Chemopreventive efficacy of menthol on carcinogen-induced cutaneous carcinoma through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress in mice

This diagram summarizes some key menthol-regulated signal transduction pathways implicated in skin cancer. Menthol exerts chemopreventive effects mainly by resisting inflammation and oxidative stress. ROS activation further activates the downstream Ras/Raf signaling pathways, thus activating Erk and p38. NF-κB mediates the regulation of inflammation, the anti-inflammatory ability of which can be inhibited by menthol.