Capsaicin inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative and nitrosative stress.

Obesity is a global health problem that requires the utmost attention. Apart from other factors the trans-differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into adipocytes is an added detrimental factor causing the intensification of obesity. The main objective of this present study is to analyse whether capsaicin is capable of inhibiting the differentiation of BMSCs to adipocytes. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were obtained and exposed to different concentrations of capsaicin for a period of 6 days following 2 days of adipogenic induction. The capsaicin exposed cells were collected at three different time points (2, 4 and 6 days) and subjected to various analyses. BMSCs after exposure to capsaicin showed dose and time dependent reduction in cell viability and proliferation. Interestingly, capsaicin induced cell cycle arrest at G0-G1 and increased apoptosis by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production. Capsaicin significantly inhibited the early adipogenic differentiation, lipogenesis and maturation of adipocytes with concomitant repression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4 and SCD-1. Taken together, the results of the present study have clearly emphasized that capsaicin potentially inhibits the adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells via many different pathways (anti-proliferative, apoptotic and cell cycle arrest) through the stimulation of ROS and RNS production. Thus, capsaicin not only suppresses the maturation of pre-adipocytes into adipocytes but also inhibits the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into adipocytes.