Abstract
Plant cells have some specific enzymes for transformation of compounds. By selecting some appropriate kinds of plant cells, Hamada succeeded glycosylation of some spice compounds like thymol and carvacrol, and stability and solubility in water of those compounds were improved. In the present study, capsaicin was transformed to capsaicin-O-β-glucoside (capsaicin glucoside) by the cultured Phytolacca americana cells. Actions of capsaicin and capsaicin glucoside on gut functions in the rat small intestine were investigated and compared. Intestinal contraction of whole ileal segments was measured by Magnus method, and the amplitude of ileal twitch elicited by selective nerve electrical stimulation was inhibited by capsaicin (50μM ), but capsaicin glucoside (50μM ) didn't induce any changes. Capsaicin elicited remarkable decreases in transmural short-circuit currents (Isc) measured by Ussing chamber technique as a mucosal transport function when it was applied to both mucosal and serosal sides at ileum, but Isc was not changed when appliled to mucosal side at jejunum. On the other hand, capsaicin glucoside increased in Isc when applied to mucosal side at jejunum and ileum, but Isc change was less or small when applied to serosal side. The mechanism of Isc changes by capsaicin and capsaicin glucoside is not yet clear, but characteristics changes by glucosylation of capsaicin might be related to the differences of actions of both compounds on gut functions. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S113 (2005)]
