Recent research, conducted by German scientists, has revealed that the active component in chillies, capsaicin, can cause cancer cells to self-destruct. <br/><br/>Capsaicin is the compound that gives chilies their special kick, but while it can easily make some people cry from its fiery taste. It could also be used to cure various types of cancer, including that of the breast, colon or pancreas.<br/><br/>Scientists from Ruhr-University, in Bochum, Germany, carried out experiments to find out how human samples of breast cancer reacted when affected by the spicy molecule.