phytoene from prephytoene pyrophosphate has been localized exclusively in the plastid compartment of ruptured protoplasts derived from Triticum leaves and Capsicum fruits.The phytoene synthetase activity in Triticum leaves deficient in plastid ribosomes was comparable to those obtained in normal leaves. In addition, the stimulation of phytoene synthetase activity observed in green Capsicum fruit after 2-(4-chlorophenylthio)triethylamine hydrochloride treatment was not abolished by chlororamphenicol and lincomycin, in contrast to the inhibition observed after cycloheximide treatment.These data conclusively show that phytoene synthetase is localized exclusively in the plastid compartment in higher plants and that its synthesis is not performed on 70S ribosomes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes among Solanum species and other Solanaceae.

The organization of the nuclear-encoded 18S, 5.8S, and 25S ribosomal RNA genes (ribosomal DNA; rDNA) of 21 New World species from different sections of the genus Solanum, of two Old World Solanum species, and of representatives of other Solanaceae (Nicotiana, Atropa, Datura, Physalis, and Capsicum) was analyzed by restriction enzyme mapping using different rDNA specific hybridization probes. All Solanum species investigated exhibited rDNA repeats between 8.7 and 9.3 kb in length; the only exception was S. neorossii with a repeat length of 10.3 kb. Sequence heterogeneity was observed mostly in the intergenic spacer (IGS) region. Restriction sites for EcoRI and DraI in the spacer sequences were found to be characteristic for the New World species of the genus Solanum and for Lycopersicon esculentum. An additional XbaI site was detected in the spacer region of two nontuber-bearing species, S. brevidens and S. etuberosum (subsection Estolonifera Hawkes; series Etuberosa), as well as in the primitive tuber-bearing species of the series Pinnatisecta and Polyadenia (subsection Potatoe G. Don), thus demonstrating that these Mexican species are separated from the other tuber-bearing species but are closely linked to the nontuber-bearing Estolonifera group. Two EcoRI sites mapped at the 3' end of the 25S rRNA coding region seem to be characteristic for members of the Solanaceae; the first EcoRI site is apparently methylated in approximately 50% of the rDNA repeats. Southern hybridization with an IGS fragment of Solanum tuberosum as hybridization probe and nucleotide sequence analysis of the phylogenetically informative 3' end of the 25S rDNA support the assumption that the New World species of the genus Solanum are closely related to Lycopersicon (tomato) in contrast with other Solanaceae investigated, Nicotiana, Atropa, Datura, Physalis, and Capsicum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2006

The response of gastrointestinal microbiota to avilamycin, butyrate, and plant extracts in early-weaned pigs.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of 3 different additives on the gastrointestinal microbiota of early-weaned pigs. Early-weaned (18 to 22 d; n = 32) pigs (6.0 +/- 0.10 kg of BW) from 8 litters were randomly distributed into 8 pens. Each pen was assigned 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a prestarter or control diet, the control diet with 0.04% avilamycin (AB), with 0.3% sodium butyrate, or with 0.03% plant extract mixture (XT; standardized mixture with 5% (wt/wt) carvacrol extracted from Origanum spp., 3% cinnamaldehyde extracted from Cinnamonum spp., and 2% capsicum oleoresin from Capsicum annum). At the end of the experimental period, 8 pigs per treatment were killed, and samples of their intestinal content were taken. The total bacterial load along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT; stomach, jejunum, cecum, and distal colon) and the lactobacilli and enterobacteria in the jejunum and cecum were measured by quantitative PCR. The total microbial counts along the GIT did not differ among the diets, but there was an increase in the lactobacilli:enterobacteria ratio in the cecum of the piglets on the XT diet (P = 0.003). Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the PCR-amplified V3, V4, and V5 regions of the 16S rDNA gene showed changes in the structure of the microbial community in the jejunum. Dendrograms grouped animals by diets; control with 0.3% sodium butyrate was the treatment that promoted the biggest changes in the microbial ecosystem, followed by AB and then XT. Biodiversity increased when using additives compared with the control diet (P = 0.002). Microbial metabolic activity along the hindgut was studied using the concentration of purine bases and carbohydrase activities. Different patterns for purine bases were observed between diets (diet x intestinal section, P = 0.01). The control diet reached a maximum purine base concentration at the end of the colon, whereas that of the AB diet was reached at the cecum. We could not detect any cellulase or xylanase activities in animals of this age. Appreciable amylase and amylopectinase activities were found, but they did not differ between diets. The results suggest that the effects of avilamycin, butyrate, or the plant extract would not be related to a reduction in the number of total bacteria inhabiting different sections of the GIT but rather to changes in the ecological structure and metabolic activity of the microbial community.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Effects of butyrate, avilamycin, and a plant extract combination on the intestinal equilibrium of early-weaned pigs.

We evaluated the effects of 3 additives, sodium butyrate (AC), avilamycin (AB), and a combination of plant extracts (XT), on the productive performance and the intestinal environment of the early-weaned pig. The XT was a standardized mixture with 5% (wt/wt) carvacrol (from Origanum spp.), 3% cinnamaldehyde (from Cinnamonum spp.), and 2% capsicum oleoresin (from Capsicum annum). Pigs (n = 32) weaned at 18 to 22 d of age with an initial BW of 6.0 +/- 0.10 kg were allocated to 8 pens that, in turn, were allocated to 4 treatments. The treatments included a basal diet (CT) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.3% of AC, 0.04% of AB, or 0.03% of XT. Productive performance was determined during the initial 14 d postweaning. On d 19 and 21 of the experiment, the pigs were killed to allow collection of digesta and intestinal tissue to evaluate variables indicative of aspects of the gastrointestinal environment. Treatments AB and AC improved G:F (P = 0.012 and 0.003, respectively) compared with the CT. Butyrate included in the diet was only detected in the stomach but not in cranial jejunum. When compared with CT, AC produced a lower ileal starch digestibility (P = 0.002) and a lower whole-tract OM and starch digestibility (P = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively), related to a lower VFA concentration in the cranial colon (P = 0.082) and a numerically reduced branched VFA percentage in the rectum. The AB treatment diminished propionate production in caudal colon (P = 0.002) and rectum (P = 0.012) compared with CT. The AC group exhibited deeper crypt depth in the jejunum without variations in villus height compared with CT (P = 0.042). The AC and AB groups also increased goblet cell presence in the colon (P = 0.001 and 0.032, respectively). On the other hand, AB and XT diminished intraepithelial lymphocytes in the jejunum (P = 0.003 and 0.034, respectively). The XT increased lymphocyte presence in the colon (P = 0.003). These results show the important influence of AB and AC on productive performance and on pig gut dynamics. The intestinal modifications observed for AB and AC compared with CT suggest distinct modes of action for each additive.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2000

The use of herbal preparations for tick control in western Ethiopia.

Information on the traditional tick control methods used in Keffa, Illubabor and Wellega Provinces in western Ethiopia was obtained from 86 veterinary clinics and 865 peasant farmers through a questionnaire survey. Latexes of Euphorbia obovalifolia and Ficus brachypoda, juice of crushed leaves of Phytolaca dodecandra and Vernonia amygdalina, fruit juice of Solanum incanum, crushed seeds of Lepidium sativum mixed with fresh cattle faeces, juice of crushed leaves and bark of Calpurnea aurea and commercially available spice of Capsicum spp. mixed with butter, were used by peasant farmers to control ticks. Preliminary in vitro efficacy tests of these plant preparations were performed on engorged female Boophilus decoloratus. Preparations of Capsicum spp., E. obovalifolia, S. incanum and F. brachypoda were found to have 30-100% killing effects. Subsequently, in vivo treatment trials of these preparations were conducted using indigenous Bos indicus cattle naturally infested with ticks. Results indicate that treatments at the rate of once per day for 5 consecutive days with the latexes of E. obovalifolia and F. brachypoda can reduce tick burdens by up to 70% on cattle.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Capsaicin-induced activation of erythrocyte membrane sodium/potassium and calcium adenosine triphosphatases.

Capsaicin is the pungent ingredient present in hot peppers of the genus Capsicum. Capsaicin's effect on sensory neurons has been well studied; however, its effect on non-neuronal cells is still not fully understood. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of capsaicin on erythrocyte membrane enzymes: Na+/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase. Treatment with capsaicin (0.01-100 microM) caused a transient increase in the activities of both enzymes; the effect declined at lower concentrations of capsaicin, and no significant effect was observed at 0.01 microM capsaicin. The effect of capsaicin was fast with a significant (p<0.01) activation of enzyme activity observed within minutes of incubation. The findings on the effect of capsaicin on human erythrocyte membrane enzymes Na+/K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase signify the importance of the non-neuronal effects of capsaicin, and the need for evaluating the physiological impact of high capsaicin (capsicum) consumption in some regions of the world.

Benzoates↗