Homocapsaicin: Nomenclature, indexing, and identification

Abstract

The complete literature of homocapsaicin, one of the spicy principals of chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.), is reviewed and analysed. Name, structure, and topic searches in Chemical Abstracts and other relevant databases, conducted in September 2006, found 74 references to the homocapsaicin isomers. Nearly all resulted from searches on homocapsaicin or homocapsaicin I or 7-decenamide, N-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-9-methyl, (7E)-, names treated, unfortunately, as synonyms by Chemical Abstracts. A mere nine citations were linked to the 6-ene homocapsaicin isomers. Of the 74 citations, 28 did not refer to a specific homocapsaicin isomer and another 27 provided no evidence for their particular structural assignments. Consequently, the name ‘homocapsaicin isomer’, meaning a homocapsaicin isomer with unspecified positions of the double bond and methyl group along the acyl chain, would be a more accurate indexing term for the majority (74%) of the literature. Only nine journal articles described analytical studies with convincing evidence for the existence of specific homocapsaicin isomers. These studies found (E)-6-ene-8-methyl homocapsaicin and (E)-6-ene-9-methyl homocapsaicin, but not the (E)-7-ene-9-methyl isomer, in chilli peppers. The need, relevant to all the capsaicinoids, for new nomenclature, better indexing, more accurate identification of isomers, and available chemical standards is presented, and suggestions for improvements are made. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Publication Title

Flavour And Fragrance Journal

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ffj.1814

Language

English

Format

text

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