Capsaicin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as some benefits on the cardiovascular system. The exact effects of capsaicin on atherosclerosis are poorly understood. To investigate the effects of capsaicin on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in guinea pigs fed on a high-fat diet, as well as its potential mechanisms. Guinea pigs (n = 48) were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8/group): normal diet (control); high fat diet (model); model + low-dose capsaicin (2.5 mg/kg); model + moderate-dose capsaicin (5 mg/kg); model + high-dose capsaicin (10 mg/kg), and model + simvastatin (1.5 mg/kg) (positive control). After 14 weeks, serum lipids, apolipoprotein B100, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 were measured. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were histologically examined. eNOS and iNOS were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The model group developed severe dyslipidemia and associated histologic changes and endothelial dysfunction. All doses of capsaicin decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B-100, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P < 0.05). Capsaicin alleviated the plaque area (−17.9–70.5%), plaque area to intima ratio (−18.0–73.6%), and intima thickness (−20.5–83.6%) (all P < 0.05). Capsaicin decreased MDA (−45.5–76.1%), ET-1 (−19.6–51.6%), and average gray value (AGV) of eNOS (−10.9–48.8%), and increased SOD activity (+31.7–76.1%), NO (+11.2–36.8%), and AGV of iNOS (+6.8-+93.0%) (all P < 0.05). Similar changes were observed with simvastatin. Capsaicin is beneficial to hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in guinea pigs fed on a high-fat diet. Reduced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction were involved in these benefits. This could represent a novel approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

辣椒素具有抗炎和抗氧化作用，并且对心血管系统有一些好处。辣椒素对动脉粥样硬化的确切作用知之甚少。研究辣椒素对高脂饮食豚鼠高脂血症和动脉粥样硬化的影响及其潜在机制。将豚鼠（n = 48）随机分为六组（n = 8 /组）：正常饮食（对照组）；高脂饮食（模特）；模型+低剂量辣椒素（2.5 mg / kg）; 模型+中剂量辣椒素（5 mg / kg）; 模型+大剂量辣椒素（10 mg / kg）和模型+辛伐他汀（1.5 mg / kg）（阳性对照）。14周后，测量血脂，载脂蛋白B100，丙二醛（MDA），超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），一氧化氮（NO）和内皮素-1。组织学检查主动脉粥样硬化病变。通过免疫组织化学评估eNOS和iNOS。模型组发生了严重的血脂异常以及相关的组织学改变和内皮功能障碍。所有剂量的辣椒素均可降低总胆固醇，甘油三酸酯，低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和载脂蛋白B-100，并增加高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（所有P  <0.05）。辣椒素减轻了斑块面积（-17.9–70.5％），斑块面积与内膜的比率（−18.0–73.6％）和内膜厚度（−20.5–83.6％）（所有P  <0.05）。辣椒素降低eNOS的MDA（−45.5–76.1％），ET-1（−19.6–51.6％）和平均灰度值（AGV）（−10.9–48.8％），并增加SOD活性（+ 31.7–76.1％） ，NO（+ 11.2–36.8％）和iNOS的AGV（+ 6.8- + 93.0％）（所有P  <0.05）。用辛伐他汀观察到类似的变化。辣椒素对以高脂饮食喂养的豚鼠有益于高脂血症和动脉粥样硬化。降低的氧化应激和内皮功能障碍与这些益处有关。这可能代表了预防心血管疾病的新方法。