L-Menthol (97%)

• CAS: 2216-51-5
• Catalog Number: ALC-FP-2216515
• Category: Featured Products
• Molecular Weight: 156.27 g/mol
• Molecular Formula: C10H20O
• Appearance: Colorless solid
• Ignition Residue: 0
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Conforms to structure
• Optical Rotation: (-)48.795° (C=1 ETOH)
• Sample Lot No.: A24Q48061HA9
• Water Content: 0.347% (KF)

Case Study

Menthol for the Experimental Modulation of Pruritus via TRPM8-Dependent Microglial Inhibition

Hung S-Y, et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2026, 356, 120771.

In a controlled murine study, topical 8% menthol was applied to the forepaws of ICR, C57BL/6, and Trpm8-/- mice to evaluate anti-pruritic efficacy. Pruritus was induced via subcutaneous administration of compound 48/80 (5-20 mg/kg) or GRP18-27 (3.5 mg/kg). Scratching behavior was quantitatively recorded over 30-60 minutes. Mechanistic studies employed TRPM8 antagonism (BCTC) and microglial inhibition (minocycline), while spinal microglial activation was assessed through Iba1 immunohistochemistry, phospho-p38/Iba1 co-labeling via confocal microscopy, and CD11b quantification by Western blot. Topical menthol markedly reduced scratching (~60%), demonstrating a TRPM8-dependent suppression of spinal microglial activation, confirming its experimental application as a potent neuropharmacological modulator of itch.

Menthol-Based Solid Solution Coating for the Conservation of Cellulosic Artworks

Xu Q, et al. Progress in Organic Coatings, 2025, 209, 109557.

A reversible menthol-based coating was developed for the protection of cellulosic artworks under variable environmental conditions. Menthol and menthyl lactate were co-crystallized at a 90:10 ratio to form a transparent solid solution with only 1 % volume shrinkage during solidification. The coating was applied directly onto paper substrates, creating a protective barrier against water and oxygen. Phase behavior, crystal structure, and mechanical integrity post-sublimation were systematically evaluated, confirming negligible impact on the substrate's strength. Transparency was attributed to the reduced crystallinity of the mixture, minimizing light scattering. This approach demonstrates a simple, low-cost, and reversible method for experimental conservation using menthol-based materials.

Menthol-Modified HA-Cyclodextrin Hydrogels for Extended DHA Delivery in Osteoarthritis Therapy

Yang Z, et al. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025, 28, 147650.

A dynamic HA-menthol-CD hydrogel was synthesized via chemical modification of hyaluronic acid with menthyl succinate, followed by integration with mono-acrylated β-cyclodextrin (mono-Ac-βCD) host monomers. The precursor solution, containing MentholxHA (20%), mono-Ac-βCD (2.7 wt/v%), acrylamide (2 M), N,N-methylenebisacrylamide, and a photoinitiator, was mixed with DHA-laden liposomes (Lipo@DHA) and subjected to UV crosslinking (365 nm, 10 mW/cm², 7 min) to form HA-menthol-CD@Lipo@DHA hydrogels. This platform enabled sustained DHA release over three weeks in vitro and promoted chondrocyte differentiation from BMSCs. In vivo, injection into a murine osteoarthritis model effectively reduced osteophyte formation and preserved cartilage integrity, demonstrating the experimental utility of menthol-modified hydrogels for controlled drug delivery.