In vitro toxicological evaluation of glo menthol and non-menthol heated tobacco products.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are non-combustible, inhaled tobacco products that generate an aerosol with fewer and lower levels of toxicants, with a potential to reduce risk relative to cigarette smoking. Here, we assessed in vitro toxicological effects of three menthol (glo neo neoCLICK, neo Smooth Menthol and Fresh Menthol) and one non-menthol (neo Smooth Tobacco) variants of glo HTP, along with market comparators for cigarettes and HTPs. Limited chemical characterization of the study products revealed significantly lower levels of acetaldehyde, acrolein, crotanaldehyde and formaldehyde in test samples from HTPs than those from cigarettes. The glo HTPs were non-mutagenic in the bacterial reverse mutagenesis assay. Although, the whole aerosol exposures of glo HTPs were classified as genotoxic in the in vitro micronucleus assay, and cytotoxic in the NRU (monolayer) and MTT (3 dimensional EpiAirway™ tissues) assays, the cigarette comparators were the most toxic study products in each of these assessments. Further, glo HTPs elicited oxidative stress responses only at the highest dose tested, whereas the cigarette comparators were potent inducers of oxidative stress at substantially lower doses in the EpiAirway tissues. The comparator (non-glo) HTP results were similar to the glo HTPs in these assays. Thus, the glo HTPs exhibit substantially lower toxicity compared to cigarettes.

Subchronic inhalation of a novel electronic nicotine delivery system formulation and its corresponding base formulation.

BACKGROUND: Fresh Menthol 3% Nicotine (FM3) is a novel JUUL e-liquid formulation. Its potential toxicity and that of the corresponding base formulation relative to a filtered air (FA) control was studied in a subchronic inhalation study conducted in general accordance with OECD 413. METHODS: Aerosols generated with an intense puffing regime were administered to rats in a nose-only fashion at 1400 µg aerosol collected mass/L on a 6 hour/day basis for 90 days with a 42-day recovery. Exposure atmospheres met target criteria. Systemic exposure was confirmed by plasma measurement of nicotine. RESULTS: No test article-related mortality, clinical signs (other than reversible lower body weight gains in males), clinical pathology or gross findings were noted during this study. No microscopic lesions related to base formulation exposure were identified. Minimal microscopic lesions were observed in the FM3 6-hour exposure group. Microscopic lesions observed in the FM3 6-hour exposure group comprised only minimal laryngeal squamous metaplasia in one male and one female animal. No microscopic lesions related to FM3 exposure remained after the recovery period. CONCLUSION: Exposure atmosphere characterization indicated that conditions were achieved to permit thorough assessment of test articles and results indicate a low order of toxicity for the FM3 Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) formulation and its base formulation.

Exploring the effects of eugenol, menthol, and lidocaine as anesthetics on zebrafish glucose homeostasis.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely employed as an experimental model in various scientific fields. The investigation of glucose metabolism dysfunctions has gained recent significant prominence. Considering that certain anesthetics may impact glycemic levels, it is imperative to carefully select an anesthetic that does not induce such side effects, thereby mitigating potential adverse influences on research outcomes. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate potential glucose alterations and induction and recovery times resulting from the use of eugenol, menthol and lidocaine as anesthetics in zebrafish. A total of 150 adult male and female zebrafish were divided into ten groups, comprising a control group euthanized by rapid chilling, and three groups anesthetized with low (40 mg/L eugenol, 60 mg/L menthol, 100 mg/L lidocaine), intermediate (60 mg/L eugenol, 90 mg/L menthol, 225 mg/L lidocaine), and high (80 mg/L eugenol, 120 mg/L menthol, 350 mg/L lidocaine) anesthetic concentrations. Glucose levels and induction and recovery times were assessed. The findings reveal that eugenol and menthol did not cause glucose level alterations at any of the investigated concentrations, while lidocaine caused a non-concentration-dependent hyperglycemia. Eugenol and menthol also exhibited similar recovery times at different concentrations, while lidocaine recovery times were concentration-dependent. This study, therefore, concludes that eugenol and menthol are safe and satisfactory anesthetics for use in zebrafish research involving glucose analyses, while lidocaine use can cause biases due to altered glucose levels and safety concerns. Researchers should, therefore, carefully consider anesthetic selection to ensure reliable results in zebrafish assessments.

Pulmonary immune response regulation, genotoxicity, and metabolic reprogramming by menthol- and tobacco-flavored e-cigarette exposures in mice.

Menthol and tobacco flavors are available for almost all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigs). These flavors are a mixture of chemicals with overlapping constituents. There are no comparative toxicity studies of these flavors produced by different manufacturers. We hypothesized that acute exposure to menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cig aerosols induces inflammatory, genotoxicity, and metabolic responses in mouse lungs. We compared two brands, A and B, of e-cig flavors (PG/VG, menthol, and tobacco) with and without nicotine for their inflammatory response, genotoxic markers, and altered genes and proteins in the context of metabolism by exposing mouse strains, C57BL/6J (Th1-mediated) and BALB/cJ (Th2-mediated). Brand A nicotine-free menthol exposure caused increased neutrophils and differential T-lymphocyte influx in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and induced significant immunosuppression, while brand A tobacco with nicotine elicited an allergic inflammatory response with increased Eotaxin, IL-6, and RANTES levels. Brand B elicited a similar inflammatory response in menthol flavor exposure. Upon e-cig exposure, genotoxicity markers significantly increased in lung tissue. These inflammatory and genotoxicity responses were associated with altered NLRP3 inflammasome and TRPA1 induction by menthol flavor. Nicotine decreased surfactant protein D and increased PAI-1 by menthol and tobacco flavors, respectively. Integration of inflammatory and metabolic pathway gene expression analysis showed immunometabolic regulation in T cells via PI3K/Akt/p70S6k-mTOR axis associated with suppressed immunity/allergic immune response. Overall, this study showed the comparative toxicity of flavored e-cig aerosols, unraveling potential signaling pathways of nicotine and flavor-mediated pulmonary toxicological responses, and emphasized the need for standardized toxicity testing for appropriate premarket authorization of e-cigarette products.

T-2 toxin induces dermal inflammation and toxicity in mice: The healing potential of menthol.

According to the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, T-2 is one of the most harmful food-toxic chemicals, penetrates intact skin. The current study examined the protective benefits of menthol topical treatment on T-2 toxin-induced cutaneous toxicity in mice. Lesions were observed on the skin of the T-2 toxin-treated groups at 72 and 120 h. The T-2 toxin (2.97 mg/kg/bw)-treated group developed skin lesions, skin inflammation, erythema, and necrosis of skin tissue in contrast to the control group. Our findings reveal that topical application of 0.25% and 0.5% MN treated groups resulted in no erythema or inflammation, and normal skin was observed with growing hairs. The 0.5% MN administered group demonstrated an 80% blister and erythema healing effect in in vitro tests. In addition, MN dose-dependently suppressed ROS and lipid peroxidation mediated by the T-2 toxin up to 120%. Histology discoveries and the immunoblotting investigations with the downregulation of i-NOS gene expression confirmed the validity of menthol activity. Further molecular docking experiments of menthol against the i-NOS protein demonstrated stable binding efficacy with conventional hydrogen bond interactions, indicating compelling evidence of menthol's anti-inflammatory effects on the T-2 toxin-induced skin inflammation.

Convalescent action of menthol against T-2 mycotoxin-induced toxicity: An in vitro study with HaCaT cells.

Only T-2 mycotoxin is emitted as an aerosol and is the most toxic fungal secondary metabolite among mycotoxins. In its clinical condition, the skin is severely irritated and painful due to lesions and alimentary toxic aleukia. Herein, we have assessed various bioactive molecules, viz. kaempferol, menthol, curcumin, and quercetin, against T-2-induced toxicity in HaCaT cells. Menthol offered exceptional protection, protecting 92% of HaCaT cells after exposure to 300 nM T-2 and reducing LDH leakage by up to 42%. Its pre-treatment provided considerable protection against T-2 toxicity, as evidenced by the assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential. Propidium iodide staining revealed a cell cycle halt at the G1, S, and M phases and a significant increase in the sub-G1 percentage in T-2-challenged cells, indicating cell death. However, pre-treatment with menthol promoted cell cycle progression in cells exposed to T-2. Immunoblotting results demonstrated that menthol resulted in a discernible down-regulation of i-NOS expression in T-2-challenged HaCaT cells.

Eugenol and menthol synergize the toxicity of permethrin in the blood-sucking bug, Triatoma infestans.

The blood-sucking bug, Triatoma infestans, is one of the main vectors of Chagas disease in America. It is usually controlled with pyrethroids, but the emergence of resistance to these insecticides creates the need to look for alternative products. Eugenol, menthol and menthyl acetate are botanical monoterpenes, which produce lethal and sublethal effects on insects. The purpose of this work was to determine what type of toxicological interactions occur when binary mixtures, formed by the pyrethroid permethrin and sublehtal doses of eugenol, menthol or menthyl acetate, are applied to T. infestans. First instar nymphs were exposed to filter papers impregnated with the insecticides. The number of knocked down insects was registered at different times and Knock Down Time 50% (KT50) values were calculated. The following KT50 values with their corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals were obtained: permethrin, 47.29 (39.92 - 56.32) min; permethrin + eugenol, 34.08 (29.60 - 39.01) min; permethrin + menthol, 27.54 (23.28 - 32.55) min; permethrin + menthyl acetate, 43.62 (39.99 - 47.59) min. Eugenol and menthol increased the speed of action of permethrin (synergism), but menthyl acetate had no effect on it (additivity). These results provide the basis to further explore interactions between conventional insecticides and plant monoterpenes as potential tools for controlling T. infestans.

Menthol flavoring in e-cigarette condensate causes pulmonary dysfunction and cytotoxicity in precision cut lung slices.

E-cigarette consumption is under scrutiny by regulatory authorities due to concerns about product toxicity, lack of manufacturing standards, and increasing reports of e-cigarette- or vaping-associated acute lung injury. In vitro studies have demonstrated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress induced by unflavored e-cigarette aerosols and flavoring additives. However, e-cigarette effects on the complex lung parenchyma remain unclear. Herein, the impact of e-cigarette condensates with or without menthol flavoring on functional, structural, and cellular responses was investigated using mouse precision cut lung slices (PCLS). PCLS were exposed to e-cigarette condensates prepared from aerosolized vehicle, nicotine, nicotine + menthol, and menthol e-fluids at doses from 50 to 500 mM. Doses were normalized to the glycerin content of vehicle. Video-microscopy of PCLS revealed impaired contractile responsiveness of airways to methacholine and dampened ciliary beating following exposure to menthol-containing condensates at concentrations greater than 300 mM. Following 500 mM menthol-containing condensate exposure, epithelial exfoliation in intrabronchial airways was identified in histological sections of PCLS. Measurement of lactate dehydrogenase release, mitochondrial water-soluble-tetrazolium salt-1 conversion, and glutathione content supported earlier findings of nicotine or nicotine + menthol e-cigarette-induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity and oxidative stress responses. Evaluation of PCLS metabolic activity revealed dose-related impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis after exposure to menthol-containing condensates. Taken together, these data demonstrate prominent menthol-induced pulmonary toxicity and impairment of essential physiological functions in the lung, which warrants concerns about e-cigarette consumer safety and emphasizes the need for further investigations of molecular mechanisms of toxicity and menthol effects in an experimental model of disease.

E-cigarettes induce toxicity comparable to tobacco cigarettes in airway epithelium from patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: The health effects of e-cigarettes in patients with pre-existing lung disease are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether aerosols from a fourth-generation e-cigarette produces similar in-vitro cytotoxic, DNA damage and inflammatory effects on bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from patients with COPD, as cigarette smoke. METHODS: BECs from patients with COPD who underwent surgery for lung cancer and comparator (immortalised 16HBE) cells were grown at air liquid interface (ALI). BECs were exposed to aerosols from a JUUL® e-cigarette (Virginia Tobacco and Menthol pods at 5% nicotine strength) or reference 3R4F cigarette for 30 min at ALI. Cell cytotoxicity, DNA damage and inflammation were measured. RESULTS: In response to the Virginia Tobacco and Menthol flavoured e-cigarette aerosols, COPD BECs showed comparable LDH release (cell cytotoxicity, p = 0.59, p = 0.67 respectively), DNA damage (p = 0.41, p = 0.51) and inflammation (IL-8, p = 0.20, p = 0.89 and IL-6, p = 0.24, p = 0.93), to cigarette smoke. 16HBE cells also showed comparable cellular responses to cigarette smoke. CONCLUSION: In airway cells from patients with COPD, aerosols from a fourth-generation e-cigarette were associated with similar toxicity to cigarette smoke. These results have potential implications for the safety of e-cigarette use in patients with lung disease.

Persistence and ingestion characteristics of phytochemical volatiles as bio-fumigants in Sitophilus oryzae adults.

Fumigant toxicity of phytochemical volatiles has been widely reported against stored product insect pests. Such volatiles are considered as natural fumigants and bio-fumigants in post-harvest food protection research. In the present study, persistence and ingestion of diallyl disulfide, citral, eucalyptol, eugenol and menthol were investigated in Sitophilus oryzae adults in comparison with fumigant toxicity and microstructural impact in elytra. The fumigant toxicity bioassay was performed with increasing concentrations of phytochemical volatiles at 25, 125, 250 and 500 µL/L air against S. oryzae adults in 50 mL glass vials. The phytochemical residues were examined from the treated adults by Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and their pathological impacts on the elytral surface was observed under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). After 72 h of fumigation, diallyl disulfide and eucalyptol were identified as potential fumigants with 5.24 and 8.30 µL/L air LC50 values, respectively. GC-FID analyses showed that diallyl disulfide and eucalyptol molecules persistence (1.29 and 2.60 ppb persistence with 0.94 and 0.90 r2 values respectively at 72 h exposure) on the body surface of weevil was positively correlated with the fumigation exposure and toxicity. Whereas, phytochemical molecules ingestion into the body of weevils was not directly linked with the insect mortalities. The SEM observations indicated that diallyl disulfide and eucalyptol molecules caused severe microstructural impacts on the elytra of weevils compared to other molecules. As a result, the present study suggested that phytochemical fumigants are persisted on the body surface and caused insecticidal toxicities in S. oryzae adults. In addition, it was predicted that persisted molecules might be entered into the body of weevils via cuticular penetration.

Transcriptomic analysis of tobacco-flavored E-cigarette and menthol-flavored E-cigarette exposure in the human middle ear.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are the most widely used electronic nicotine delivery systems and are designed to imitate smoking and aid in smoking cessation. Although the number of e-cigarette users is increasing rapidly, especially among young adults and adolescents, the potential health impacts and biologic effects of e-cigarettes still need to be elucidated. Our previous study demonstrated the cytotoxic effects of electronic liquids (e-liquids) in a human middle ear epithelial cell (HMEEC-1) line, which were affected by the manufacturer and flavoring agents regardless of the presence of nicotine. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the gene expression profile and identify potential molecular modulator genes and pathways in HMEEC-1 exposed to two different e-liquids (tobacco- and menthol-flavored). HMEEC-1 was exposed to e-liquids, and RNA sequencing, functional analysis, and pathway analysis were conducted to identify the resultant transcriptomic changes. A total of 843 genes were differentially expressed following exposure to the tobacco-flavored e-liquid, among which 262 genes were upregulated and 581 were downregulated. Upon exposure to the menthol-flavored e-liquid, a total of 589 genes were differentially expressed, among which 228 genes were upregulated and 361 were downregulated. Among the signaling pathways associated with the differentially expressed genes mediated by tobacco-flavored e-liquid exposure, several key molecular genes were identified, including IL6 (interleukin 6), PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2), CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8), JUN (Jun proto-oncogene), FOS (Fos proto-oncogene), and TP53 (tumor protein 53). Under menthol-flavored e-liquid treatment, MMP9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9), PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2), MYC (MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor), HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1), NOS3 (nitric oxide synthase 3), and CAV1 (caveolin 1) were predicted as key genes. In addition, we identified related cellular processes, including inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and carcinogenesis, under exposure to tobacco- and menthol-flavored e-liquids. We identified differentially expressed genes and related cellular processes and gene signaling pathways after e-cigarette exposure in human middle ear cells. These findings may provide useful evidence for understanding the effect of e-cigarette exposure.

Pod-based menthol and tobacco flavored e-cigarettes cause mitochondrial dysfunction in lung epithelial cells.

Current FDA regulations have resulted in a ban of flavored e-cigarette pods, with only menthol and tobacco flavored pods being exempted. Previous work using menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes have been shown to induce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. We hypothesized that exposure to pod-based JUUL Menthol and Virginia Tobacco aerosols will alter mitochondrial respiration and electron transport chain protein levels. We determined mitochondrial respiration by using a Seahorse technique and electron transport chain complexes by total OXPHOS antibodies after exposing lung epithelial cells, Beas-2b, to pod-based Menthol and Virginia Tobacco flavored aerosols. Menthol pod exposure resulted in an immediate increase in proton leak and decrease in coupling efficiency, as well as a decrease in complex I, II, and IV. Menthol pod exposure twenty-four hour post-exposure resulted in a decrease in basal respiration, maximal respiration, and spare capacity, as well as a decrease in complex I. Tobacco pod exposure resulted in no significant alterations to mitochondrial respiration, but immediately post final exposure resulted in a significant increase in complex I, IV, and V. Our results indicate that exposure to Menthol flavored e-cigarette pods cause mitochondrial dysfunction in lung epithelial cells.