5. Chili peppers may help prevent liver damage
Study results have revealed that consuming the active compound in chili peppers known as capsaicin every day has beneficial effects on damage to the liver.1✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201400649
It was discovered that capsaicin reduced hepatic stellate cell activation in mice. Hepatic stellate cells are the primary type of cell involved in fibrosis of the liver, which is scar tissue formation in response to damage of the liver.
For the study, the mice were divided into 2 groups and were given capsaicin in their chow after 3 days of bile duct ligation, and before and during treatment with chronic carbon tetrachloride.
Bile duct ligation is obstruction of the common bile duct which results in the accumulation of bile and liver fibrosis.
Carbon tetrachloride is a compound that was commonly made use of in fire extinguishers, as a refrigerant precursor, and also as a cleaning agent. It’s also one of the most powerful hepatotoxins
The study shows that liver damage in the bile duct ligation mice was partially improved by capsaicin and further injury progression was inhibited. In the 2nd group of carbon tetrachloride-treated mice, injury development to the liver prevented with capsaicin but already established fibrosis wasn’t reduced.
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