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menthol (Nopika / menthol, Vinas)

✓ Approved

Vinas · Small Molecule · Small Molecule

What is menthol?

menthol is a small molecule developed by Vinas. It is approved for therapeutic indications via topical.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesNopika, menthol, Vinas
CompanyVinas
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
RouteTopical
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Vinas

Therapeutic Indications

menthol is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersPruritus✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology2026-09-18

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.

Dastani Mostafa M, Mohammad Ghasemi Mohammad Ebrahim ME, Fadaei Mohammad Reza MR, Fotouhi Soroush S et al.

One of the most prevalent complications associated with trans-radial angiography (TRA) is radial artery spasm (RAS). The purpose of this study is to prepare and assess the effectiveness of menthol cerosome, a topical nano-liposomal formulation, in preventing RAS, pain, and angiographic events, as well as clinical manifestations. Initially, cerosomes containing menthol and a placebo were prepared, and the drug formulation was characterized. Thereafter, a randomized, triple-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 275 TRA-eligible patients was conducted. Thirty minutes prior to the angiographic procedure, patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical menthol cerosome (3.5%; 1 g applied to the wrist) or placebo cerosome (1 g). As the first outcome, RAS was identified clinically using a four-point composite scale and angiographically by operator-observed luminal narrowing impairing catheter movement, and radial pain was measured concomitantly using a visual analog scale (VAS). Heart rate (HR), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were evaluated as indicators of sympathetic activity. During sheath insertion, the menthol cerosome group's physician-reported and self-reported VAS [median (interquartile range)] were significantly lower [3.0 (2.0) and 2.0 (2.0)] than the placebo group's (4.0 (2.0) and 3.0 (1.75)) (P < 0.001 for both cases). Additionally, menthol cerosome attenuated the increases in SBP (P < 0.001) and HR (P = 0.032) compared with the placebo group. Topical menthol cerosome decreased the angiographic RAS (6.7% vs. 21.4%, P < 0.001), clinical RAS (10.4% vs. 24.3%, P = 0.002), discomfort in the forearm while manipulating the catheter or sheath (7.4% vs. 18.6%, P = 0.006), catheter advancement difficulty (3.0% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.018), difficulty removing the sheath or catheter (3.0% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.001), and the requirement for further intra-arterial vasodilator administration to alleviate spasm (3.7% vs. 12.1%, P = 0.01) compared to the placebo group. In conclusion, the topical application of menthol cerosome was both safe and effective in reducing radial pain, angiographic failure, and RAS in patients undergoing TRA.

PMID 42754717
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PubMedLung2026-09-18

Menthol for the Relief of Dyspnea: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Das Gupta Kuheli K, See Kay Choong KC

Dyspnea is a symptom that can cause significant burden on activities of daily living. Overall, dyspnea has associations with increasing age, high body mass index (BMI), female sex and cardiorespiratory diseases. Aside from pharmacological treatments for underlying cardiorespiratory conditions that cause dyspnea, menthol has been discussed as a potential non-pharmacological intervention. However, its role remains contentious with uncertainty regarding efficacy and potential harm. Thus, this systematic review aims to explore the impact of menthol on dyspnea. A comprehensive search of databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library) was performed from inception of each database to June 2026. Appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of menthol on dyspnea outcomes were identified based on strict inclusion criteria. The RCTs included patients with dyspnea from underlying respiratory conditions and lab-based studies that simulated dyspnea in people with no underlying lung pathology through exercise. Studies with patients with respiratory conditions also induced dyspnea through exercise and inspiratory loaded breathing. The primary outcome was dyspnea which was measured through scores like Borg and Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP). Secondary outcomes included adverse events identified and impact on physiological parameters. Subsequently a descriptive analysis of data was carried out. All eight studies selected showed improvement in dyspnea scores. Four studies positively impacted the immediate perception and sensory qualities domains of the MDP, while one study using a visual analogue scale score decreased dyspnea scores by 42% in one subgroup (flow-resistive loading) and 19% in another (elastic loading). Four studies used the modified Borg score to report dyspnea. Amongst these, Kanezaki et al [12] demonstrated a reduction in score by - 2 at maximal time and - 1 with maximal inspiratory resistive load showing a minimal clinical important difference in dyspnea (MCID). Prieur et al. [16]; Schaeffer et al. [14] and Vanden Bossche et al. [21] reduced Borg scores by 0.3, 0.7, 0.67 respectively but did not reach the MCID. However, all three studies did have participants that showed MCID. One study used the 11-point feeling scale to measure breathing comfort and showcased 1.5-point increase in bre̲athing comfort with menthol ingestion and 1 point increase in comfort with menthol rinse. There were no significant documented negative implications of menthol. Menthol had no impact on forced expiratory volume in one second and airway resistance measures. Menthol is an effective and safe treatment option for the short-term and symptomatic relief of dyspnea both at rest and during exercise.

PMID 42758197
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PubMedPharmaceutical research2026-09-18

Insight Into the Role of Release Kinetics of Chemical Penetration Enhancer on Drug Diffusion in Drug-in-adhesive Patch.

Xiang Yucheng Y, Song Haoyuan H, Li Dongjun D, Li Jingxian J et al.

As a key excipient in drug-in-adhesive patches, the diffusion behavior of chemical penetration enhancers (CPE) directly affects the diffusion behavior of drugs and thus determines whether the drug can achieve effective skin penetration. Therefore, the study of the release kinetics (RK) of CPE is pivotal. RK of five CPEs (Span 80 (Span), Isopropyl palmitate (IPP); Dipropylene Glycol (DPG); Menthol (MEN) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)) and its effect on drug diffusion were researched by in vitro release study, in vitro skin penetration study, molecular dynamic simulation and Raman imaging. And the molecular mechanisms were characterized using modulated-temperature differential scanning calorimetry, rheology study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The various RK behaviors of CPE enhanced the dynamic change in release rate (k) of drug at different degrees, and their RK parameters (ka-CPEs and Tlag-CPEs) had a multilinear correlation (R2 = 0.96) with the increment in k (Δk) over the whole diffusion process. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of CPE determined their ka-CPEs and Tlag-CPEs, ka-CPEs were related to polarizability (P) and dielectric constant (ε') and Tlag-CPEs had linear relationship (R2 = 0.98) with LogPo/w. The miscibility between CPE and the matrix (assessed by LogPo/w and ε') as well as the interaction strength between CPE and the matrix or drug (assessed by P) determined the RK behaviors, thereby enhancing their overall effect on drug diffusion. The proposed mathematical model enabled prediction of CPE's regulatory effect on drug diffusion based on CPE's inherent properties.

PMID 42754778
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PubMedNature communications2026-09-16

Molecular basis for cold and menthol sensing by mammalian TRPM8.

Lee Hyuk-Joon HJ, Park Cheon-Gyu CG, Fedor Justin G JG, Peele Wyatt A WA et al.

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 and extensive functional analyses to reveal cold- and menthol-dependent activation mechanisms. We observe that cold-sensing residues are widespread and that snapshots of cooling-dependent opening reveal dramatic pore rearrangement which suggest a mechanism for cold sensing. Menthol binds dynamically to drive channel activation toward a common gate with cold, but with specific outer pore conformations. Finally, we show how TRPM8 integrates cold and menthol modalities through overlapping but non-identical networks, revealing a coldspot that is central to cold activation of TRPM8 and is the location of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) binding. These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of physically and chemically induced cool sensation in mammals.

PMID 42744822
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PubMedFish physiology and biochemistry2026-09-15

Author Correction: Twenty-four-hour post-anaesthetic behavioural effects of menthol and thymol compared to conventional anaesthetics in zebrafish.

Félix Luís L

PMID 42736505
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PubMedMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2026-09-15

Thermophysical Behavior and Molecular Interactions of Caffeine in a Novel Menthol-Resorcinol Type V Deep Eutectic Solvent.

Vraneš Milan M, Papović Snežana S, Cerar Janez J, Cerc Korošec Romana R et al.

A nonionic type V deep eutectic solvent (DES) combining hydrophobic (-)-menthol and hydrophilic resorcinol was prepared and investigated as a solvent for amphiphilic caffeine. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were first used to determine the eutectic composition and characterize its thermal behavior. The menthol-to-resorcinol molar ratio of 2:1 was subsequently selected for physicochemical investigation. Clear homogeneous solutions containing up to 0.701 mol·kg-1 caffeine were prepared, corresponding to 136 g of caffeine per kilogram of DES. Density, speed of sound, and viscosity were measured over the temperature range from 293.15 to 313.15 K. These data were used to evaluate the thermal expansion, volumetric and acoustic properties, intermolecular free length, and concentration and temperature dependences of viscous flow. The viscosity results were further analyzed using the Arrhenius, Jones-Dole, and Eyring-Feakins approaches and compared with the behavior of caffeine in water, ethylene glycol, and methyl salicylate. DFT calculations and molecular electrostatic potential surfaces were used to examine the local organization of the DES and the possible incorporation of caffeine through interactions with both its polar and less-polar regions. The combined experimental and computational approach provides a molecular and thermodynamic basis for evaluating this DES as a caffeine-solubilizing and delivery medium.

PMID 42738700
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