CAYENNE - CAPSICUM ANNUUM/CAPSAICIN
Topical
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This monograph is intended to serve as a guide to industry for the preparation of Product Licence Applications (PLAs) and labels for natural health product market authorization. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the medicinal ingredient.
Notes
- Text in parentheses is additional optional information which can be included on the PLA and product label at the applicant's discretion.
- The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant.
Date
March 19, 2021
Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source Information
Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Source ingredient(s) | Source material(s) | Part(s) | Preparation(s) | ||
Capsicum annuum |
|
N/A |
Capsicum annuum |
Fruit |
Dried |
|
Capsaicin | Capsaicin1 | Capsicum annuum | Fruit | N/A |
Capsaicin2 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
References: Proper name: USDA 2018; USP 36 2013, NLM 2012; Common names: Blumenthal et al. 2000, McGuffin et al. 2000, NLM 2012; Source information: USP 36 2013, Bradley 2006, Felter and Lloyd 1983.
1Isolate
2Synthetic
Route of Administration
Topical
Dosage Form(s)
The following dosage forms are acceptable when used according to the requirements indicated in this monograph: Cream; Fluid extract; Gel; Liniment; Liquid; Lotion; Oil; Ointment; Salve; Solution; Tincture; Topical liquid.
Use(s) or Purpose(s)
Cayenne powder or extracts
Used in Herbal Medicine (as a rubefacient/counterirritant) to help (temporarily) relieve the symptoms of rheumatism and/or muscle and joint pain (Blumenthal et al. 2000; Lust 1987; BHP 1983; Ellingwood 1983; Felter 1983; Felter and Lloyd 1983; BPC 1934).
Cayenne extracts or Capsaicin (isolate; synthetic)
- Used for the (temporary) relief of muscle and joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, and pain of tendons and ligaments (McCarthy et al. 1992; Deal et al. 1991).
- Used to relieve skin (cutaneous) pain associated with conditions such as post-herpetic neuralgia and/or diabetic neuropathy (Hautkappe et al. 1998; Watson et al. 1993; Tandan et al. 1992; Scheffler et al. 1991; The Capsaicin Study Group 1991; Bernstein et al. 1989).
Dose(s)
Subpopulation(s)
Adults 18 years and older
Quantity(ies)
Cayenne powder or extracts
Herbal Medicine use
Methods of preparation: Powdered standardized, Standardised Extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Infusion)
The percentage of the medicinal ingredient in the product formulation and the percentage of the potency constituent, capsaicin, in the medicinal ingredient are not restricted as long as the concentration of capsaicin in the finished product is equivalent to:
0.01-0.05% capsaicin (BHP 1983)1
Cayenne extracts
Relief of muscle, joint, tendons and ligaments pain
Methods of preparation: Standardized extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Infusion)
The percentage of the medicinal ingredient in the product formulation and the percentage of the potency constituent, capsaicin, in the medicinal ingredient are not restricted as long as the concentration of capsaicin in the finished product is equivalent to:
0.025-0.075% capsaicin (McCarthy et al. 1992; Deal et al. 1991)1
Relief of skin (cutaneous) pain
Methods of preparation: Standardized extracts (Dry extract, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Infusion)
The percentage of the medicinal ingredient in the product formulation and the percentage of the potency constituent, capsaicin, in the medicinal ingredient are not restricted as long as the concentration of capsaicin in the finished product is equivalent to:
0.075% capsaicin (Watson1993; Tandan et al. 1992; Scheffler et al. 1991; The Capsaicin Study Group 1991; Bernstein et al. 1989)1
Capsaicin (isolate; synthetic)
Relief of muscle, joint, tendons and ligaments pain
Methods of preparation: Isolate, Synthetic
0.025-0.075% capsaicin (McCarthy et al. 1992; Deal et al. 1991)
Relief of skin (cutaneous) pain
Methods of preparation: Isolate, Synthetic
0.075% capsaicin (Watson1993; Tandan et al. 1992; Scheffler et al. 1991; The Capsaicin Study Group 1991; Bernstein et al. 1989)
Note:
1 For standardized Cayenne fruit powder or extract, the percentage of capsaicin in the finished product should also be included on the product label.
e.g.
Cayenne extract (Capsicum annuum - fruit) 30%, standardized to 0.1% capsaicin is equivalent to 0.03 % capsaicin in the finished product
Direction(s) for use
Herbal Medicine use
Apply as needed.
Other uses
Apply thinly and evenly to affected area up to 3-4 times per day. Rub and/or massage into skin until solution vanishes (US FDA 1979).
Combination rule
No permitted combinations. This monograph only supports single ingredient products.
Duration(s) of Use
Herbal Medicine use
No statement required.
Other uses
Use for at least 1-4 weeks to see beneficial effects (Berardi 2002; McCarthy et al. 1992; Deal et al.1991).
Risk Information
Caution(s) and warning(s)
All products
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Call a Poison Control Center immediately if overdose or accidental ingestion occurs (CPS 2008).
- For external use only.
- Avoid contact with the eyes and mucous membranes (US FDA 1983).
- Do not apply to wounds or damaged skin (US FDA 1983).
- Do not tightly bandage (US FDA 1983).
- Do not apply with external heat, such as an electric heating pad, as this may result in excessive skin irritation or skin burn (Pray 2006; Berardi 2002).
Contraindication(s)
No statement required.
Known adverse reaction(s)
All products
Stop use if headache, erythema, redness, rashes, burning discomfort or hypersensitivity occurs (Martindale 2010; Zhang et al. 2008; Hoffman 2003; Berardi 2002; McCleane 2000).
Non-medicinal ingredients
Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID) and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.
Storage conditions
No statement required.
Specifications
- The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) Quality of Natural Health Products Guide.
- The medicinal ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the NHPID.
References Cited
- Berardi RR, DeSimone EM, Newton GGD, Oszko MA, Popovich NG, Rollins CJ, Shimp LA, Tietze KJ, editors. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An interactive approach to self-care. 13th edition. Washington (DC): American Pharmaceutical Association; 2002.
- Bernstein JE, Korman NJ, Bickers DR, Dahl MV, Millikan LE. Topical capsaicin treatment of chronic postherpetic neuralgia. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1989;21(2):265-270.
- BHP 1983: British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Cowling (GB): British Herbal Medical Association; 1983.
- Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Boston (MA): Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.
- BPC 1934: The British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1934: An imperial dispensatory for the use of medical practitioners and pharmacists. London (GB): The Pharmaceutical Press; 1934.
- Bradley PR, editor. British Herbal Compendium: A Handbook of Scientific Information on Widely Used Plant Drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth (GB): British Herbal Medicine Association; 2006.
- CPS 2008: Repchinksy C, Welbanks L, Bhalla A, Fortin K, Jarvis B, Jovaisas B, Acharya S. Compendium of Pharmaceutical Specialties. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2008.
- Deal CL, Schnitzer TJ, Lipstein E, Seibold JR, Stevens RM, Levy MD, Albert D, Renold F.Treatment of arthritis with topical capsaicin: a double-blind trial. Clinical Therapeutics 1991;13(3):383-395.
- Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1919 original].
- Felter HW. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Sandy (OR): Eclectic Medical Publications; 1983 [Reprint of 1922 original].
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- Hautkappe M, Roizen MF, Toledano A, Roth S, Jeffries JA, Ostermeier AM. Review of the effectiveness of capsaicin for painful cutaneous disorders and neural dysfunction. The Clinical Journal of Pain 1998;14(2):97-106.
- Hoffman D. Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester (VT): Healing Arts Press; 2003.
- Lust J. The Herb Book. New York (NY): Bantam Books Incorporated, published by arrangement with Benedict Lust Publications; 1987.
- Martindale 2010: Sweetman SC, editor. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. London (GB): Pharmaceutical Press; Copyright 1933-2010. [Capsicum: Last modified: 2010 Mai 21; Accessed 2013 May 5].
- McCarthy GM, McCarty DJ. Effect of topical capsaicin in the therapy of painful osteoarthritis of the hands. Journal of Rheumatology 1992;19(4):604-607.
- McCleane G. Topical application of doxepin hydrochloride, capsaicin and a combination of both produces analgesia in chronic human neuropathic pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled study. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2000; 49:574-579.
- McGuffin M, Kartesz JT, Leung AY, Tucker AO, editors. Herbs of Commerce, 2nd edition. Silver Spring (MD): American Herbal Products Association; 2000.
- Pray WS. Non-Prescription Product Therapeutics. 2nd edition. New York (NY): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
- NLM 2012: National Institute of Medicine. ChemIDplus advanced [Internet]. Search term: "Capsaicin"; Bethseda (MD): Specialized Information Services, United States National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health & Human Services. [Accessed 2017 January 30]. Available from: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/
- Scheffler NM, Sheitel PL, Lipton MN. Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy with capsaicin 0.075%. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1991;81(6):288-293.
- Tandan R, Lewis GA, Krusinski PB, Badger GB, Fries TJ. Topical capsaicin in painful diabetic neuropathy. Controlled study with long-term follow-up. Diabetes Care 1992;15(1):8-14.
- The Capsaicin Study Group. Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy with topical capsaicin. A multicenter, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study. Archives of Internal Medicine 1991;151(11):2225-2229.
- USDA 2018: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Capsicum Annuum. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville (MD). [Accessed 2018 August 15]. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl
- US FDA 1983: United States Food and Drug Administration. External Analgesics Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Tentative Final Monograph [online]. Federal Register, Volume 48, Number 27, February 8, 1983, Proposed Rules. Rockville (MD): United States Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Accessed 2018 August 15]. Available from: http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/fedreg/fr048/fr048027/fr048027.pdf#page=138
- US FDA 1979: The USA Department of Health and Human Services: Food and Drug Administration. 21 CHR Part 348. External analgesics drug products for over-the-counter human use: establishment of a monograph and notice of proposed rulemaking, 1979. [Accessed 2018 August 15]. Available from: http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/fedreg/fr044/fr044234/fr044234.pdf#page=168
- USP 36: United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary (USP 36 - NF 31). Rockville (MD): The United States Pharmacopeial Convention; 2013.
- Watson CP, Tyler KL, Bickers DR, Millikan LE, Smith S, Coleman E. A randomized vehicle- controlled study of tropical capsaicin in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. Clinical Therapeutics 1993;15(3):510-526.
- Zhang W, Moskowitz, RW, Nuki G, Abramson S, Altman RD, Arden N, Bierma-Zeinstra S, Brandt KD, Croft P, Doherty M, Dougados M, Hochberg M, Hunter DJ, Kwoh K, Lohmander LS, Tugwell P. OARSI recommendations for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis, Part II: OARSI evidence--based, expert consensus guidelines. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2008;16:137-162.
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