Capsaicin Detection Kit

Capsaicin is most often used as a topical analgesic and exists in many formulations of cream, liquid, and patch preparations of various strengths; however, it may also be found in some dietary supplements. Capsaicin is a naturally-occurring botanical irritant in chili peppers, synthetically derived for pharmaceutical formulations. The most recent capsaicin FDA approval was Qutenza, an 8% capsaicin patch dermal-delivery system, indicated for neuropathic pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia.

Once the capsaicin content of a pepper is determined, it can be converted into Scoville heat units using a conversion factor. The formula used is Scoville heat units = capsaicin concentration (in ppm) x 15,000.