They’re known for being spicy and giving your meal a little kick.
chili peppers (pilipili) may have more use than just adding some fire to a curry.
According to the scientists ,pilipili could even tackle cancer which is a nightmare in many developing countries.
Tests have suggested capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their kick, may slow down the disease from spreading.
Researchers at Marshall University, West Virginia, examined the effects of capsaicin on three types of cancer cells in the laboratory.
The team of scientists discovered the compound stopped the first step of cancer spreading, known as metastasis.
And tests on mice battling metastatic cancer found those who consumed capsaicin had smaller areas of aggressive cancer cells in their lungs.
Further trials showed capsaicin suppressed lung cancer metastasis by blocking a protein that plays a role in cell growth, called Src.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Investigative Pathology in Orlando, Florida.
Jamie Friedman, a PhD candidate who led the study, said:‘Lung cancer and other cancers commonly metastasize to secondary locations like the brain, liver or bone, making them difficult to treat.’
‘Our study suggests that the natural compound capsaicin from chili peppers could represent a novel therapy to combat metastasis in lung cancer patients.’
Mr Friedman added: ‘We hope that one day capsaicin can be used in combination with other chemotherapeutics to treat a variety of lung cancers.
‘However, using capsaicin clinically will require overcoming its unpleasant side effects, which include gastrointestinal irritation, stomach cramps and a burning sensation.’
Hot peppers’ fire comes from capsaicin, which acts on pain receptors, not taste buds, in our mouths. Capsaicin predominates in the white membranes of peppers, imparting its “heat” to seeds as well.
The capsaicin in hot peppers has been shown to decrease blood cholesterol and triglycerides, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of stomach ulcers. It used to be thought that hot peppers aggravated ulcers. Instead, they may help kill bacteria in the stomach that can lead to ulcers.
Both hot and sweet peppers contain substances that have been shown to increase the body’s heat production and oxygen consumption for about 20 minutes after eating. This is great news; it means your body is burning extra calories, which helps weight loss.