Effect of capsaicin on glucose metabolism studied in experimental lung carcinogenesis

In the present study, we have assessed the chemopreventive effect of capsaicin (CAP) on glucose metabolism with reference to blood glucose and liver glycogen levels, key glycolytic, and gluconeogenic enzymes along with electron transport chain (ETC) complexes during benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P)-induced lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. B(a)P (50 mg kg(-1) body weight)-induced lung cancer animals showed marked decline in blood glucose levels, glycogen levels, elevations in the activities of key glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase and aldolase), and gluconeogenic enzymes (glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-6-phosphatase) together with a decrease in the activities of ETC complexes. Supplementation of CAP (10 mg kg(-1) body weight) inhibited all the above alterations during lung cancer and restored near normalcy. Histochemical analysis by periodic acid Schiff's staining further confirmed the biochemical findings that highlighted the chemopreventive action of CAP during B(a)P-induced experimental lung tumourigenesis.