Title:Therapeutic Potential of Capsaicin in Various Neurodegenerative Diseases
with Special Focus on Nrf2 Signaling
Volume: 25
Issue: 13
Author(s): Vibhav Varshney*, Abhishek Kumar, Vikas Parashar, Ankit Kumar, Ahsas Goyal and Debapriya Garabadu
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura-281406, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Keywords:
Capsaicin, neurodegenerative diseases, Nrf2, oxidative stress, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease.
Abstract: Neurodegenerative disease is mainly characterized by the accumulation of misfolded
proteins, contributing to mitochondrial impairments, increased production of proinflammatory
cytokines and reactive oxygen species, and neuroinflammation resulting in synaptic loss and
neuronal loss. These pathophysiological factors are a serious concern in the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases. Based on the symptoms of various neurodegenerative diseases, different
treatments are available, but they have serious side effects and fail in clinical trials, too. Therefore,
treatments for neurodegenerative diseases are still a challenge at present. Thus, it is important
to study an alternative option. Capsaicin is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in capsicum.
Besides the TRPV1 receptor activator in nociception, capsaicin showed a protective effect
in brain-related disorders. Capsaicin also reduces the aggregation of misfolded proteins, improves
mitochondrial function, and decreases ROS generation. Its antioxidant role is due to increased
expression of an nrf2-mediated signaling pathway. Nrf2 is a nuclear erythroid 2-related
factor, a transcription factor, which has a crucial role in maintaining the normal function of mitochondria
and the cellular defense system against oxidative stress. Intriguingly, Nrf2 mediated
pathway improved the upregulation of antioxidant genes and inhibition of microglial-induced
inflammation, improved mitochondrial resilience and functions, leading to decreased ROS in
neurodegenerative conditions, suggesting that Nrf2 activation could be a better therapeutic approach
to target pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, the present review
has evaluated the potential role of capsaicin as a pharmacological agent for the treatment and
management of various neurodegenerative diseases via the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway.