INHIBITION BY CAPSAICIN AGAINST CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-INDUCED CLASTOGENICITY AND DNA-DAMAGE IN MICE

We have demonstrated in an earlier paper that capsaicin, the pungent p rinciple of red hot chilli, has a potent anti-oxidant property that in terferes with free-radical involved mechanisms. In the present paper w e demonstrate that capsaicin significantly inhibits cyclophosphamide-i nduced (i.p.) chromosomal aberrations and DNA strand breakages. This p rotective action of capsaicin against CP-induced toxicity may possibly be linked with its already reported 'desensitisation' effect against chemical irritant-induced damages.