Fluorimetric chemodosimeter for the detection of capsaicinoids in food matrices

Capsaicin is a major pungent capsaicinoids in chili pepper and it causes duodenal, liver, stomach and gastric cancer in human. Hence, the detection of capsaicinoids becomes important on health issues concern. Here we are reporting, the first organic molecule based fluorimetric sensor for capsaicin detection using simple fluorophore 4-3-(pyren-2-yl-acryloyl) phenyboronic acid (PAPA), which was synthesized via greener microwave method. The probe has detected the capsaicin selectively in presence of other biomolecules in human biofluids through the intramolecular charge transfer mechanism and supported with DFT studies. The sensor has shown an excellent response towards capsaicin from 2 to 40 µM and the limit of detection of 12.84 nM. Real time analysis was done in various food matrices having capsaicinoids and the results have clearly shown good agreement with our optimized data and it also evinced that the developed sensor can be applied to detect the level of pungency of capsaicinoids.