10 0 - EleA@UniSA - Università degli Studi di Salerno

Finally some unsaturated dialdehydes have been related to capsaicin 1.46,
isolated from Capsicum spp, 31 the responsible of the burning sensation of the
hot peppers in the human tongue.
Pungency of capsaicin has been largely investigated and early studies showed
an interaction with a specific receptor and this was demonstrated by the specific
binding of [ 3- H]-resiniferatoxin (RTX) 1.45, a naturally occurring ultrapotent
capsaicine analogue, isolated in 1975 from the latex of Euphorbia resinifera. 32
(Figure 1.25)
H 3CO
HO
N
H
31 Nelson EK J Am Chem Soc 1919, 41,1115.
32 Szallasi A ,Blumberg PM. LifeSci 1990, 47,1399.
O
1.46
FIGURE 1.25
H
O
CH 3
1.47
CH 3
OCH 3
OH
36