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Pure capsaicin extract is derived from chili peppers (Capsicum) and used to make dietary supplements, topical analgesics as well as spicy foods.
Capsaicin is the primary alkaloid found in the chili pepper that makes it so hot. Red hot peppers can vary in their capsaicinoid content between 30 – 13,000 parts per million. The more of this compound present in the pepper, the spicier it will taste.
Pure capsaicin extract is colorless, odorless and hydrophobic, meaning it does not mix well with water. You can purchase this type of extract in crystalline, waxy resin, powder or liquid forms.
Because pure capsaicin extracts rate as high as 16 million on the Scoville heat scale, gloves, safety glasses, face protection and tweezers are recommended when handling it. Many people use this type of capsaicin extract to add extreme heat to foods.
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The Scoville Heat Scale is the international standard for quantifying the heat in different species of chili peppers. The more capsaicin a chili has, the hotter it will taste, and the higher Scoville rating it will have.
For instance, a jalapeno pepper will rate somewhere between 3500 and 10,000 SHU (Scoville heat units). A common habanero will rate between 100,000 and 350,000 SHU.
One of the hottest peppers in the world is called the ghost pepper (Bhut Jolokia). It rates between 855,000 and 2,200,000 on the Scoville scale.
A pure capsaicin extract rates more than 15,000,000 SHU. This high Scoville rating makes it impractical for many common uses of capsicum pepper extract.
Capsaicin is contained in hot sauces, powders, USP tinctures, creams, patches, tablets, capsules and liquid extracts. These products are made from different kinds of chili peppers and they contain different amounts of capsaicinoid alkaloids. [1]
According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), there are more than 1800 natural health products currently for sale that contain capsicum pepper extract. [1]
Pure Capsaicin Powder Sources
Pure capsaicin is available as a powder (crystals) or as a liquid (drops). This formulation is difficult to find for sale on local stores and is typically only available to buy through online specialty retailers.
Some products have names that can be a bit misleading for those looking for 100% capsaicin alkaloids. One popular brand Pure Evil Capsaicin Drops rates only 1,500,000 SHU, which is 10% of the potency of the pure extract.
According to HotSauce.com, Blair’s 16 Million Capsaicin Reserve Crystals is the hottest chili pepper extract in the world. The site states that this product holds the Guinness World record for heat content. Comparatively, Tabasco sauce is rated between 2500 and 5000 SHU. [2]
According to the New York Post, “Blair’s 16 Million compares to tabasco the way a bottle rocket compares to Nagasaki.”
Reports claim that no more than 999 bottles of this product were made. Although all of the Blair’s pure capsaicin bottles have been sold, some can occasionally be found for sale on eBay. [2]
Should You Use Pure Capsaicin Extract?
Capsaicin extracts are commonly taken as dietary supplements to promote pain relief, healthy cholesterol levels, reduce swelling, appetite suppression and joint comfort.
Research shows that these products are effective for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis, neuralgias and musculoskeletal pain when applied topically to the skin.
Capsicum pepper supplements may also be effective for reducing back pain, cluster headaches, runny nose, fibromyalgia pain and more.
If you are interested in using this spice extract for its medicinal benefits, there is no research to suggest that use of isolated 100% capsaicin alkaloids provides any added benefits. Taking pure extract may also increase the risk of side effects.
Most dietary supplements provide between 40,000 to 90,000 Scoville Heat Units per serving. Some products contain more, but are reported to be less well tolerated than the lower dose versins.
Where to Buy Pure Capsaicin
“Chili heads” are people who enjoy consuming extremely hot peppers, hot sauces and other foods or additives that contain concentrated amounts of capsaicin.
These consumers often seek out peppers and sauces with high Scoville ratings because they enjoy the challenge of eating foods with these products.
However, most people do not buy pure capsaicin crystals to add directly to foods. Usually they are significantly diluted before being used and added in small increments to foods to achieve desired spiciness.
According to one manufacturer, “Pure 16 Million (SHU) Capsaicin Crystals are flavorless and almost odorless and are ideal for adding a Minimal to Extreme HEAT to any Hot Sauces, Salsas, BBQ Sauces, before and during cooking and even when baking.”
The pure capsaicinoid extract may also be used as an ingredient in medicinal creams, for manufacturing pepper sprays and for pest control.
There are currently no retailers on Amazon that sell a 100% capsaicin extract.
The product with the highest amount of capsaicin currently is called No. 9 Plutonium 9 Million Scoville Pepper Extract. It is offered by Mad Dog 357, and costs about $80 for a 1-ounce bottle.
Another brand is The Source Hot Sauce which is rated at 7.1 million SHU. Its manufacturer claims that every 1-ounce bottle requires “100 pots of chilis” to make. This product costs about $90.
The Chili Pepper Company from Cumbria in Northwest England offers a 16 Million SHU Pure Crystal Capsaicin Extract. A 750 mg vial costs about $16 US.
In the UK, it is legal to buy pure capsaicin products and send them through the postal service. However, it is not legal to add them to foods. These products are marketed as collector’s items and not sold for dietary consumption.
Pure Capsaicin Extract Side Effects
Can taking undiluted pure capsaicin cause death or serious health problems? Fatalities are possible when consuming excessive amounts of this hot pepper, although no cases of fatal overdose have been reported.
NMCD states that capsaicin may cause upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, gas, fullness, bloating, rectal burning, diarrhea, belching and/or epigastric pain.
Other possible side effects include contact dermatitis, sweating, tearing, runny nose, faintness and/or headache. [1]
This spice extract might interact with certain medications including:
- Antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs like aspirin, Plavix, Lovenox and Fragmin;
- ACE Inhibitors like Lotensin, Capoten, Vasotec and Monopril;
- Antidiabetic drugs like Avandia, Actos, DiaBeta and insulin;
- Cytochrome P450 Inhibitors;
Pure capsaicin may also interact with cocaine, warfarin, theophylline and antihypertensive drugs. [3]
If you are considering buying a pure capsaicin extract product, or any dietary supplement that contains chili pepper extract then you should talk to a medical professional beforehand. [3]
Discuss all pre-existing health conditions you may have, as well as the medications you may use, with a healthcare professional before using products that contain capsaicin for any specific health benefits.
Article last updated on: July 3rd, 2018 by Nootriment