Evidence mapPaperPMID 40689185Full record

ArticleVeterinary world2025

Dose-dependent effects of capsaicin on intestinal morphology and microbiota composition in mice: Structural, immunohistochemical, and microbial insights.

Kai Li, Jianghai Xu, Siying Chen, Aifei Du, Shaohua Feng, Shibin Yuan, Bangyuan Wu

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Article in Veterinary world, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Kai LiCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Jianghai XuCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Siying ChenCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Aifei DuCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Shaohua FengCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Shibin YuanCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.
Bangyuan WuCollege of Life Sciences, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637000, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aim: Capsaicin (CAP), the pungent component of chili peppers, possesses diverse bioactive properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. However, its impact on gastrointestinal integrity and microbial ecology remains dose-dependent and incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying CAP doses on intestinal morphology, tight junction protein expression, goblet cell density, mucosal injury markers, and gut microbiota composition in mice. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five male Kunming mice were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 15/group): Normal control, vehicle control (dimethyl sulfoxide), low-dose CAP (5 mg/kg), medium-dose (15 mg/kg), and high-dose (20 mg/kg). Mice received oral gavage every other day for 14 days. Histological assessments (H&E and Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid-Schiff staining), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diamine oxidase, fatty acid-binding protein 2, and plasma endotoxin as well as immunohistochemistry for ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin, and 16S rRNA sequencing were employed to evaluate structural and microbial changes. Results: Low-dose CAP significantly enhanced villus height, reduced crypt depth, and elevated the villus-to-crypt ratio across all intestinal segments (p < 0.05). Tight junction protein expression and goblet cell counts were highest in the low-dose group, suggesting mucosal protection. In contrast, medium and high-dose CAP induced epithelial damage, villus atrophy, and downregulation of junctional proteins. Microbiota analysis revealed the suppression of Proteobacteria and the expansion of Firmicutes in the medium- and high-dose groups. All CAP doses stimulated microbial biosynthesis of cofactors, vitamins, and electron carriers, with enhanced alpha diversity at higher doses. Conclusion: CAP exhibits a biphasic effect on intestinal physiology. While low-dose administration supports mucosal integrity and promotes beneficial microbial functions, higher doses disrupt epithelial architecture and induce dysbiosis. These findings underscore the importance of dose consideration in CAP's dietary and therapeutic applications, providing mechanistic insights into its gut-mediated effects.

Indexed as

capsaicindose-responsegoblet cellsgut microbiotaintestinal barriermucosal injurytight junction proteins

Identifiers

PMID40689185
PMCPMC12269923

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.