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Capsaicin
COMMON NAMES
Pepper Oil
EFFECTS CLASSIFICATIONS
Spice; Irritant; Topical Anaesthetic
CHEMICAL NAME
trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide
DESCRIPTION
Capsaicin is found in chile or pepper plants of the Capsicum genus. It causes the burning sensation associated with spicy foods by stimulating vanilloid nerve receptors. Capsaicin is used in "Pepper Spray" as a weapon. It has a number of potential medical uses including topical use on "fever blisters", topical use on certain types of nerve damage, internally as a cancer-fighting agent, and as part of a treatment for osteoarthritis.
BASICS EFFECTS IMAGES HEALTH LAW DOSE CHEMISTRY