EFFECT OF CURCUMIN AND CAPSAICIN ON THE REGRESSION OF PREESTABLISHED CHOLESTEROL GALLSTONES IN MICE

The efficacy of curcumin and capsaicin in causing regression of pre-established cholesterol gallstones (CGS) was investigated in male mice. After confirming the formation of CGS in 100% of the animals, they were fed a diet containing 0.5% curcumin or 5 mg% capsaicin for 5 or 10 weeks. Five weeks feeding of curcumin or capsaicin diet caused a regression of CGS in 45 and 64% of the animals respectively. Ten weeks feeding of these spice principles caused regression of CGS in 80% of the animals. The biliary cholesterol decreased and phospholipids and bile acids increased with increase in the duration of spice principle feeding. Feeding of a control diet to the animals bearing CGS neither caused regression of CGS nor influenced the biliary lipids significantly.