RESUMEN
The present work aims at studying the possible influence of capsaicin on enzyme induction by phenobarbital. A pharmacodynamic model [pentobarbital hypnosis] was utilized for testing the change in enzyme induction. Experiments were performed on adult male Wistar rats. Animals were treated daily for 9 days with phenobarbital alone or together with 1 or 8 mg/kg of capsaicin [p.o.]. All animals received pentobarbital [50 mg per kg, i.p.] one day after the last dosage. The duration of sleep by pentobarbital was reduced by 87.52% under influence of pretreatment with phentobarbital. This percentage was significantly [P < 0.01] reduced as a result of the concomitant administration of capsaicin with phenobarbital. Possible mechanism [s] for this effect are discussed