Cayenne pepper has long been used by native peoples as a medicinal plant; it contains powerful medicinal substances you can use for a variety of purposes. No clinical evidence supports the claim that cayenne pepper kills brain cancer cells, though some research shows that a chemical compound in the pepper may kill other types of cancer cells. Always seek the advice of a physician if you have cancer and are considering using any home remedy, nutritional supplement or dietary treatment.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper -- Capsicum annuum or Capsicum frutescens -- is a plant native to different parts of the world, and one Native Americans have been using for thousands of years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The peppers that grow on the plant taste spicy due to the presence of capsaicin, a chemical compound with a variety of medicinal purposes.
Brain Cancer
More than one type of cancer can affect your brain, but brain cancer in general is any cancerous tumor that grows in any part of your brain. Brain tumors are either primary, those that begin in the brain, or secondary, those that spread to the brain after the cancer begins in another part of the body. Brain cancer treatment differs depending on where the tumor is in the brain, how big it is and the patient's treatment preferences. Treatment can include drugs, radiation therapy and surgery to remove the growth.
Capsaicin and Cancer Treatment
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, some evidence shows that capsaicin kills cancer cells while leaving other cells unharmed. A study published in the journal "Cancer Research" in March 2006 showed that capsaicin killed about 80 percent of the prostate cancer cells in mice while leaving the healthy cells unharmed. However, how the substance affects human cancers, and particularly human brain cancer, is unclear and further research is needed before a clear answer is possible.
Capsaicin and Cancer Causes
There is also some evidence to show that capsaicin can itself act as a cancer-inducing substance. A study published in the journal "Cancer Research" in September 2010 linked the chemical compound, commonly used in topical skin ointments and treatments, to an increase in a cancer-promoting enzyme in mice, which could cause tumor growth. How these findings are linked, if at all, to the effects of capsaicin on brain cancer cells in humans is unclear.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cayenne
- MayoClinic.com; Brain Tumor; May 2010
- American Institute for Cancer Research; Some Like It Hot; February 2007
- University of Minnesota-Hormel Institute; Study Reveals Capsaicin Can Act as Cocarcinogen; September 2010
- "Cancer Research"; Capsaicin, a Component of Red Peppers, Inhibits the Growth of Androgen-Independent, p53 Mutant Prostate Cancer Cells; A. Mori, et al.; March 2006
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