In: European neurology, 68 (2012), Nr. 5. pp. 264-275. ISSN 0014-3022
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Abstract
Capsaicin has long been used as a traditional medicine to treat pain and, recently, its mechanism of analgesic action has been discovered. This review article documents the clinical development of capsaicin to demonstrate that pharmacognosy still has a profound influence on modern-day drug development programs. Capsaicin is a highly selective agonist for the transient receptor potential channel vanilloid-receptor type 1 (TRPV1), which is expressed on central and peripheral terminals of nociceptive primary sensory neurons. Knockout studies have revealed the importance of TRPV1 as a molecular pain integrator and target for novel analgesic agents. Topical application of capsaicin at the peripheral terminal of TRPV1-expressing neurons superficially denervates the epidermis in humans in a highly selective manner and results in hypoalgesia. In three recent randomized controlled trials, a patch containing high-concentration capsaicin demonstrated meaningful efficacy and tolerability relative to a low-concentration capsaicin control patch in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain. Data from clinical practice will determine if the high-concentration capsaicin patch is effective in real-world settings. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
Document type: | Article |
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Journal or Publication Title: | European neurology |
Volume: | 68 |
Number: | 5 |
Publisher: | S. Karger AG |
Date Deposited: | 15 Dec 2014 13:20 |
Date: | 2012 |
ISSN: | 0014-3022 |
Page Range: | pp. 264-275 |
Faculties / Institutes: | Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim > Zentrum für Biomedizin und Medizintechnik (CBTM) |
DDC-classification: | 570 Life sciences 610 Medical sciences Medicine |