Capsicum: A Natural Pain Modulator

Abstract

Pain is not only an obnoxious sensation, but also a complex sensory process essential for survival experienced due to activation nociceptors. Many herbal medicines have been used in the management of pain in various traditional systems. Capsicum, a natural herb has been used counter irritant for treatment of neuralgia, lumbago, and rheumatism since ancient time. Capsicum mainly contains active pungent principles; a chemical group of nonvolatile alkaloid compounds collectively called as capsaicinoids responsible for analgesic activity. It has been reported that analgesic and antiinflammatory of capsicum is due to activation of TRPV1 receptors by its active pungent principle capsaicin. It has been reported capsaicin shows analgesic action in chronic pain, acute pain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritic pain, cancer pain, gastric pain associated with mucosal damage, and pruritus.