Wikipedia:
- Derived from chili peppers
- genus of chili peppers: Capsicum
- Chemistry: 8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide
- Produces an irritant burning sensation for humans
- probably produced to deter herbivores and fungi
- Most abundant capsaicinoid
- other capsaicinoids include dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, and homocapsaicin in order of abundance.
- Pain killer, used in topical creams.
- Highly irritant, lethal dose is 47.2 mg/kg.
- The active ingredient used in pepper spray.
The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James A. Duke
- Has been proposed to be used in painkiller pills so that they cannot be snorted due to irritation.
- Stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killer.
- Used in Arthritis creams such as Zostrix and Capzasin P.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93636630
In this radio broadcast, Joshua Tewksbury explains how capsaicin is created to prevent the growth of fungus. The chili peppers produce the irritating metabolite so that insects will not eat parts of the fruit and allow cavities for fungus to grow.
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