Time‐intensity Evaluation of Oral Burn1

Temporal oral burn profiles for cinnamaldehyde, piperine and capsaicin were quantified using time‐intensity (TI) parameters. Despite large judge‐to‐judge variation, TI profiles for eaters and noneaters of chile peppers differed significantly. Eaters had lower maximum intensities, shorter total times, and slower maximum rates of onset and decay. Judges with substantial desensitization also had shorter time‐to‐maximum intensities. Desensitized judges not only scored the burn of capsaicin as less intense, but also the burn of cinnamaldehyde and piperine. The burn of cinnamaldehyde solutions increased and decayed quickly; whereas, burns due to piperine and capsaicin increased and decayed slowly. Capsaicin compared to cinnamaldehyde, had time‐to‐max, plateau time, and total time that were 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 fold larger; whereas, the maximum rates of onset and decay were 0.7 and 0.2 fold smaller, respectively. Temporal differences are believed to reflect differences in neural pathways for the irritant species.