Isolation and structural modification of Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsaicin from Capsicum annuum sp

Capsaicin (CAP), the pungent principle from chilli peppers, has shown various activities such as analgesic, anticancer and antioxidant. To further explore a therapeutic application of this compound, several derivatives of CAP were designed and synthesized. Starting materials, CAP and dihydrocapsaicin (DHC), were obtained as a mixture from dried fruits of Capsicum annuum sp. in 0.069 % yield. Structural modification of CAP and DHC provided epoxide, benzyl ether, silyl ether, acetyl ester, phosphate ester and nitro derivatives in 41% 95% yield. Results from this study indicated that CAP and DHC can be used as excellent starting materials in order to supply more interesting compounds for activity-tests. Preliminary results from one of activity-tests demonstrated that DHC, silyl ether and nitro-derivatives of CAP can act as putative inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins in cancer cells.