Fig. 6

a FACS analysis of cell toxicity of different H₂O₂ concentrations (3 μM to 3 mM; incubation over 24 h) on SC. A sub-lethal condition was conducted at 30 μM. b Incubation of SCs for 24 h with 30 μM H₂O₂ with simultaneous treatment of capsaicin or vehicle to examine the protective role of capsaicin in the context of oxidative stress. In order to simulate a protective effect of capsaicin at a preventive setting, these experiments were repeated with further pre-treatment with 10 μM capsaicin or vehicle for 48 h. Pre-treatment with capsaicin was required to significantly reduce lethality induced by 30 μM H₂O₂. n = 6–-15, *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01, ***p ≤ 0.001, and ****p ≤ 0.0001