Vanilloid Like Agents: Potential Therapeutic Targeting of Platelets?

Capsaicinoids are the ‘hot’ compounds in placental tissues of Capsicum fruits that are responsible for capsicum’s pungency. Capsaicinoids belong to the broader class of vanilloids that activate the non-selective cation channel, transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1). Endogenous vanilloids include arachidonic acid derivatives that have different affinities for TRPV1 and are increasingly recognized as an important group of signaling molecules affecting tissue injury, pain and inflammation. Furthermore, some endogenous vanilloids have high affinity for cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), which are present in platelets. The most well-known and widely studied plant-derived vanilloid, capsaicin, is reported to have anti-platelet properties but the mechanism of action is uncertain. This article will briefly review the mechanisms involved in platelet activation and aggregation, discuss the properties of vanilloids and their receptor, TRPV1, and discuss whether the effects of vanilloids, and particularly capsaicinoids, on platelets may be exploited for therapeutic benefit.