Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
R e c e i v e d 19 D e c e m b e r 1988
CAPSAICIN is the principal component in chili peppers which fat level and temperature, on mouth-burn from capsaicin, among
causes irritation. Mouth-bum is due to the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy- eaters and noneaters of chili peppers. Since capsaicin is highly
benzyl residue in the capsaicin molecule; the hydroxy group at C-4 soluble in fats and in ethanol, but not in water, it was predicted
of the aromatic ring must be present for perception of both that oral rinsing with the former solutions would be more effective
pungency and pain (12,13). Capsaicin interacts with substance P than with water.
specific nerve fibers and causes desensitization of nociceptors and
warm receptors via depletion of substance P (14). Apparently, METHOD
cold, tactile and mechanoreceptors are not directly affected by Sample Preparation
capsaicin.
While the metabolic and pharmacological effects of capsaicin Reagents included synthetic capsaicin (ICN Biomedicals, Inc.,
have been studied extensively, it is only recently that the orosen- Plainview, NY), citric acid monohydrate, and 95% ethanol (Fisher
sory aspects of the compound have been addressed (1, 3, 5-7, 10, Scientific, Fair Lawn, NJ), sodium chloride (Mallinckrodt, St.
l l ) . For example, Sizer and Harris (10) noted that the threshold Louis, MO), xanthan gum (Kelco Co., San Diego, CA), and
for capsaicin mouth-burn was suppressed by sucrose but not by commercial sucrose (C and H Sugar Co., Concord, CA). One
NaC1 or citric acid. Subsequently, Stevens and Lawless (11) gram of capsaicin (vanillyl nonanamide) was placed in 20 g of
reported that mouth-burn induced by capsaicin and piperine was polysorbate 80 and heated on low heat until dissolved (2). The
enhanced by quinine-HC1, reduced by sucrose and citric acid, and mixture was transferred to a 100-ml volumetric flask, diluted to
unaffected by NaC1. Cowart (1) found that perceived intensity of 100 ml with distilled water and stored at 7C. The stock solution
" b a s i c " tastes generally was unaffected by oral irritation from was further diluted to the final concentration of 3 ppm with
capsaicin. Lawless et al. (7), however, reported a significant distilled water.
effect of capsaicin on taste intensity. The discrepancy between Milk samples included skim milk, whole milk, half and half,
these two findings remains unresolved. Capsaicin produced a and heavy whipping cream (Crystal Dairy Inc., Sacramento, CA)
significant enhancement of perceived oral warmth, and depressed containing, 0, 3.5, 10.5 and 36% milk-fat, respectively. An
perception of the coolness of cold solutions, suggesting an unhomogenized milk (10% milk-fat) sweetened with 10% sucrose
apparent interrelation between thermo- and mechanoreceptors was prepared by first dissolving sucrose in skim milk, then adding
(3,10). Consumers of chili peppers perceived less oral irritation heavy whipping cream (36% milk-fat) followed by gentle mixing.
than those who rarely ate the spice (1,7).
The present study was undertaken to quantify the temporal Subject Selection
effectiveness of mouth-rinsing with solutions varying in sucrose, Subjects were unpaid volunteers between the ages of 22 and 45
IRequests for reprints should be sent to Diane Melbourne at the above address.
617
618 NASRAWI AND PANGBORN
80
70
~< ,5C WATER
6O /~A ~ A 20CWATER
t-
B
E
rn
3
0
i.
0 I At l i t i i i i i i I [ i i
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280
Expectorate
Time (see)
FIG. 1. Average time-intensity responses to solutions of 3 ppm capsaicin alone, and to capsaicin followed
by oral rinsing with distilled water at 5 and 20C. ( N = 2 2 subjects x 2 reps.)
years, selected on the basis of availability and interest. Subjects subjects were eaters or noneaters of chili peppers. Question one
were trained in the use of a computerized time-intensity (T-I) determined the frequency of ingesting foods containing chili
module, and corresponding test procedures (8,9). pepper, i.e., Mexican, Indian, Chinese, etc. (1 =once a year or
less, up to 7 =more than once a day). The second and third
Consumption Questionnaire questions determined preference for chili pepper flavor, and the
A modified questionnaire (7) was utilized to determine whether perceived intensity of burn, respectively. Both of these questions
11111
90
CAP~I~tdCS~I
~'c w A ~
8O SKMMLK
WH. MLK
7O
6O
8O
4O
3O
20-
I0-
0 A' ' t i i t i r i r t i i
80 120 1(10 200 240 280
FIG. 2. Average time-intensity responses to solutions of 3 ppm capsaicin alone, and to capsalcin
followed by oral rinsing with distilled water, skim milk and whole milk at 5C. (N = 22 subjects 2
reps.)
CAPSAICIN MOUTH-BURN 619
80
CAPSNCIN
, / o sue,.osE
6O
u) 50
t-
_e
r-
E 40
::3
rn
-
o 3O
=i
20
10
0 ~ I I I
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280
Expectorate
Time (sec)
FIG. 3. Average time-intensity responses to solutions of 3 ppm capsaicin alone, and to capsaicin followed by oral
rinsing with distilled water, 10% sucrose, or 5% ethanol at 20C. (N---22 subjects 2 reps.)
utilized a 10-cm line scale anchored from "dislike extremely" to 15-min sessions. First, subjects rinsed their mouths three times
"like extremely." Questions 4, 5, and 6 determined whether with 20 ml of distilled water. Then, 5 ml of 3 ppm capsaicin was
subjects preferred foods containing chili peppers over "bland placed into the mouth for 15 sec, and expectorated. Mouth-burn
foods." Using a 5 point scale (1 =strongly disagree, to 5 = intensity was rated continuously by moving a joy stick in a slot
strongly agree), question 4 determined if subjects thought chili along a scale anchored from " n o n e " to "extreme," from the
peppers made selected foods taste better. Question 5 established if moment the sample was placed in the mouth, during expectoration
subjects found many foods to taste bland without chili pepper, and at 15 sec, and on for a total of 5 min. A computerized time-
question 6 determined if subjects found it difficult to appreciate the intensity (T-I) system (4) recorded and relayed digitized data from
flavors of foods that contain hot spices. Question 7 (1 = none, to the joy stick module to a Zenith Microcomputer. A 5-min rest
5 = extremely hot), measured the intensity of mouth-burn subjects ensued during which subjects rinsed their mouths with additional
actually prefer from chili peppers. distilled water. Subjects again rinsed their mouths three times with
Eleven subjects were classified as eaters and eleven as noneat- 20 ml distilled water, placed a 5-ml sample of 3 ppm capsaicin into
ers of chili peppers and capsaicin-containing foods, based on their their mouths for 15 sec, and expectorated. Immediately after
responses to this questionnaire. Subjects who scored below the 50 expectoration of the capsaicin sample, a 20-ml rinse sample (10%
percentile of the total possible score for questions (l) frequency of sucrose, 5% ethanol, whole milk, nonfat milk, or distilled water at
consumption of capsaicin products, (3) degree of liking of mouth- 5C or 20C) was placed in the mouth for 15 sec and expectorated.
burn, and (7) intensity of mouth-burn preferred were classified as Mouth-burn intensity was rated continuously from the time the
noneaters. For those on the 50th percentile, the score on question capsaicin solution was placed into the mouth, through expectora-
5 (without hot spices, foods taste bland), was used as a deciding tion, until extinction. Extinction was defined as the time (sec)
factor. when perceived bum returned to baseline, or when subject could
no longer perceive burn.
EXPERIMENT 1
EXPERIMENT 2
Stimulus: 5 ml of 3 ppm capsaicin in distilled water
Rinses: Six 20-ml samples, in randomized order Stimuli: 5 ml of 3 ppm capsaicin in distilled water
1. Distilled water at 20C Rinses: Six 20-ml samples, in randomized order
2. Distilled water at 5C 1.5% sucrose (w/w) at 20C
3, 10% sucrose (w/w) at 20C 2. 10% sucrose (w/w) at 20C
4. 5% ethanol (v/v) at 20C 3. 20% sucrose (w/w) at 20C
5, Whole milk (3.5% fat) at 5C 4. Skim milk plus 10% sucrose at 5C
6, Nonfat milk (0% fat) at 5C 5. Unhomogenized milk, 10% fat, plus 10% sucrose at 5C
6. Homogenized milk, 10% fat, plus 10% sucrose at 5C
Procedure Procedure
Twenty-two subjects (16 females, 6 males) completed thirteen Nineteen subjects (13 females, 6 males) completed six 15-min
620 NASRAWI AND PANGBORN
NO~F.A'r~s ~'rwl8
(14-11XI 70 (X-IIXm
TO
8. C.
KI- m -- OAmP~N
..... WA1Nm
.......... 80
.......... tin iIJ(
40-
40-
, , , , , ,
i 0 0 40 Io 11o NIO It~ ~o I~
~TER8
lIN- 11X~ d, w
b. i ,o
;q)
IO
80- m
40- 40
IO- in
I10- m
10- 1o
0 , , , , 0 / i i , , ,
o 40 IiO 11o IIo ~ ~ alO
~)
FIG. 4. Average time-intensity responses of 11 eaters and 11 noneaters of chili peppers. (a, b) Oral rinsing with distilled water at 5 and 20C. (c, d) Oral
rinsing with distilled water, whole milk and skim milk at 5C. (e, f) Oral rinsing with distilled water, 10% sucrose and 5% ethanol at 20C.
sessions with the sucrose rinses and the remaining 17 (11 females, (MAX), time to maximum intensity (TTM), and total intensity
6 males) completed an additional six sessions with the milk rinses. perceived (TIP, calculated as total area under the curve) were
As in Experiment I, subjects rated the control sample and obtained. Relative mouth-burn reduction (RMR) was calculated as
rested for 5 min. During the rest, the time to maximum mouth- the numeric ratio between TIP of the sample followed by the rinse
burn intensity was determined for each subject, using the Lotus sample and TIP of the control sample (without rinse). The smaller
1-2-3 ~ worksheet. The rinse protocol was customized for each the RMR for a particular rinse, the more effective it was in
subject by changing the data collection program to provide an reducing mouth-burn. RMR values were used to normalize the
additional signal, corresponding to each subjects's previous max- large difference in numeric values obtained for individual subjects.
imum mouth-burn intensity. Subjects were instructed to place the Also, it was easier to conceptualize values ranging between zero
rinse sample in the mouth at the signal representing their individ- and 1.5 compared to the actual data, which ranged from one
ualized time of previous maximum burn, and to record responses hundred into the thousands.
as described for Experiment 1.
RESULTS
Data Analysis
Experiment 1
Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were carried out on the SAS
package (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, version 4.10). Split-plot Figure 1 shows the temporal response of the efficacy of mouth-
designs were used for conservative evaluation of the level of burn reduction by oral rinsing with water at 5C and 20C. Cold
statistical significance between eaters and noneaters and the water was more effective in reducing mouth-burn (<0.05) than
interaction between groups and treatments. In addition, three-way tepid water. Reduction of mouth-bum was most noticeable during
ANOVA was applied to data within each group. In all ANOVAs, the 15 sec following the introduction of a rinse solution, but
subjects were considered to be fixed. Fisher's least significant mouth-burn returned quickly after expectoration of the rinse
difference (LSD) test at p<0.05 was utilized for comparing solution (a rebound phenomenon). This temporary reduction of
means. mouth-burn was observed with all the rinses, except sucrose
From the T-I response curves, values for maximum intensity solutions. Figure 2 demonstrates that skim and whole milks were
CAPSAICIN MOUTH-BURN 621
i within that time. Subjects were not given sufficient time for
mouth-burn to fully reach maximum intensity, hence the modifi-
cation in rinsing time for Experiment 2.
(N. t l x = )
FIG. 4. Continued.
70
5% SUCROSE
[] 10% S U C R O S E
5O
Z
LU
I-- 40
Z
Z
rr
n~ 3O
I
0
20
10
0 i i
A ,o 120 160 200 240 280
Expectorate
TIME (See)
FIG. 5. Average time-intensity responses to solutions of 3 ppm capsaicin alone, and to capsaicin
followed by oral rinsing with distilled water and solutions of 5%, 10%, and 20% sucrose at 20C.
(N = 19 subjects 2 reps.)
622 NASRAWI AND PANGBORN
70
CAPSAICIN
60 --A- UNHOMO
/% HOMO
50
Z
W
I--
_z
Z
n,"
3O
"1-
I-
o
2o
10
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
I 40 80 120 160 200 240 280
Expectorate
TIME (Sec)
FIG. 6. Average time-intensity responses to solutions of 3 ppm capsaicin alone, and to capsaicin followed by
oral rinsing with homogenized, unhomogenized, and skim milk sweetened with 10% sucrose. (N= 17 subjects
2 reps.)
DISCUSSION Stevens and Lawless (11) reported that the bitter taste of quinine-
HCI enhanced mouth-burn. The reduction of capsaicin mouth-bum
The initial suppression of mouth-burn when the rinse solution by ethanol, in the present study, was probably due to its cooling
was held in the mouth and the return of mouth-burn soon after and tactile qualities.
expectoration, suggest an interaction of thermo-, mechano-, and Although not different statistically, whole milk was more
chemoreceptors. The efficacy of cold temperatures in reduction of effective than skim milk in reducing mouth-bum, which indicates
mouth-bum demonstrates the inhibitory role of thermal C~ fibers that fat may play a role in perception of mouth-bum. However,
on capsaicin sensitive C2 fibers. The removal of the irritant by increasing the level of fat and the size of the fat globule
rinsing with hydrophobic solutions and those with a high-fat (Experiment 2) did not significantly reduce mouth-bum. It is
partition coefficient did not result in complete suppression of oral important to note that the milk samples were served cold (5C) and
irritation. The capsaicin may be so tightly bound to the receptors sweetened (Experiment 2) which had been shown previously to
that it is not completely washed away even though soluble in the attenuate mouth-burn.
rinse. Sizer and Harris (10) reported that threshold values for capsai-
Capsaicin is an extremely hydrophobic substance which dis- cin decreased with increased solution temperature, while de-
solves readily in ethanol. If binding of capsaicin to the chemore- creased temperature masked mouth-burn. The authors suggested
ceptors is a control step of mouth-burn perception, rinsing with 5% that solution temperature may increase or decrease the inter- and
ethanol should remove the capsaicin molecule from the receptor intramolecular bonding of capsaicin molecules, and therefore may
sites, and therefore relieve irritation. The present results showed influence the availability of capsaicin for interaction with the
that ethanol was no more effective than tepid water in reduction of surface of the oral cavity. In addition, the perceived thermal
mouth-burn. It is recognized that capsaicin probably binds non- hotness with temperature increase, can be an added irritant.
specifically all over the oral cavity, rather than to a specific Green (3) reported that capsaicin enhanced thermal warmth but
receptor site. The results suggest, however, that the lipid-solvating attenuated cold perception. This agreed with Sizer and Harris (10)
power of the oral milieu may have a more complex function than who observed that exposure to water (36C) after stimulation with
mere removal of capsaicin from binding sites. capsaicin produced an initial suppression, but burn intensity
The substance P neurotoxic effect of capsaicin has been returned soon after. This oral cooling effect of solution while held
reported extensively. It is possible that capsaicin alters the in the mouth was also observed for capsaicin by Stevens and
morphology of the C 2 chemoreceptors or causes hyperpolarization Lawless (11).
of the nerve fiber, after the initial binding. Thus, removal of The customized time procedure in Experiment 2, allowed
capsaicin by ethanol does not reverse the morphological change, subjects to perceive maximum mouth-burn intensity beyond the
or a certain amount of time is required for the nerve fiber to expectoration point, before rinse solutions were introduced. None-
repolarize. theless, the first capsaicin (control) sample was rated consistently
At high concentrations ethanol is an irritant, elicits a bitter higher than subsequent ones, despite a 10-rain lapse between
taste, and prolonged exposure causes analgesia to touch and samples. This suggests an acute desensitization effect due to
cooling (5). Although slightly bitter, it is unlikely that 5% ethanol saturation of the C 2 receptors or temporary depletion of substance
held in the mouth for 15 sec would cause paralysis of nerve fibers. P. Acute desensitization, unlike chronic desensitization, which
CAPSAICIN MOUTH-BURN 623
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