The present work was undertaken to evaluate the antimetastatic potential of capsaicin (8­methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) by measuring its effects on matrix metalloproteinase activity, cell invasion and lung metastasis. Significant inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity by capsaicin (100 $mu$M) was detected by gelatin zymography. In vitro invasion assay showed capsaicin (50, 100 $mu$M) reduced tumor cell invasion ($28-40\%$). Capsaicin (i.p., 2.5 mg/kg) inhibited development of lung colonization ($58\%$). These results suggest that capsaicin prevents metastasis in part through suppression of invasion of B16F10 melanoma cells by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 responsible for degradation of extracellular matrix.