Scientists have revealed that blocking the receptor that reacts to chili and pepper, could relieve one off pain.
Biting into a chili pepper causes a burning spiciness that is irresistible to some, but intolerable to others. Scientists exploring the effect of chili-pepper are using their findings to develop a new drug candidate for many kinds of pain, which could be caused by inflammation or other problems.
Laykea Tafesse and colleagues explained that decades ago, scientists had pegged a compound called capsaicin as the active ingredient in chili peppers that causes fiery pain. In the 1990s, researchers were able to sequence the genetic sequence for the protein 'receptor' that capsaicin attaches to in the body.
The receptor is a protein on cells that acts as a gate, allowing only certain substances into a cell. The advance launched a hunt for compounds that can block this gate, cut off the pain signal and potentially treat pain that current drugs are no match for.
Tafesse's team wanted to explore variations on this theme to find a better drug candidate. They produced more than two dozen similar compounds, each with its own unique molecular tweak. They tested them in the lab and in animals for the traits they were looking for, such as potency, safety, the ability to dissolve in water and whether they can be taken orally. One prospect showed the most promise, and it has advanced into clinical trials.
The report is published in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
