Chili powder helps fight breast, colon, and spleen cancer.

A recent study by a team of experts at Ruhr University (Germany) found that capsaicin, a component in chili peppers, is capable of forcing cancer cells into a state of self-destruction, including in cases of breast, colon, and spleen cancer.

Photo: Shutterstock

This conclusion was drawn from a study aimed at determining how human breast cancer cells would react to the effects of a spicy molecule.

The results showed that capsaicin can bind to the membrane of malignant cells and activate receptors that control the entry and exit of substances from the cell. By activating these channels, capsaicin can push a cancer cell into an overloaded state, causing it to self-destruct. As a result, the growth of the malignant tumor is halted due to mass cell death.

Dr. Lea Weber, a member of the German expert team, said the findings are consistent with those of other groups, which have demonstrated that the proliferation rate of MCF-7 breast cancer cells is significantly reduced in the presence of capsaicin.

However, it is not yet possible to treat cancer by eating more spicy foods, as capsaicin is not effective through ingestion, inhalation, or injection. Nevertheless, researchers still hope to combine the spicy component of chili peppers with other drugs to kill cancer cells.

According to TNO