Capsaicin
•Last Updated: September 28 2022
The exact molecule found in hot peppers that burns your face off, acts via adrenaline receptors and TRPV1 (like Evodia) to increase heat quickly. Can burn body fat with minimal potency, fight inflammation with decent potency, and prevent cancer with indeterminate potency.
Capsaicin is most often used for
Last Updated: September 28 2022
Note that Capsaicin is also known as:
- Chili extract
- Hot pepper extract
- trans-8-methyl-N-Vanilyl-6-nonenamide
- Capsaicinoids
Capsaicin should not be confused with:
- Piperine (Black Pepper extract)
What works and what doesn't?
Unlock the full potential of Examine
Latest Research
1.^Surh YMolecular mechanisms of chemopreventive effects of selected dietary and medicinal phenolic substancesMutat Res.(1999 Jul 16)
5.^Reilly CA, Crouc DJ, Yost GS, Fatah AADetermination of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nonivamide in self-defense weapons by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryJ Chromatogr A.(2001 Apr 6)
6.^Luo XJ, Peng J, Li YJRecent advances in the study on capsaicinoids and capsinoidsEur J Pharmacol.(2011 Jan 10)
7.^Reilly CA, Yost GSMetabolism of capsaicinoids by P450 enzymes: a review of recent findings on reaction mechanisms, bio-activation, and detoxification processesDrug Metab Rev.(2006)
8.^Novel Capsaicinoid-like Substances, Capsiate and Dihydrocapsiate, from the Fruits of a Nonpungent Cultivar, CH-19 Sweet, of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.).()
9.^Kobata K, Sutoh K, Todo T, Yazawa S, Iwai K, Watanabe TNordihydrocapsiate, a new capsinoid from the fruits of a nonpungent pepper, capsicum annuumJ Nat Prod.(1999 Feb)
10.^Ohnuki K, Haramizu S, Oki K, Watanabe T, Yazawa S, Fushiki TAdministration of capsiate, a non-pungent capsaicin analog, promotes energy metabolism and suppresses body fat accumulation in miceBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2001 Dec)
11.^Ohnuki K, Niwa S, Maeda S, Inoue N, Yazawa S, Fushiki TCH-19 sweet, a non-pungent cultivar of red pepper, increased body temperature and oxygen consumption in humansBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2001 Sep)
12.^Galgani JE, Ryan DH, Ravussin EEffect of capsinoids on energy metabolism in human subjectsBr J Nutr.(2010 Jan)
13.^Yoshioka M, Imanaga M, Ueyama H, Yamane M, Kubo Y, Boivin A, St-Amand J, Tanaka H, Kiyonaga AMaximum tolerable dose of red pepper decreases fat intake independently of spicy sensation in the mouthBr J Nutr.(2004 Jun)
16.^Surh YJ, Lee SSCapsaicin, a double-edged sword: toxicity, metabolism, and chemopreventive potentialLife Sci.(1995)
17.^Reilly CA, Ehlhardt WJ, Jackson DA, Kulanthaivel P, Mutlib AE, Espina RJ, Moody DE, Crouch DJ, Yost GSMetabolism of capsaicin by cytochrome P450 produces novel dehydrogenated metabolites and decreases cytotoxicity to lung and liver cellsChem Res Toxicol.(2003 Mar)
18.^Jordt SE, Julius DMolecular basis for species-specific sensitivity to "hot" chili peppersCell.(2002 Feb 8)
20.^Takanohashi T, Isaka M, Ubukata K, Mihara R, Bernard BKStudies of the toxicological potential of capsinoids, XIII: inhibitory effects of capsaicin and capsinoids on cytochrome P450 3A4 in human liver microsomesInt J Toxicol.(2010 Mar)
21.^Yuan R, Madani S, Wei XX, Reynolds K, Huang SMEvaluation of cytochrome P450 probe substrates commonly used by the pharmaceutical industry to study in vitro drug interactionsDrug Metab Dispos.(2002 Dec)
22.^Neuvonen PJDrug interactions with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): the importance of CYP enzymes, transporters and pharmacogeneticsCurr Opin Investig Drugs.(2010 Mar)
23.^Neuvonen PJ, Niemi M, Backman JTDrug interactions with lipid-lowering drugs: mechanisms and clinical relevanceClin Pharmacol Ther.(2006 Dec)
24.^Zhai XJ, Chen JG, Liu JM, Shi F, Lu YNFood-drug interactions: effect of capsaicin on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin and its active metabolite in ratsFood Chem Toxicol.(2013 Mar)
25.^Montell C, Birnbaumer L, Flockerzi VThe TRP channels, a remarkably functional familyCell.(2002 Mar 8)
27.^Szallasi A, Jonassohn M, Acs G, Bíró T, Acs P, Blumberg PM, Sterner OThe stimulation of capsaicin-sensitive neurones in a vanilloid receptor-mediated fashion by pungent terpenoids possessing an unsaturated 1,4-dialdehyde moietyBr J Pharmacol.(1996 Sep)
28.^Szallasi A, Bíró T, Szabó T, Modarres S, Petersen M, Klusch A, Blumberg PM, Krause JE, Sterner OA non-pungent triprenyl phenol of fungal origin, scutigeral, stimulates rat dorsal root ganglion neurons via interaction at vanilloid receptorsBr J Pharmacol.(1999 Mar)
29.^Caterina MJ, Schumacher MA, Tominaga M, Rosen TA, Levine JD, Julius DThe capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathwayNature.(1997 Oct 23)
30.^Tominaga M, Caterina MJ, Malmberg AB, Rosen TA, Gilbert H, Skinner K, Raumann BE, Basbaum AI, Julius DThe cloned capsaicin receptor integrates multiple pain-producing stimuliNeuron.(1998 Sep)
31.^Schwartz ES, La JH, Scheff NN, Davis BM, Albers KM, Gebhart GFTRPV1 and TRPA1 antagonists prevent the transition of acute to chronic inflammation and pain in chronic pancreatitisJ Neurosci.(2013 Mar 27)
32.^Koskela H, Purokivi M, Nieminen R, Moilanen EThe cough receptor TRPV1 agonists 15(S)-HETE and LTB4 in the cough response to hypertonicityInflamm Allergy Drug Targets.(2012 Apr)
33.^Wen H, Östman J, Bubb KJ, Panayiotou C, Priestley JV, Baker MD, Ahluwalia A20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) is a novel activator of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channelJ Biol Chem.(2012 Apr 20)
34.^Luo Z, Ma L, Zhao Z, He H, Yang D, Feng X, Ma S, Chen X, Zhu T, Cao T, Liu D, Nilius B, Huang Y, Yan Z, Zhu ZTRPV1 activation improves exercise endurance and energy metabolism through PGC-1α upregulation in miceCell Res.(2012 Mar)
35.^Ito N, Ruegg UT, Kudo A, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y, Takeda SActivation of calcium signaling through Trpv1 by nNOS and peroxynitrite as a key trigger of skeletal muscle hypertrophyNat Med.(2013 Jan)
36.^Ito N, Ruegg UT, Kudo A, Miyagoe-Suzuki Y, Takeda SCapsaicin mimics mechanical load-induced intracellular signaling events: involvement of TRPV1-mediated calcium signaling in induction of skeletal muscle hypertrophyChannels (Austin).(2013 May-Jun)
37.^Watanabe T, Sakurada N, Kobata KCapsaicin-, resiniferatoxin-, and olvanil-induced adrenaline secretions in rats via the vanilloid receptorBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2001 Nov)
38.^Watanabe T, Kawada T, Kurosawa M, Sato A, Iwai KAdrenal sympathetic efferent nerve and catecholamine secretion excitation caused by capsaicin in ratsAm J Physiol.(1988 Jul)
39.^Kawada T, Watanabe T, Takaishi T, Tanaka T, Iwai KCapsaicin-induced beta-adrenergic action on energy metabolism in rats: influence of capsaicin on oxygen consumption, the respiratory quotient, and substrate utilizationProc Soc Exp Biol Med.(1986 Nov)
40.^Yoshioka M, Lim K, Kikuzato S, Kiyonaga A, Tanaka H, Shindo M, Suzuki MEffects of red-pepper diet on the energy metabolism in menJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).(1995 Dec)
41.^Kunde DA, Crawford A, Geraghty DPTachykinin (NK1, NK2 and NK3) receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and early transcription factor, cFOS, mRNA expression in rat tissues following systemic capsaicin treatmentRegul Pept.(2013 Mar 13)
42.^Zhang LL, Yan Liu D, Ma LQ, Luo ZD, Cao TB, Zhong J, Yan ZC, Wang LJ, Zhao ZG, Zhu SJ, Schrader M, Thilo F, Zhu ZM, Tepel MActivation of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel prevents adipogenesis and obesityCirc Res.(2007 Apr 13)
43.^Matsumoto T, Miyawaki C, Ue H, Yuasa T, Miyatsuji A, Moritani TEffects of capsaicin-containing yellow curry sauce on sympathetic nervous system activity and diet-induced thermogenesis in lean and obese young womenJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).(2000 Dec)
45.^Schwartz ES, Christianson JA, Chen X, La JH, Davis BM, Albers KM, Gebhart GFSynergistic role of TRPV1 and TRPA1 in pancreatic pain and inflammationGastroenterology.(2011 Apr)
47.^Bharti AC, Donato N, Aggarwal BBCurcumin (diferuloylmethane) inhibits constitutive and IL-6-inducible STAT3 phosphorylation in human multiple myeloma cellsJ Immunol.(2003 Oct 1)
49.^Oyagbemi AA, Saba AB, Azeez OICapsaicin: a novel chemopreventive molecule and its underlying molecular mechanisms of actionIndian J Cancer.(2010 Jan-Mar)
50.^Bhutani M, Pathak AK, Nair AS, Kunnumakkara AB, Guha S, Sethi G, Aggarwal BBCapsaicin is a novel blocker of constitutive and interleukin-6-inducible STAT3 activationClin Cancer Res.(2007 May 15)
51.^Lee HK, Seo IA, Shin YK, Park JW, Suh DJ, Park HTCapsaicin inhibits the IL-6/STAT3 pathway by depleting intracellular gp130 pools through endoplasmic reticulum stressBiochem Biophys Res Commun.(2009 May 1)
52.^Yang J, Li TZ, Xu GH, Luo BB, Chen YX, Zhang TLow-concentration capsaicin promotes colorectal cancer metastasis by triggering ROS production and modulating Akt/mTOR and STAT-3 pathwaysNeoplasma.(2013)
53.^Donnerer J, Liebmann IThe NK1 receptor antagonist SR140333 inhibits capsaicin-induced ERK phosphorylation in sensory neuronsPharmacology.(2006)
54.^blishing Ltd Capsaicin- and Mustard Oil-Induced Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation in Sensory Neurons in vivo: Effects of Neurokinins 1 and 2 Receptor Antagonists and of a Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor.()
55.^Kawasaki Y, Kohno T, Zhuang ZY, Brenner GJ, Wang H, Van Der Meer C, Befort K, Woolf CJ, Ji RRIonotropic and metabotropic receptors, protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and Src contribute to C-fiber-induced ERK activation and cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation in dorsal horn neurons, leading to central sensitizationJ Neurosci.(2004 Sep 22)
56.^Amann R, Schuligoi RBeta adrenergic inhibition of capsaicin-induced, NK1 receptor-mediated nerve growth factor biosynthesis in rat skinPain.(2004 Nov)
57.^Wong GY, Gavva NRTherapeutic potential of vanilloid receptor TRPV1 agonists and antagonists as analgesics: Recent advances and setbacksBrain Res Rev.(2009 Apr)
58.^Nilius B, Mahieu F, Karashima Y, Voets TRegulation of TRP channels: a voltage-lipid connectionBiochem Soc Trans.(2007 Feb)
59.^Nilius B, Owsianik G, Voets T, Peters JATransient receptor potential cation channels in diseasePhysiol Rev.(2007 Jan)
60.^Yoshioka M, St-Pierre S, Drapeau V, Dionne I, Doucet E, Suzuki M, Tremblay AEffects of red pepper on appetite and energy intakeBr J Nutr.(1999 Aug)
61.^Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Smeets A, Lejeune MPSensory and gastrointestinal satiety effects of capsaicin on food intakeInt J Obes (Lond).(2005 Jun)
62.^Shin KO, Moritani TAlterations of autonomic nervous activity and energy metabolism by capsaicin ingestion during aerobic exercise in healthy menJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo).(2007 Apr)
63.^Yoshioka M, St-Pierre S, Suzuki M, Tremblay AEffects of red pepper added to high-fat and high-carbohydrate meals on energy metabolism and substrate utilization in Japanese womenBr J Nutr.(1998 Dec)
64.^Kim KM, Kawada T, Ishihara K, Inoue K, Fushiki TIncrease in swimming endurance capacity of mice by capsaicin-induced adrenal catecholamine secretionBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(1997 Oct)
65.^Osaka T, Lee TH, Kobayashi A, Inoue S, Kimura SThermogenesis mediated by a capsaicin-sensitive area in the ventrolateral medullaNeuroreport.(2000 Aug 3)
66.^Adrenal sympathetic efferent nerve and catecholamine secretion excitation caused by capsaicin in rats.()
67.^Hursel R, Westerterp-Plantenga MSThermogenic ingredients and body weight regulationInt J Obes (Lond).(2010 Apr)
68.^Brenman JE, Chao DS, Gee SH, McGee AW, Craven SE, Santillano DR, Wu Z, Huang F, Xia H, Peters MF, Froehner SC, Bredt DSInteraction of nitric oxide synthase with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 and alpha1-syntrophin mediated by PDZ domainsCell.(1996 Mar 8)
69.^Lotteau S, Ducreux S, Romestaing C, Legrand C, Van Coppenolle FCharacterization of functional TRPV1 channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of mouse skeletal musclePLoS One.(2013)
70.^Xin H, Tanaka H, Yamaguchi M, Takemori S, Nakamura A, Kohama KVanilloid receptor expressed in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat skeletal muscleBiochem Biophys Res Commun.(2005 Jul 8)
71.^Heck DE*NO, RSNO, ONOO-, NO+, *NOO, NOx--dynamic regulation of oxidant scavenging, nitric oxide stores, and cyclic GMP-independent cell signalingAntioxid Redox Signal.(2001 Apr)
72.^Yoshida T, Inoue R, Morii T, Takahashi N, Yamamoto S, Hara Y, Tominaga M, Shimizu S, Sato Y, Mori YNitric oxide activates TRP channels by cysteine S-nitrosylationNat Chem Biol.(2006 Nov)
73.^Lin J, Wu H, Tarr PT, Zhang CY, Wu Z, Boss O, Michael LF, Puigserver P, Isotani E, Olson EN, Lowell BB, Bassel-Duby R, Spiegelman BMTranscriptional co-activator PGC-1 alpha drives the formation of slow-twitch muscle fibresNature.(2002 Aug 15)
74.^Wu H, Kanatous SB, Thurmond FA, Gallardo T, Isotani E, Bassel-Duby R, Williams RSRegulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle by CaMKScience.(2002 Apr 12)
75.^Naya FJ, Mercer B, Shelton J, Richardson JA, Williams RS, Olson ENStimulation of slow skeletal muscle fiber gene expression by calcineurin in vivoJ Biol Chem.(2000 Feb 18)
76.^Oh TW, Oh TW, Ohta FDose-dependent effect of capsaicin on endurance capacity in ratsBr J Nutr.(2003 Sep)
77.^Holzer P, Sametz WGastric mucosal protection against ulcerogenic factors in the rat mediated by capsaicin-sensitive afferent neuronsGastroenterology.(1986 Oct)
78.^Pabst MA, Schöninkle E, Holzer PAblation of capsaicin sensitive afferent nerves impairs defence but not rapid repair of rat gastric mucosaGut.(1993 Jul)
79.^Keohane J, Quigley EMFunctional dyspepsia: the role of visceral hypersensitivity in its pathogenesisWorld J Gastroenterol.(2006 May 7)
81.^Hammer J, Vogelsang HCharacterization of sensations induced by capsaicin in the upper gastrointestinal tractNeurogastroenterol Motil.(2007 Apr)
82.^Hyperalgesia against capsaicin in persons with uninvestigated dyspepsia: potential as a new diagnostic test.()
83.^Führer M, Vogelsang H, Hammer JA placebo-controlled trial of an oral capsaicin load in patients with functional dyspepsiaNeurogastroenterol Motil.(2011 Oct)
84.^Watanabe T, Kawada T, Yamamoto M, Iwai KCapsaicin, a pungent principle of hot red pepper, evokes catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla of anesthetized ratsBiochem Biophys Res Commun.(1987 Jan 15)
85.^Iwasaki Y, Morita A, Iwasawa T, Kobata K, Sekiwa Y, Morimitsu Y, Kubota K, Watanabe TA nonpungent component of steamed ginger--{10}-shogaol--increases adrenaline secretion via the activation of TRPV1Nutr Neurosci.(2006 Jun-Aug)
86.^Iwasaki Y, Tanabe M, Kobata K, Watanabe TTRPA1 agonists--allyl isothiocyanate and cinnamaldehyde--induce adrenaline secretionBiosci Biotechnol Biochem.(2008 Oct)
87.^Khalil Z, Livett BG, Marley PDThe role of sensory fibres in the rat splanchnic nerve in the regulation of adrenal medullary secretion during stressJ Physiol.(1986 Jan)
88.^Sensory fibres modulate histamine-induced catecholamine secretion from the rat adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerves.()
89.^Zhou XF, Marley PD, Livett BGRole of capsaicin-sensitive neurons in catecholamine secretion from rat adrenal glandsEur J Pharmacol.(1990 Sep 21)
90.^Takahashi K, Toyohira Y, Ueno S, Tsutsui M, Yanagihara NCapsaicin inhibits catecholamine secretion and synthesis by blocking Na+ and Ca2+ influx through a vanilloid receptor-independent pathway in bovine adrenal medullary cellsNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol.(2006 Nov)
92.^Capsaicin can alter the expression of tumor forming-related genes which might be followed by induction of apoptosis of a Korean stomach cancer cell line, SNU-1.()
93.^Tanaka T, Kohno H, Sakata K, Yamada Y, Hirose Y, Sugie S, Mori HModifying effects of dietary capsaicin and rotenone on 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced rat tongue carcinogenesisCarcinogenesis.(2002 Aug)
94.^Zhang Z, Huynh H, Teel RWEffects of orally administered capsaicin, the principal component of capsicum fruits, on the in vitro metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK in hamster lung and liver microsomesAnticancer Res.(1997 Mar-Apr)
95.^Surh YJ, Lee SSCapsaicin in hot chili pepper: carcinogen, co-carcinogen or anticarcinogenFood Chem Toxicol.(1996 Mar)
97.^Hecht SS, Hoffmann DTobacco-specific nitrosamines, an important group of carcinogens in tobacco and tobacco smokeCarcinogenesis.(1988 Jun)
98.^Jang JJ, Kim SH, Yun TKInhibitory effect of capsaicin on mouse lung tumor developmentIn Vivo.(1989 Jan-Feb)
99.^Miller CH, Zhang Z, Hamilton SM, Teel RWEffects of capsaicin on liver microsomal metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNKCancer Lett.(1993 Nov 30)
100.^Zhang Z, Hamilton SM, Stewart C, Strother A, Teel RWInhibition of liver microsomal cytochrome P450 activity and metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK by capsaicin and ellagic acidAnticancer Res.(1993 Nov-Dec)
101.^[No authors listedFinal report on the safety assessment of capsicum annuum extract, capsicum annuum fruit extract, capsicum annuum resin, capsicum annuum fruit powder, capsicum frutescens fruit, capsicum frutescens fruit extract, capsicum frutescens resin, and capsaicinInt J Toxicol.(2007)
102.^Glinsukon T, Stitmunnaithum V, Toskulkao C, Buranawuti T, Tangkrisanavinont VAcute toxicity of capsaicin in several animal speciesToxicon.(1980)
103.^Snyman T, Stewart MJ, Steenkamp VA fatal case of pepper poisoningForensic Sci Int.(2001 Dec 15)
104.^Steffee CH, Lantz PE, Flannagan LM, Thompson RL, Jason DROleoresin capsicum (pepper) spray and "in-custody deaths"Am J Forensic Med Pathol.(1995 Sep)
105.^Billmire DF, Vinocur C, Ginda M, Robinson NB, Panitch H, Friss H, Rubenstein D, Wiley JFPepper-spray-induced respiratory failure treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenationPediatrics.(1996 Nov)
106.^Walter AA, Herda TJ, Ryan ED, Costa PB, Hoge KM, Beck TW, Stout JR, Cramer JTAcute effects of a thermogenic nutritional supplement on cycling time to exhaustion and muscular strength in college-aged menJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2009 Jul 13)
107.^Yoshioka M, Doucet E, Drapeau V, Dionne I, Tremblay ACombined effects of red pepper and caffeine consumption on 24 h energy balance in subjects given free access to foodsBr J Nutr.(2001 Feb)
Primary Use