Question
Posted on: October 26 2019Capsaicins in oil resin
Various versions of capsicum oil resin contain different amounts of capsaicins. Should this be taken into account when preparing dermatics?
Answer
According to the European pharmacopoeia, capsicum oleoresin contains between 12-18% capsaicins. This raw material is licensed on the Belgian market given that it complies with the ph.eur. In the past there were variants of capsicum oil resin on the market of lesser quality that contained only 2% capsaicins. For that reason it is important to recalculate the dosage based on the actual capsaicin content stated on the analysis certificate of the raw material. Since various doctors and pharmacists are used to the 2% solution, it is important to always be critical when dealing with prescriptions that do not state the amount of capsaicins.