辣椒素的镇痛作用

辣椒素是从辣椒中提取出来的一种具有镇痛作用的物质。通过激活感觉神经纤维上的瞬时感受器电位香草酸受体1(transient receptor potential vanilloid 1,TRPV1),释放并消耗大量神经肽物质,使神经细胞对伤害性刺激产生脱敏化反应,进而发挥持久的镇痛作用而不影响运动功能。因而在难治性疼痛类疾病中,辣椒素具有独特的治疗价值。以辣椒素为主要成分的制剂已经在临床治疗中开展应用。特定位点注射辣椒素或其类似物resiniferatoxin可以减轻癌痛患者的疼痛症状。但由于辣椒素的治疗剂量与毒性剂量存在部分重叠,使得其在临床应用中受到一定程度的限制。不同的给药方式和作用部位所产生的作用效果可能不同。为深入了解辣椒素的镇痛作用及作用机制,充分发挥其治疗价值,现从不同给药途径总结近几年来辣椒素镇痛作用的研究成果。

The Analgesic Effects of Capsaicin

Capsaicin, extracted fromthe pepper, is a substance having analgesic action. Through activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) on sensory nerve fibers, release and consumption of large amounts of neuropeptide substance, which then causes nerve cells produce desensitization reaction to noxious stimuli, capsaicin plays a long - lasting analgesic effect without affecting motor function. The formulations containing the ingredient have been applied in the clinical treatments. Specific sites of injection of capsaicin or its analogue resiniferatoxin can reduce pain in cancer patients. However, there is some overlap between the therapeutic dose and toxic dose of capsaicin,which limits its further application. Different effects may result from different routes of administration and the sites of action. To better understand the analgesic effects of capsaicin and exert its therapeutic value, this review summarizes the research results in recent years fromthe different routes of administration.