1. Case study in pharmacognosy: Capsicum (chili pepper)

2. Ancient Mesoamerican people used chili peppers as a spice and medicinal

3. Later pepper rubs and plasters become a folk then patent medicine treatment for pain.

4. Sensory nerve terminal
UCSF Study Suggests Capsaicin Significantly Reduces Debilitating Nerve Pain. Mice without capsaicin receptor don’t experience pain from heat (Science,2000).
capsaicin receptor
capsaicin activated channel
Sensory nerve terminal
neurogenic
inflammation
Substance P
Ca++
Time
capsaicin

5. The next step??