Toyoda T, Matsushita K, Akane H, Morikawa T, Ogawa K. A 13-week subchronic toxicity study of 2-(
l-menthoxy)ethanol in F344 rats.
J Toxicol Pathol 2021;
34:309-317. [PMID:
34629732 PMCID:
PMC8484932 DOI:
10.1293/tox.2020-0091]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
2-(l-Menthoxy)ethanol has been frequently employed as a flavoring
agent; however, data regarding 2-(l-menthoxy)ethanol toxicity remain
limited. We performed a 13-week subchronic toxicity study of
2-(l-menthoxy)ethanol in male and female F344 rats, with doses of 0, 15,
60, or 250 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day orally administered by gavage using corn oil as the
vehicle. No significant toxicological changes in general condition, body weight, or food
intake were observed in any groups. The hematological assessment showed decreased
hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin and
increased platelet count in the male 250 mg/kg group. Serum biochemistry revealed elevated
total cholesterol in the 250 mg/kg group of male and female rats, reduced triglyceride in
the female 250 mg/kg group, and increased total protein in the male 250 mg/kg group,
indicating effects on lipid metabolism and protein synthesis. For organ weights, absolute
and relative weights of the liver and adrenal glands were increased in the 250 mg/kg group
of both sexes and the male 250 mg/kg group, respectively. Histopathological analysis
showed chronic nephropathy in the male 15 mg/kg or higher groups, with increased absolute
and relative kidney weights, as well as elevated serum creatinine, in the male 60 and 250
mg/kg groups. However, eosinophilic granules containing α2u-globulin were
identified in proximal tubules, suggesting α2u-globulin nephropathy specific to
male rats and without toxicological significance. These results indicated that the
no-observed-adverse-effect level of 2-(l-menthoxy)ethanol was 60 mg/kg
BW/day for both sexes.
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