ReviewFrontiers in molecular neuroscience2022
The distinctive role of menthol in pain and analgesia: Mechanisms, practices, and advances.
Review in Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Topical RM191A gel for chronic peripheral neuropathic pain: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Trial
- Gut-Brain-Skin Axis: From Mechanistic Insights to Translational Applications in Neurocosmetics.Dermatology and therapy · 2026Review
- Preparing and evaluating the effectiveness of topical cerosome of menthol on radial spasm and pain in patients with trans-radial angiography: a randomized, triple-blind, parallel placebo-controlled clinical trial.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2026Article
- Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT study of 2-(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-cyclo-hex-yloxy)-2-oxoethyl benzoate.Acta crystallographica. Section E, Crystallographic communications · 2026Article
- Cyclic Monoterpene-Aromatic Hybrids from Chiral Pool Terpenoid Ketones: Practical Synthetic Methodology for Accessing Them and In Silico Assessment as Cannabinoid Receptor CB1/CB2 Ligands.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Topical Pain Management: An Updated Review of Current Evidence and Emerging Strategies.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Sex Differences in the Effects of L-Menthol on Nociception in the Hot Plate Test and Acetic Acid Writhing Test in BALB/c Mice.Iranian journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Biological activities (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-coronavirus (229E)) and chemical composition of some essential oils.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Effect of Functional Nasal Surgery on Craniofacial Pain: A Prospective Cohort Study.The Laryngoscope · 2026Article
- Modulation of corneal sensory processing and pain responses by dry eye and corneal wounding.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2026Article
- Modulation of ion channels as emerging therapeutic targets in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.EXCLI journal · 2026Review
- Suppression of neuropathic pain hypersensitivity by TRPM8 is mediated by mGluR group II and III receptors acting differentially on distinct nociceptor inputs to spinal cord.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Case Report: Resolution of Insomnia in a 32-Year-Old Male with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Following Discontinuation of Mint-Flavored Toothpaste.International medical case reports journal · 2026Article
- Modulatory effects of bioactive natural compounds on pruritic pathways: mechanistic basis and therapeutic prospects.Inflammopharmacology · 2025Review
- TRPM8-driven thermogenesis by menthol: mechanisms of cold injury prevention.Journal of physiology and biochemistry · 2025Article
- Chemosensory tobacco product toxicology part 1: sensory mechanisms.Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2025Review
- Menthol and Its Derivatives: Exploring the Medical Application Potential.Engineering in life sciences · 2025Review
- Balancing the Oral Redox State: Endogenous and Exogenous Sources of Reactive Oxygen Species and the Antioxidant Role of Lamiaceae and Asteraceae.Dentistry journal · 2025Review
- Investigating the Health Potential ofPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Menthol in Livestock: Unveiling Its Multifaceted Properties and Future Potential for Sustainable Agriculture.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Menthol is an important flavoring additive that triggers a cooling sensation. Under physiological condition, low to moderate concentrations of menthol activate transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8) in the primary nociceptors, such as dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion, generating a cooling sensation, whereas menthol at higher concentration could induce cold allodynia, and cold hyperalgesia mediated by TRPM8 sensitization. In addition, the paradoxical irritating properties of high concentrations of menthol is associated with its activation of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A member 1 (TRPA1). Under pathological situation, menthol activates TRPM8 to attenuate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia following nerve injury or chemical stimuli. Recent reports have recapitulated the requirement of central group II/III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) with endogenous κ-opioid signaling pathways for menthol analgesia. Additionally, blockage of sodium channels and calcium influx is a determinant step after menthol exposure, suggesting the possibility of menthol for pain management. In this review, we will also discuss and summarize the advances in menthol-related drugs for pathological pain treatment in clinical trials, especially in neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, cancer pain and postoperative pain, with the aim to find the promising therapeutic candidates for the resolution of pain to better manage patients with pain in clinics.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.