Non-carcinogenicity of capsaicinoids in B6C3F(1) mice

The carcinogenicity of a mixture of capsaicinoids (64.5% capsaicin and 32.6 % dihydrocapsaicin) was examined in B6C3F(1) mice. In a 13-week toxicity st udy, renal toxicity was observed in 1% capsaicinoid-treated males. Next, gr oups of 50 mice of each sex were given 0, 0.025, 0.083 or 0.25% capsaicinoi ds in powdered diet for 79 weeks and killed in week 83. Food intake was red uced in mice of all capsaicinoid-treated groups, especially females, becaus e of the pungency of capsaicinoids, and inhibition of body weight gain was apparent in females. The numbers of tumour-bearing females in the high-dose groups were significantly lower than that in the controls, and the inciden ces of hepatocellular neoplasms in both sexes were negatively correlated wi th the dose of capsaicinoids (Cochran-Armitage trend test). Renal cell aden omas developed in one mouse each of 0.025 and 0.25% capsaicinoid-treated ma les. The incidences of other tumours were similar in the treated and contro l groups. Thus, the present study indicated that a mixture of capsaicinoids is not carcinogenic in B6C3F(1) mice. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.