Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Menthol”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Testosterone skin permeation enhancement by menthol through formation of eutectic with drug and interaction with skin lipids.

The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the mechanism of skin permeation enhancement of the lipophilic drug, testosterone, by menthol. Menthol was found to form eutectic mixtures with testosterone, cholesteryl oleate, and ceramides. DSC measurements showed that menthol drastically lowers the Tm of testosterone, from 153.7 to 39.9 degrees C. The decrease in Tm resulted in an increase in the solubility of testosterone in an aqueous ethanol vehicle by 2.8-fold, which caused a corresponding 2.8-fold increase in the flux of testosterone. A further increase in skin flux, to eight times the base line, could be attributed to the effect of menthol on the skin barrier properties. This assumption is supported by DSC results showing that menthol decreases the Tm of cholesteryl oleate and ceramides and modifies the thermogram profile of isolated stratum corneum. The results of this investigation indicate that menthol affects skin permeation by a dual mechanism: by forming a eutectic with the penetrating compound, thereby increasing its solubility, and by altering the barrier properties of the stratum corneum. Moreover, this study indicates that both types of interactions must be taken into consideration when using chemical enhancers and that decreasing the melting temperature of the permeant through formation of a eutectic could be one approach for increasing solubility and permeation rates.

1-Octanol↗
PubMed2004

The African Americanization of menthol cigarette use in the United States.

Today, over 70% of African American smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, compared with 30% of White smokers. This unique social phenomenon was principally occasioned by the tobacco industry's masterful manipulation of the burgeoning Black, urban, segregated, consumer market in the 1960s. Through the use of television and other advertising media, coupled with culturally tailored images and messages, the tobacco industry "African Americanized" menthol cigarettes. The tobacco industry successfully positioned mentholated products, especially Kool, as young, hip, new, and healthy. During the time that menthols were gaining a large market share in the African American community, the tobacco industry donated funds to African American organizations hoping to blunt the attack on their products. Many of the findings in this article are drawn from the tobacco industry documents disclosed following the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998. After a short review of the origins and growth of menthols, this article examines some key social factors that, when considered together, led to disproportionate use of mentholated cigarettes by African Americans compared with other Americans. Unfortunately, the long-term impact of the industry's practice in this community may be partly responsible for the disproportionately high tobacco-related disease and mortality among African Americans generally and African American males particularly.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2005

The influence of gender, race, and menthol content on tobacco exposure measures.

Research has suggested that race, gender, and menthol cigarette use influence tobacco-smoke exposure measures and smoking-related disease risk. For example, a high proportion of Black smokers prefer menthol cigarettes and, despite smoking fewer cigarettes per day (CPD) than do Whites, tend to have higher cotinine levels. Additionally, Black males are more at risk for smoking-related lung cancer. High cotinine levels and smoking menthol cigarettes may lead to higher toxin intake, which contributes to increased disease risk. We explored the relationship between tobacco exposure variables (i.e., cotinine, CPD, carbon monoxide [CO], nicotine content, and nicotine dependence) with respect to race, gender, and menthol content in a sample of 307 smokers recruited from the greater Boston area to participate in a smoking cessation treatment trial. The pattern of correlations between tobacco exposure measures and cotinine showed a consistently positive correlation between cotinine and CO in all smokers and a correlation between cotinine and CPD in those who smoked nonmenthol cigarettes. Cotinine and CPD correlations varied by gender and race among menthol cigarette smokers. Consistently, we found a significant gender x race x menthol interaction on salivary cotinine level as well as cotinine/CPD ratio. These findings suggest that the relationship between number of cigarettes consumed and salivary cotinine is more complex than previously believed. It is not sufficient to look at race alone; researchers and clinicians need to look at race and gender concurrently, as well as type of cigarette consumed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The marketing of menthol cigarettes in the United States: populations, messages, and channels.

This commentary looks at the marketing menthol cigarettes to various targeted populations--women, middle school youth and Asian/Pacific Islander immigrants as well as African Americans. The authors take the position that "ethnic awareness" as evidenced in the advertising of menthol cigarette brands to African Americans is just one of four distinct messages that tobacco marketers have used for what they have termed the "coolness" category. The other messages are: healthy/medicinal; fresh/refreshing/cool/clean/crisp; and youthfulness/silliness and fun. The commentary poses three questions: (a) Are new population segments being steered toward menthol cigarettes using marketing approaches that are similar to what has occurred with African Americans and women? (b) What exactly is the relationship between the marketing of menthol cigarettes and subsequent use of menthol tobacco products by specific population subgroups? (c) Are there lessons to be learned from the marketing of menthol cigarettes that can be used to improve the public health and medical communities' smoking cessation and tobacco use prevention communications efforts?

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Penetration enhancing effect of menthol on the percutaneous flux of nicardipine hydrochloride through excised rat epidermis from hydroxypropyl cellulose gels.

The aim of the present investigation is to study the penetration enhancing effect of menthol on the percutaneous flux of nicardipine hydrochloride through the excised rat epidermis from 2% w/w hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) gel system. The HPC gel formulations containing nicardipine hydrochloride and selected concentrations of menthol (0-12% w/w) were prepared, and evaluated for in vitro permeation of the drug through excised rat abdominal epidermis. The percutaneous flux of nicardipine hydrochloride across rat epidermis was enhanced markedly by the addition of menthol to the HPC gels. A maximum flux of nicardipine hydrochloride (227.70 +/- 1.30 micrograms cm-2 hr-1) was observed with an enhancement ratio of 7.12 when menthol was incorporated at a concentration of 8% w/w in a reservoir HPC system. The differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy data indicated that menthol increased the percutaneous flux of nicardipine hydrochloride through the rat skin by partial extraction of lipids in the stratum corneum. The results suggest that menthol may be useful for increasing the skin permeability of nicardipine hydrochloride from transdermal therapeutic system containing HPC gel as a reservoir.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

Nasal inhalation of l-menthol reduces respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing.

To test the hypothesis that stimulation of cold receptors in the upper airway may alleviate the sensation of respiratory discomfort, we investigated the effects of nasal inhalation of l-menthol (a specific stimulant of cold receptors) on the respiratory sensation and ventilation during the loaded breathing in 11 normal subjects. Subjects were asked to rate their sensation of respiratory discomfort using a visual analog scale (VAS) while breathing on a device with a flow-resistive load (180 cm H2O/L/s) or with an elastic load (75.5 cm H2O/L). The effects of inhalation of l-menthol on ventilation and respiratory sensation were evaluated by comparing the steady-state values of ventilatory variables and VAS scores obtained before, during, and after l-menthol inhalation. In 8 of 11 subjects inhalation of strawberry-flavored air instead of l-menthol was performed during loaded breathing. Both during the flow-resistive loading and the elastic loading, inhalation of l-menthol caused a significant reduction in sensation of respiratory discomfort (flow-resistive loading: 62 +/- 14 [mean +/- SD] VAS units before inhalation versus 36 +/- 16 during inhalation, p < 0.01; elastic loading: 68 +/- 13 before inhalation versus 55 +/- 17 during inhalation, p < 0.01) without a significant change in breathing pattern and ventilation. Comparison of the effects between the flow-resistive loading and the elastic loading also revealed that the reduction in VAS score was more during the flow-resistive loading than during the elastic loading (p < 0.01). Inhalation of strawberry-flavored air caused neither changes in VAS score nor changes in breathing pattern and ventilation, indicating that olfaction is not a contributing factor in the relief of respiratory discomfort. We concluded that stimulation of cold receptors in the upper airway with nasal inhalation of l-menthol reduces the sensation of respiratory discomfort associated with loaded breathing. This effect is more effective during the flow-resistive loading than during the elastic loading.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effect of menthol cigarettes on biochemical markers of smoke exposure among black and white smokers.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Black smokers have been reported to have higher serum cotinine levels than do white smokers, and have higher rates of most smoking-related diseases, despite smoking fewer cigarettes per day. Another striking racial difference is the preference for mentholated cigarettes among black smokers. The contribution of menthol to variability in biochemical markers of cigarette smoke exposure (end-expiratory carbon monoxide and serum cotinine) was evaluated in a biracial sample. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional. SETTING: A university smoking research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-five black and 96 white adult established smokers who were paid for their participation. MEASUREMENTS: Information was obtained through direct observation, self-report (interview and self-administered questionnaires), measurement of butts collected for a week, and laboratory analyses of the biochemical markers of exposure. RESULTS: Compared with the white smokers, the black smokers had significantly higher cotinine and carbon monoxide levels per cigarette smoked and per millimeter of smoked tobacco rod (both p < 0.001). After adjusting for race, cigarettes per day, and mean amount of each cigarette smoked, menthol was associated with higher cotinine levels (p = 0.03) and carbon monoxide concentrations (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The use of menthol may be associated with increased health risks of smoking. Menthol use should be considered when biochemical markers of smoke exposure are used as quantitative measures of smoking intensity or as indicators of compliance with smoking reduction programs. In addition, the effect of menthol on total "dose" should be considered in any efforts to regulate the amount of nicotine in cigarettes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

A cetylated fatty acid topical cream with menthol reduces pain and improves functional performance in individuals with arthritis.

This investigation was an extension of a previous study conducted in our laboratory in which we showed that 1 month of treatment with a topical cream (Celadrin) consisting of cetylated fatty acids was effective for reducing pain and improving functional performance in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (Kraemer et al., Journal of Rheumatology, 2004). We wanted to verify that the addition of menthol to the compound would produce a similar percentage of improvement in therapeutic effects. We used a single treatment group with a pre-post experimental design to examine % treatment changes. Individuals diagnosed with OA of the knee (N = 10; age, 66.4 +/- 11.5 years) and severe pain (e.g., OA, rheumatoid arthritis) of the elbow (N = 8; age, 59.1 +/- 18.2 years) and wrist (N = 10; age, 60.3 +/- 16.8 years) were tested for pain and functional performance before and after 1 week of treatment with a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids and menthol applied twice per day. In individuals with knee OA, significant improvements in stair-climbing ability (about 12%), "up-and-go" performance (about 12%), balance and strength (about 16.5%), and range of motion (about 3.5%) were observed, as were reductions in pain. In individuals with severe pain of the elbow and wrist, significant improvements in dynamic (about 22 and 24.5%, respectively) and isometric (about 33 and 42%, respectively) local muscular endurance were observed, as was a reduction in pain. Neither group demonstrated significant changes in maximal grip strength or maximal force production. One week of treatment with a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids and menthol was similarly effective for reducing pain and improving functional performance in individuals with arthritis of the knee, elbow, and wrist. The % changes were consistent with our prior work on the compound without menthol. Further work is needed to determine the impact of menthol in such a cream. Nevertheless, our data support the use of a topical cream consisting of cetylated fatty acids (with or without menthol) for enhancing the potential for exercise training in this population.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the metabolism of l-menthol in rats.

Metabolism of l-menthol in rats was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Metabolites isolated and characterized from the urine of rats after oral administration (800 mg/kg of body weight/day) of l-menthol were the following: p-menthane-3,8-diol (II), p-menthane-3,9-diol (III), 3,8-oxy-p-menthane-7-carboxylic acid (IV), and 3,8-dihyroxy-p-menthane-7-carboxylic acid (V). In vivo, the major urinary metabolites were compounds II and V. Repeated oral administration (800 mg/kg of body weight/day) of l-menthol to rats for 3 days resulted in the increase of both liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity by nearly 80%. Further treatment (for 7 days total) reduced their levels considerably, although the levels were still higher than the control values. Both cytochrome b5 and NADH-cytochrome c reductase levels were not changed during the 7 days of treatment. Rat liver microsomes readily converted l-menthol to p-menthane-3,8-diol (II) in the presence of NADPH and O2. This activity was significantly higher in microsomes obtained from phenobarbital (PB)-induced rats than from control microsomal preparations, whereas 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-induced microsomes failed to convert l-menthol to compound II in the presence of NADPH and O2. l-Menthol elicited a type I spectrum with control (Ks = 60.6 microM) and PB-induced (Ks = 32.3 microM) microsomes whereas with 3MC-induced microsomes it produced a reverse type I spectrum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolic fate of [3H]-l-menthol in the rat.

[3-3H]-l-Menthol was administered by oral gavage to intact and bile duct-cannulated male Fischer 344 rats at a dose level of 500 mg/kg. Excreta were collected for up to 48 hr and metabolites in urine and bile analyzed by TLC, solid phase extraction, GLC, and GC/MS. In intact rats, some 71% of the dose was recovered in 48 hr with approximately equal amounts in urine and feces. Seventy-four percent of the dose was recovered from bile duct-cannulated rats, with 67% in the bile and 7% in the urine. The major biliary metabolite was menthol glucuronide, which undergoes enterohepatic circulation. The urinary metabolites resulted from hydroxylation at the C-7 methyl group at C-8 and C-9 in the isopropyl moiety, resulting in a series of mono- and dihydroxy-menthols and carboxylic acids, some of which are excreted in part as glucuronic acid conjugates. In addition, menthol glucuronide is found in the urine. The results have enabled the construction of a metabolic map for menthol in the rat that provides the basis for structure-metabolism relationships describing the fate of numerous menthol congeners of flavor importance.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative taste evaluation of aerosolized formulations of triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, and flunisolide with menthol.

The taste characteristics of aerosolized formulations of triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, and flunisolide with menthol flavoring were compared in 102 adult asthmatic patients. During a 2-hour test period, study participants evaluated the taste of each of the three inhaled corticosteroids, one at a time, in a randomly assigned sequence. The extent to which they liked the taste of each preparation and the taste intensity (strength of taste) of each product were rated on 100-point scales. Patients also characterized the predominant taste of each inhaled corticosteroid as "no taste," "salty," "sour," "sweet," or "bitter." Assessments were made immediately after inhalation and 2 minutes after inhalation. At both assessment times, subjects liked the taste of triamcinolone acetonide significantly more than the taste of flunisolide or flunisolide with menthol, and they liked the taste of flunisolide with menthol better than that of flunisolide without menthol. The taste intensity of triamcinolone acetonide was rated significantly less than that of the two flunisolide preparations at both evaluation times. There was no significant difference in the taste-intensity ratings for flunisolide with and without menthol. Triamcinolone acetonide was most frequently described as having no taste, whereas the taste of both flunisolide and flunisolide with menthol was most frequently described as bitter. Because of the possible adverse impact of an unpleasant taste on patient compliance with prescribed therapy, differences in the taste of inhaled corticosteroids should be an important consideration in selecting and recommending an aerosolized steroidal preparation for the control of asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

African-American smokers and cancers of the lung and of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. Is menthol part of the puzzle?

The prevalence of cigarette smoking is higher among African Americans than among whites. African Americans have higher rates of lung cancer than whites, although they smoke fewer cigarettes. To explore this black-white difference in lung cancer rates, I examine various aspects of tobacco use in African-American smokers, including the age of initiation of smoking, quantity of cigarettes smoked, quit rates, level of nicotine dependence, biochemical differences, and brand preferences, specifically menthol brand cigarettes. I also review briefly the sequelae of patterns of tobacco use, including rates of lung and other tobacco-related cancers. A preference for mentholated cigarettes by African Americans is well documented and is one of the most striking differences between African-American and white smokers. Menthol brand preference has been investigated in an attempt to explain the black-white differences in rates of cancers of the lungs and the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. Also, studies have evaluated smoking behavior both with and without menthol and have explicitly examined the question of whether menthol use helps explain the black-white difference in lung cancer rates. The results of these studies are so far inconclusive with regard to the use of menthol and the risk of lung cancer developing. I provide practical suggestions for clinicians in counseling African-American smokers to quit smoking and to maintain a nonsmoking status.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1998

The anti-inflammatory activity of L-menthol compared to mint oil in human monocytes in vitro: a novel perspective for its therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.

The anti-inflammatory efficacy of monoterpenes is still unknown. In order to evaluate the potential role of L-menthol and mint oil as an anti-inflammatory drug, preclinical in vitro-investigations were performed using LPS-stimulated monocytes from healthy volunteers. Arachidonic acid metabolism was assessed by measuring LTB subset4 and PGE subset2 as indicators for both the lipoxygenase and the cyclooxygenase pathways respectively. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of the two terpenes on IL-1beta production were analysed. - L-menthol significantly suppressed the production of each of the three inflammation mediators by monocytes in vitro. LTB subset4 decreased by -64.4 +/- 10%, PGE subset2 by -56.6 +/- 8%, and IL-1beta by -64.2 +/- 7% respectively at L-menthol concentrations within the presumed therapeutic range of about 10 superset-7 g/ml. In contrast, mint oil had a bimodal effect on PGE subset2 production: lower concentrations of 10 superset-10 to 10 superset-8 g/ml increased PGE subset2 up to 6-fold compared to baseline but concentrations of 10 superset-7 g/ml suppressed PGE subset2 production by approximately 50%. Mint oil had similar effects on LTB subset4 and IL-1beta as its main constituent, L-menthol, although the degree of suppression was by comparison smaller at lower concentrations. Paraffin oil, which served as a solvent, did not affect arachidonic acid metabolism and IL-1beta production. - These results obtained with human monocytes suggest preferable anti-inflammatory effects of L-menthol compared to mint oil at therapeutically relevant concentrations supplied in enteric coated capsules. Therefore, clinical trials investigating the potential therapeutic efficacy of L-menthol for treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as bronchial asthma, colitis and allergic rhinitis seem worthwhile.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2025

Structural Basis of Cold and Menthol Sensing by TRPM8.

The transient receptor potential melastatin member 8 (TRPM8) is a polymodal ion channel that senses cold and menthol in mammals. Despite prior structural studies, the mechanisms by which cold and menthol activate TRPM8 remain unresolved. Here, we present cryo-EM structures representing the cold and menthol-dependent activation trajectories, combined with extensive functional analyses. We captured snapshots of cooling-dependent pore opening, which involves dramatic pore rearrangement, suggesting a mechanism for cold sensing. Moreover, menthol binds dynamically to induce channel activation, which may underlie menthol specificity for TRPM8. Finally, we show how TRPM8 integrates multiple modalities (cold and menthol) through overlapping but non-identical pathways, revealing the temperature-specific "cold spot". These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of physically and chemically induced cool sensation in mammals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Menthol: effects on nasal sensation of airflow and the drive to breathe.

Menthol, in lozenges, nasal sprays, vapo-rubs, inhalers, and cough syrups, is widely used as a treatment for rhinitis that is associated with acute upper respiratory tract infection and allergy. Menthol as a plant extract has been used in traditional medicine in Asia for the treatment of respiratory diseases for hundreds of years, but it was only introduced to the West as a medicine at the end of the 19th century. With the recent discovery of a menthol receptor on the sensory nerves that modulate the cool sensation, menthol has graduated from the realms of herbal medicine into the field of molecular pharmacology. This review concerns the physiologic and pharmacologic mechanisms that underlie the widespread use of menthol as a treatment for the relief of nasal congestion associated with rhinitis and its effects on the drive to breathe and symptomatic relief of dyspnea.

Dyspnea↗
PubMed1986

Menthol inhibits the perception of warmth.

The effect of l-menthol on the ability to perceive gradual increases in skin temperature was measured in two experiments. Experiment 1 established that suprathreshold sensations of warmth generated on the vermilion border of the lip could be significantly attenuated by exposure to menthol in concentrations of 0.2 and 2.0% (in mineral oil). Experiment 2 demonstrated that exposure to the 2.0% menthol solution caused the threshold for warmth to rise significantly whereas the threshold for heat pain was unchanged. Although masking of sensations of warmth by menthol-induced sensations of cold is discussed as a possible explanation for the results, a direct effect of the menthol molecule on warm receptors (i.e., inhibition or desensitization) is considered a more likely explanation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Mentholated cigarettes decrease puff volume of smoke and increase carbon monoxide absorption.

The influence of mentholated vs. regular cigarettes on selected chemical and topographic parameters was measured in 20 smokers in a pulmonary function laboratory. Half the subjects were black and half were white; half were menthol and half regular smokers. All subjects smoked both types of cigarettes, one on each of 2 days. Compared to regular cigarettes, mentholated cigarettes produced a significantly greater boost in carbon monoxide measured as both blood carboxyhemoglobin and end-expired carbon monoxide, despite the fact that mentholated cigarettes decreased average and total cumulative puff volumes and increased mean puff flow rates of inhaled smoke. These chemical and topographic differences were independent of race. No significant differences in depth of inhalation of the smoke or in the amount of insoluble smoke particulates delivered to or retained in the respiratory tract were noted between the two types of cigarettes. Mentholation of cigarettes may decrease volume of smoke inhaled but appears to increase exposure of smokers to toxic effects of carbon monoxide.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Rapid smoking of menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes by black and white smokers.

White subjects took significantly more puffs of cigarette smoke before stopping than did black subjects in a modified, controlled-dose rapid smoking procedure. Paradoxically, however, no racial differences were detected for changes in carbon monoxide levels, or changes in cardiovascular variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate). Due to the cooling and topical anesthetic properties of menthol, it was hypothesized that menthol and regular cigarette smokers would take more puffs from menthol cigarettes than from regular cigarettes before stopping in the controlled-dose rapid smoking procedure. However, no difference was observed for the number of puffs taken from regular as opposed to menthol cigarettes (cigarette type condition) and no differences were found for Cigarette Preference (regular smokers vs. menthol smokers).

Adult↗