Not so cool? Menthol’s discovered actions on the nicotinic receptor and its implications for nicotine addiction

Date

2013-07-23

Authors

Kabbani, Nadine

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Frontiers

Abstract

Nicotine cigarette smoke is a large public health burden worldwide, contributing to various types of disease. Anti-tobacco media campaigns and control programs have significantly reduced smoking in the United States, yet trends for menthol cigarette smoking have not been as promising. Menthol cigarette smoking is particularly prevalent among young adults and African Americans, with implications for long-term impacts on health care. Continuing high rates of menthol cigarette addiction call into question the role of menthol in nicotine addiction. To date, a biological basis for the high rate of addiction and relapse among menthol cigarette smokers has not been defined. Studies have demonstrated a role for menthol in the metabolism of nicotine in the body. More recent findings now reveal an interaction between menthol and the nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor in cells. This receptor is central to the actions of nicotine in the brain, and plays an important role in nicotine addiction. The newly discovered effect of menthol on nACh receptors may begin to explain the unique addictive properties of menthol cigarettes.

Description

Keywords

Menthol, Addiction research, African Americans, Nicotinic receptors, Tobacco

Citation

Kabbani N (2013) Not so cool? Menthol’s discovered actions on the nicotinic receptor and its implications for nicotine addiction. Front. Pharmacol. 4:95. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2013.00095