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Related Experiment Videos

Menthol: a natural analgesic compound.

Nicoletta Galeotti1, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Gabriela Mazzanti

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, University of Florence, I-50139, Florence, Italy.

Neuroscience Letters
|March 19, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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(-)-Menthol, but not (+)-menthol, demonstrates analgesic properties by increasing pain thresholds. This pain relief is mediated through the selective activation of kappa-opioid receptors, suggesting a novel therapeutic pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Menthol is known to induce a cooling sensation via cold receptor stimulation and by inhibiting neuronal membrane calcium (Ca++) currents.
  • Calcium channel blockers often exhibit analgesic properties, prompting an investigation into menthol's potential pain-relieving effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential antinociceptive (pain-reducing) effect of menthol.
  • To determine the specific opioid receptor pathways involved in menthol's antinociceptive action.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized mouse hot-plate and abdominal constriction tests to assess pain thresholds.
  • Different isomers of menthol were administered orally and intracerebroventricularly.
  • The effects of selective and unselective opioid antagonists (naloxone, nor-NBI, CTOP, 7-benzylidenenal-trexone, naltriben) were evaluated.

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Main Results:

  • (-)-Menthol significantly increased pain thresholds in a dose-dependent manner in both tested models.
  • The antinociceptive effect of (-)-menthol was blocked by naloxone and nor-β-funaltrexone (nor-NBI), a kappa-opioid receptor antagonist.
  • (+)-Menthol did not exhibit any significant antinociceptive effects at the tested doses.

Conclusions:

  • (-)-Menthol possesses significant analgesic properties.
  • The pain-relieving effects of (-)-menthol are mediated via the selective activation of kappa-opioid receptors.
  • This finding suggests menthol as a potential therapeutic agent for pain management targeting kappa-opioid pathways.