Solution dynamics of the natural bioactive molecule capsaicin: a relaxation study

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a straightforward technique for studying molecular dynamics that range in timescale from picosecond (motions faster than molecular reorientation) to those that occur in real-time. This approach is important to highlight the behavior of bioactive molecules in solution, and to acquire information about action mechanisms and potential pharmacological effects. Proton and carbon-13 spin–lattice relaxation experiments were performed to calculate the reorientational correlation time for protonated carbons. Capsaicin showed complex dynamical properties and the results revealed two regions with different dynamical properties: the aliphatic region with fast reorientation motions and the aromatic region with slow motions.

Keywords:

• Carbon nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation
• capsaicin
• dynamical properties
• proton nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the University of Siena for the instrumental and laboratory facilities.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.