TITLE: Capsaicin, a unique anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic compound with antifungal activity against dermatophytes
OURNAL: Medical Science Research
VOLUME: 24
ISSUE: 10
PAGES: Data not available
AUTHOR: Bhabadeb Chowdhury, Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Debdas Bhattacharayay, Amit K. De
ADDRESS: Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Calcutta 700 019, India. Cryobiology Division, Advanced Centre for Cryogenic Research, Jadavpur Campus, Calcutta 700 032, India. Present address: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada A1B 3X9;. Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, School of Medicine, St Louis University, St Louis, MO 63104,USA
ABSTRACT: An extract of chilli has been used for many years in folk medicine as a treatment for localised skin inflammation, sprains and painful joints. Our laboratory data have shown that the biological activity of chilli is attributable toits pungent principle, capsaicin, which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-oxidant properties. In the present study, determinations of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of capsaicin for different dermatophytes and yeast pathogens showed it to have moderate antifungal activity.