Capsaicin, the ingredient that gives the hot peppers their kick, could also be effective against other cancers such as colon, bone and pancreatic.
But rather than spicing patients’ food up, researchers think it will only work as a pill attached to another drug that targets cancer cells.
German scientists treated human samples of breast cancer cells with capsaicin to find out more about its ability to destroy them.
They saw it attach itself and then switch on receptors called TRPV1.
The cell is then sent into overdrive and starts to self-destruct.
As more and more die, the tumour is stopped from growing larger.
Dr Lea Weber, from Ruhr University, in Bochum, said: “We observed a significant reduction in cell proliferation after capsaicin stimulation.”
Earlier studies found a similar chemical, arvanil, is effective against brain tumours in mice.
But it is not approved for use due to side-effects.
Earlier studies have shown that the chemical arvanil,which has a similar chemical make-up to capsaicin, is effective against brain tumours in mice.
The chemical reduces tumour growth in the animals’ brains.
Due to its side effects, however, this substance is not approved for humans.
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