Is resiniferatoxin better than capsaicin? Literature review

During the last decade many authors addressed their interest to the study of molecules whose therapeutic target was the sensitive side of the micturition reflex, such as resiniferatoxin. It is a vanilloid agent, ultrapotent capsaicin analog, present in the latex of euphorbia resinifera. Despite sharing similar receptors, capsaicin and resiniferatoxin show dissimilar biological actions. Moreover, resiniferatoxin is less irritant than capsaicin and is effective in the treatment of patients with idiopathic detrusor instability or sensory urgency. A brief overview of the chemical structure of resiniferatoxin, the anatomical localisation and function of its receptors, the possible mechanisms of action, the differences with capsaicin and the clinical use of the molecule are provided