Capsaicin
Capsaicin
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum Linn
Appearance:White crystalline powder.
CAS Registry Number: 404-86-4
Molecular Formula: C18H27NO3
Molecular Weight: 305.42
Specification: capsaicinoids 95% (capsaicin more than 60%; dihydrocapsaicin more than 20%)
Brief Introduction:
Capsaicin is an incredibly powerful and stable alkaloid seemingly unaffected by cold or heat. Pure capsaicin is a white crystalline powder. It is slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in alcohols, fats, and oils.
Capsaicin is used in many topical ointments used to relieve the pain of peripheral neuropathy (treatment of pain in the nerve endings near the surface of the skin). Capsaicin is then applied on the skin and removed when the patient starts feeling the burning sensation. The nerves seem to become insensitive to pain. The burning sensations of capsaicin is caused by its interaction with the nerve cells. Capsaicin binds with special receptor cells (vanilloid receptor subtype 1) and produces the same effect as physical heat. Consumption of capsaicin can also create a euphoric sensation caused by the release endorphins.