Nonivamide is also called pelargonic acid vanillylamide or PAVA. It is a capsaicinoid. Nonivamide, isolated from peppers, is a naturally occurring analog of capsaicin (sc-3577). Similar to capsaicin, nonivamide can activate the TRPV1 receptor, thus, stimulate the firing rate of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain and to increase the expression of the serotonin receptor gene HTR2A. Nonivamide is with lower TRPV1 binding affinity, thus, a reduced pungency (9 200 000 scoville heat units) compared to capsaicin (16 000 000 scoville heat units).
Nonivamide is used in the food production to add a hot sensation to flavoring agents and spice mixtures. It is also used in the sweets and confectionary industries to add hot sensation into products. In pharmaceutical industries, nonivamide is used as a cheaper alternative for capsaicin. Warming or heating ointment of nonivamide is used for temporary relief of pain from conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis, lumbao, muscular aches, sprains and strains, sporting injuries and other conditions where local warmth is beneficial. Finalgon is one of the common product utilizing nonivamide for this purpose. Nonivamide is also used as an incapacitant spray, affecting the assailed person’s eyes, causing intense pain and swelling.
