Capsaicin inhibits exercise-induced lipid peroxidation in cardiac and skeletal muscles of rats

Abstract

The effect of capsaicin, a pungent principle of capsicum fruit, on lipid peroxide formation in cardiac and skeletal muscles as well as on plasma enzyme activities that indicated tissue damaged induced by acute exhaustive exercise in rats was investigated. Lipid peroxide levels in muscles and plasma enzyme activities were determined at various time intervals after 60 min swimming with 3% BW resistance. The maximum inhibitory effect of capsaicin on lipid peroxide levels in cardiac and skeletal muscles occurred at 24 h after exercise. The results also corresponded to the decrease in plasma enzyme activities of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). There was no statistical change in the activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at various time intervals after exhaustive exercise in the capsaicin-treated group compared to control. The mechanism by which capsaicin inhibits lipid peroxide formation by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in skeletal muscle, but not in cardiac muscle, subsequently prevents free radical formation during exercise.