Nonivamide is used as a
food additive to add
pungency to
seasonings,
flavorings, and
spice blends. It is also used in the
confectionery industry to create a hot sensation, and in the pharmaceutical industry in some formulations as a cheaper alternative to capsaicin.
Like capsaicin, it can deter mammals (but not birds or insects) from consuming plants or seeds (e.g. squirrels and bird feeder seeds).[3] This is consistent with nonivamide's role as a
TRPV1 ion channel agonist. Mammalian TRPV1 is activated by heat and capsaicin, but the avian form is insensitive to capsaicin.[4]
Nonivamide is used (under the name PAVA) as the payload in "less-lethal munitions" such as the
FN Herstal's
FN 303 projectiles[5] or as the active ingredient in most
pepper sprays,[3] which may be used as a
chemical weapon.[6] As a chemical
irritant, pepper sprays have been used both as a
riot control munition and also a weapon to disperse peaceful demonstrators; they have also been used in other contexts, such as military or police training exercises.[6] While irritants commonly cause only "transient
lacrimation,
blepharospasm, superficial pain, and disorientation," their use and misuse also presents serious risks of more severe injury and disability.[6]
Treatment
Nonivamide is not soluble in water, however water will dilute it and wash it away. One study found that milk of magnesia, baby shampoo, 2%
lidocaine gel, or milk, did not demonstrate significantly better performance than water, when used on pepper spray.[7]
^Govindarajan, Sathyanarayana (1991). "Capsicum — Production, Technology, Chemistry, and Quality. Part V. Impact on Physiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition, and Metabolism; Structure, Pungency, Pain, and Desensitization Sequences". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 29 (6): 435–474.
doi:
10.1080/10408399109527536.
PMID2039598.
^Howard L. Constant, Geoffrey A. Cordell and Dennis P. West (1996). "Nonivamide, a Constituent of Capsicum oleoresin". J. Nat. Prod. 59 (4): 425–426.
doi:
10.1021/np9600816.