Use chili to make anesthetic

A new anesthetic, in which capsaicin in chili plays an important role, has been tested successfully in mice. According to US experts, this new therapy is capable of overcoming the disadvantages of current anesthetics.

Just aim at the pain sensing nerve

The first anesthetic was born in 1846, creating a major revolution in surgery. But since then, almost no important changes in the field of anesthesia.

Capsaicin in chili has an important role in anesthesia has just been tested successfully on mice.(Photos: Wikipedia)

Current anesthesia methods inhibit all nerve cells, not just sensory nerve cells. That is why after a dental treatment, the patient has frostbite in the mouth and temporarily does not move some muscles.

To overcome the weakness of current anesthetics, US scientists have found a way to only numb the nerve cells that affect pain, without touching the nerve cells. tactile or active.

Capsaicin ' paved the way ' for QX-314

The team injected mice with capsaicin, a chili active ingredient of chili, and QX-314, a Lidocaine anesthetic.

When used in combination, capsaicin and QX-314 will inhibit the activity of pain-sensing neurons, in particular not giving them the signal 'Oh, it hurts!' to the brain. But they have no effect on other nerve cells.

Lidocaine interferes with electrical activity in all nerve cells. But the QX-314 derivative from lidocaine cannot penetrate the cell membrane to control electrical activity in it.

Meanwhile, capsaicin has the ability to open small holes only in pain-sensing neuronal membranes. Through openings made by capsaicin, QX-314 will penetrate the cell membrane and disable pain-sensing neurons.

Will soon test on humans

The three-dimensional structure of capsaicin - ' pioneer ' for QX-314 inhibits the activity of pain-sensing neurons. (Photo: 3dchem.com)

Dr Clifford Woolf of Massachusetts General Hospital, a member of the research team, said the method could create a positive change in the field of anesthesia.

According to the team, the new anesthetic may become an effective tool in dental treatment, knee and joint surgery, chronic aches and pains. With this anesthetic, women who give birth will have no pain, but still move their legs and feel the process of the baby being taken out of the mother's body.

In addition, this anesthetic can also be used to treat itchy eczema, allergies to poison ivy or other agents. After successful tests on mice, the team hopes the anesthetic will be similarly effective in humans.

Expert Bruce Bean, of Harvard Medical School, said: 'In principle, sensory nerve cells in mice and humans have sufficient similarities so that we can use the same anesthetic.' .

Dr. Woolf is optimistic that the first human trials will be done within 2-3 years.

Quang Thinh