| Abstract: | It is shown, using in vitro measurements of beat frequency of rat tracheal cilia, that (+)-(1S, 2R, 5S)-menthol and (?)?(1R, 2S, 5R)?menthol have equipotent ciliotoxicities despite the fact that inhalation of menthol vapours from the crystals of the pure enantiomers show clearly that the (?)?(1R, 2S, 5R)-menthol produces a more potent cooling sensation. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrates the formation of a racemic compound when equimolar amounts of the two enantiomers are admixed. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
