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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

PubMedJournal of the science of food and agriculture2026-10-16

Unveiling chemical composition of peppermint oil and its bioactivities compared with (R)-(+)-limonene: antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and insecticidal perspectives.

Kačániová Miroslava M, Garzoli Stefania S, Qiao Minhang M, Ban Zhaojun Z et al.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil (MPEO) is recognized for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and potential applications in food preservation. This study aimed to determine whether the bioactivity of MPEO is attributable to (R)-(+)-limonene or whether the complete essential oil provides higher efficacy due to interactions among multiple constituents. MPEO was characterized using GC-MS and evaluated for antimicrobial activity in vitro against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts, and in situ in the vapor phase on strawberries, plums, beetroot, and tomatoes. Antibiofilm activity against Salmonella enterica was assessed using crystal violet assay and MALDI-TOF MS, while insecticidal activity was tested against Callosobruchus maculatus and Megabruchidius dorsalis. GC-MS revealed a menthol chemotype dominated by menthol (54.2%), with isomenthone (8.4%), isomenthol acetate (5.7%), 1,8-cineole (5.7%), linalool (3.1%), β-caryophyllene (3.5%), limonene (2.7%), and α-pinene (1.5%). MPEO generally produced larger inhibition zones and lower minimum inhibitory concentration values than (R)-(+)-limonene, and stronger in situ growth suppression. Antibiofilm activity was demonstrated in both assays. In insecticidal tests, limonene was more effective than MPEO at 6.25-50%, while both treatments were nearly fully effective at 100%. MPEO showed greater overall antimicrobial efficacy than (R)-(+)-limonene, supporting the importance of interactions among its constituents. Its combined antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and insecticidal activities indicate potential for use as a natural bio-preservative and in integrated pest management. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID 42885100
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PubMedFood chemistry2026-10-15

Sustainable extraction of apple and pear polyphenols using natural deep eutectic solvents: functional activity, cytotoxicity and sustainability assessment.

Ribeiro Ana Catarina AC, Brazinha Carla C, Bravo Carlo C, Ramos Rui M RM et al.

Apples and pears are widely consumed, polyphenol-rich fruits, yet whole-fruit extraction using green solvents remains underexplored relative to by-product-focused approaches. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were investigated as green extraction media for polyphenols from apple and pear. NADES were characterized (FTIR, DSC, viscosity, density) and extracts were evaluated for polyphenol content and profile (HPLC, LC-MS/MS), antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, square-wave voltammetry) and cytotoxicity. Hydrophilic choline chloride-based NADES significantly enhanced polyphenol recovery compared with ethanol and menthol-based systems, with stronger radical-scavenging and electrochemical responses. Fluorescence spectroscopy indicated improved polyphenol solubilization. Cytotoxicity assays in tongue-derived and intestinal cell lines (HSC-3, Caco-2) showed high viability for choline chloride-based systems, whereas menthol-based NADES showed reduced tolerance. Sustainability assessment showed reduced solvent use, waste generation, and processing complexity versus conventional extraction. Solvent polarity and hydrogen-bonding capacity governed extraction efficiency, supporting food-grade NADES-based extraction as a proof-of-concept green alternative for whole-fruit polyphenol recovery.

PMID 42880049
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PubMedJournal of biomolecular structure & dynamics2026-10-13

Coarse grained molecular dynamics analysis of menthol interactions with ergosterol in a fungal mimetic membrane.

Aldabet Alaa A

Menthol, a monoterpene from peppermint oil, has antifungal activity against Candida species. However, how menthol interacts directly with fungal membrane sterols is still not well understood. In this study, coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were used with the Martini force field to investigate menthol in a fungal-mimetic POPC/ergosterol (8:2) membrane. Radial distribution function analysis revealed preferential spatial association between menthol and ergosterol, including a local maxima at approximately 5.0 Å and a broader peak in the 9.5 Å range. Contact analysis further demonstrated persistent transient interactions, with an average of 1.3 ± 0.4 menthol-ergosterol contacts per frame and at least one contact detected in approximately 94% of analyzed frames. Mean square displacement (MSD) analysis indicated laterally mobile menthol behavior within the membrane, with a diffusion coefficient of approximately 13.45 Å2/ps, (R2 = 0.94). Density profile analysis revealed a broad membrane distribution of menthol with partial overlap with the ergosterol region. The membrane remained structurally stable throughout the simulation, showing an average sterol-region thickness of approximately 22.95 Å and an area per lipid of approximately 75.03 Å2. Membrane ordering analysis revealed a high orientational order parameter (SCD = 0.7983), indicating a well-organized liquid-ordered phase, with no evidence of pore formation or membrane disruption. Statistical robustness was confirmed via bootstrapping (95% CI: 0.6977-0.9347). The results indicate that menthol preferentially associates with ergosterol-containing regions while retaining considerable lateral mobility, engaging in frequent but transient interactions rather than forming stable complexes. This dynamic behavior provides a plausible molecular basis for the membrane-associated antifungal effects of menthol reported experimentally.

PMID 42864792
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PubMedFood chemistry: X2026-10-12

Molecular dynamics provide insights into the purification of tea membrane-bound polyphenol oxidase through three-phase partitioning utilizing an eco-friendly deep eutectic solvent.

Liu Yijie Y, Hou Sitong S, Xiao Shuangling S, Wang Yaoyao Y et al.

Membrane-bound polyphenol oxidase (mPPO) presents significant challenges for fine purification due to its inherently amphiphilic properties and its propensity to adhere to membranes. This study evaluated deep eutectic solvents (DES) as replacements for t-butanol in three-phase partitioning (TPP) for the purification of tea mPPO. The results indicated that DES-5 (menthol/octanoic acid) was the most effective alternative solvent. Optimization experiments revealed that using (NH4)2SO4 at 47%, DES: crude extract 2:1 (v/v), extraction time of 75 min, and a temperature of 30 °C yielded an enzyme activity of 1967 U and a purification fold of 16.64. SEM analysis suggested that this purification system effectively preserved the morphological integrity of mPPO. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that DES exhibited high compatibility and good affinity with mPPO, contributing to its stabilization during purification. Ultimately, these results contribute to a greener and more effective approach for the utilization of membrane-bound enzymes.

PMID 42861361
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PubMedOphthalmology and therapy2026-10-09

Infraorbital Skin Application of Menthol Emulsion for Dry Eye Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Gu Yixuan Y, Li Ao A, Wu Yifei Y, Wei Yanlin Y et al.

We aim to evaluate the short-latency tear-secretory effects and symptom responses of infraorbital menthol emulsion in dry eye disease (DED) without intentional ocular-surface instillation. In this randomized, participant- and assessor-masked, vehicle-controlled trial, 128 adults with DED were assigned to bilateral infraorbital application of vehicle (0% menthol), 2% menthol, or 4% menthol emulsion four times daily for 3 weeks. Follow-up measurements were obtained 10 min after supervised application. The available analysis population comprised 95 participants (32, 32, and 31, respectively), and efficacy analyses used the right eye. The primary endpoint was baseline-to-week-3 change in the Schirmer I test without topical anesthesia. Baseline-adjusted mixed models for repeated measures estimated treatment contrasts with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Dunnett-adjusted P-values. Mean (standard deviation) week-3 Schirmer changes were 1.90 (7.41), 8.56 (7.95), and 8.72 (6.42) mm/5 min in the vehicle, 2%, and 4% groups, respectively. Adjusted differences versus vehicle were 6.69 mm/5 min for 2% menthol (95% CI 2.59-10.80; P< 0.001) and 6.43 mm/5 min for 4% menthol (95% CI 2.23-10.64; P = 0.002). Corresponding tear meniscus height differences were 0.08 mm (95% CI 0.04-0.13; P< 0.001) and 0.09 mm (95% CI 0.05-0.13; P< 0.001). Fluorescein tear break-up time did not meet the adjusted significance threshold. Exploratory dryness visual analog scale (VAS) scores also favored 2% and 4% menthol, with adjusted differences versus vehicle of -22.07 mm (95% CI -32.56 to -11.58) and -26.09 mm (95% CI -36.72 to -15.47), respectively, although subjective outcomes may have been influenced by functional unmasking. No serious adverse events occurred; one participant developed mild periocular erythema that resolved after treatment discontinuation. In the available analysis population, infraorbital 2% and 4% menthol produced clinically measurable short-latency increases in Schirmer values and tear meniscus height compared with vehicle, supporting further investigation of infraorbital stimulation of endogenous aqueous tear secretion without intentional ocular-surface instillation. The study does not establish persistence of benefit between applications, and confirmation is needed in trials with complete randomized-population follow-up and appropriately designed pre-dose assessments.

PMID 42853353
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PubMedInternational journal of phytoremediation2026-10-08

Enhancing dye adsorption performance of sporopollenin through Thymssol-Menthol-based deep eutectic Solvent functionalization.

Mahmad Rozi Siti Khalijah SK, Shamsudin Saleha S, Abdul Halim Hairul Nazirah HN, Mahmad Puzi Syazwani S et al.

Dye pollution from industrial wastewater, including that from the batik industry, threatens aquatic ecosystems and water resources. Adsorption is a cost-effective and sustainable method for dye remediation. This study focused on synthesizing thymol-menthol-based deep eutectic solvent functionalized sporopollenin (T:M@DES-Sp) as a new adsorbent for Rhodamine B (RB) remediation. The synthesized adsorbent material showed O-H and C-H stretching peaks at 3311 cm-1 and 2924 cm-1, respectively. The contact angle measurement was less than 90°, indicating a hydrophilic surface, and the thermogram showed a major weight loss in the temperature range of 120-185 °C, which is attributed to the simultaneous decomposition of thymol and menthol in a single step. The modification of Sp with DES markedly improved the adsorption performance, increasing RB dye uptake by nearly fourfold compared to Sp, underscoring the effectiveness of DES functionalization for dye removal from aqueous media. The adsorption of RB dye using T:M@DES-Sp is a spontaneous process, with ΔG° ranging from -2.39 to -0.64 kJ/mol, while ΔH° is -28.27 kJ/mol, indicating an exothermic process. T:M@DES-Sp achieved good removal efficiency for RB dye in both synthetic and real samples and demonstrated good reusability performance for up to six cycles. Moreover, its disposal after the adsorption process is nontoxic to the environment, as Pisum sativum showed 100% germination, comparable to that in freshwater. Hence, this study provides an eco-friendly and efficient solution for dye removal, supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 by improving water quality and promoting sustainable industrial practices.

PMID 42845088
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