Capsaicin from source

C18H27NO3 · 305.4 g/mol

Zostrix · CAPSAICINE · trans-Capsaicin · Qutenza

chemical compound

CategoryPlant

TypePungent

Chemical familyAromatics

LeaderboardsBiggest Deadliest Spiciest

Fig. 1 · 2D structure RDKit

CC(C)/C=C/CCCCC(=O)NCC1=CC(=C(C=C1)O)OC

Where you'll find it

Chili Pepperswhat else is in it →Hot Saucewhat else is in it →

Curated by MoleculeFinder from source

The dose makes the poison inferred

A reported rat oral LD50 for Capsaicin is 47.2 mg/kg, the dose lethal to half the animals tested. Scaled by body mass alone:

your weight154 lb

3.3 g

a median lethal dose scaled to 154 lb (3,304 mg)

“The dose makes the poison” is a cross-species estimate shown as neutral science, not a threshold anyone should act on. Real toxicity depends on the person, not body mass alone.

How hot is it? computed

16,000,000 SHU

Capsaicin is 3,200× hotter than

Signature properties

Scoville heat16,000,000 SHUcomputed

Toxicity & hazards

Toxicity · LD50

47.2 mg/kg · highly toxic · LD50 rat oral from source

The dose lens above scales this to a body weight.

7 more reported values

47.2 mg/kgLD50 · oral · mouse
2,500 mg/kgLD50 · oral · mouse
0.4 mg/kgLD50 · iv · mouse
6.5 mg/kgLD50 · other · mouse
7.8 mg/kgLD50 · other · mouse
9 mg/kgLD50 · other · mouse
9.5 mg/kgLD50 · other · rat

DangerCorrosiveToxicIrritantHealth hazardH301, H302, H315, H317, H318, H319, H334, H335from source

Keep roaming

Where Capsaicin leads

Found infrom source

A spicy dinnereveryday world

Capsaicin doesn't actually burn tissue; it hijacks the same receptor that senses real heat, which is why your brain insists your mouth is on fire.