Pure capsaicin is a white crystalline powder. Capsaicin is a capsaicinoid which belongs to the alkaloid family. It is very heat stable and keeps its activity despite cooking. Capsaicin is only slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in ethanol and vegetable oil. Other capsaicinoid are dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin and homodihydrocapsaicin.
Capsaicin
Description | |
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(E)-N-[(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-8-methylnon-6-enamide | |
404-86-4 | |
C18H27NO3 | |
trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide, N-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-non-trans-6-enamide | |
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). |