Health benefits of bioactive components in pungent spices mediated via the involvement of TRPV1 channel

Common spices have been used worldwide due to their flavor enhancement characteristics. A variety of naturally occurring bioactive ingredients derived from common spices, such as capsaicin, piperine, allicin, and ginger extracts including 6-gingerol and 6-shogoal, have been proved to have multiple pharmacological functions. As a cation channel that serves as a detector of pain-producing stimuli, the vanilloid receptor TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1) could be activated by many pungent principles in natural spices, which plays a key role in the regulation of many biological activities. A summary of the molecular mechanisms underlying biological effects via involvement of TRPV1 channel of these compounds is in need to help us better understand their health benefits. In this review, commonly existed bioactive components in pungent spices are introduced in the aspect of their chemical and biological characteristics. Major activities of these phytochemicals are summarized, including antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and circadian-modulation effects. The essential role of TRPV1 channel in the regulation of these phytochemicals on the pharmacological functions are analyzed. TRPV1 is an important modulator of inflammatory conditions in human organs, thermogenesis in adipose tissues, tumorigenesis and circadian clock gene oscillations. These pungent phytochemicals are helpful in the prevention and treatment of many disorders by activation of TRPV1 channel, which have great potential to be used in food and pharmaceutical industry with significant health-promoting effects. • Common nature spices contain many biologically active constituents. • Certain pungent principles derived from spices could function as TRPV1 agonists. • Ingredients in spices exert many health benefits with great potential in food and pharmaceutical industry.