L-Menthyethylglycinate hydrochloride.
This is a compound with significant applications in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries, renowned for its unique cooling and analgesic effects.
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Basic Information
· CAS No.: 141122-62-5
· Chemical Name:
· L-Menthyl Ethyl Glycinate Hydrochloride
· (1R,2S,5R)-2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl-2-(ethylamino)acetate Hydrochloride
· Molecular Formula: C₁₄H₂₇NO₂·HCl
· Molecular Weight: 277.83 g/mol
· Appearance: Usually a white or off-white crystalline powder.
2. Chemical Structure and Properties
Its molecular structure can be regarded as the combination of two parts:
1. The L-menthol part: It provides a cooling sensation and liposolubility, making it easy to penetrate the skin or mucous membranes.
2. The glycine ester part: It has structural similarities to local anesthetics and is responsible for its analgesic effect.
This unique combination endows it with the dual effects of cooling and pain relief simultaneously.
3. Main Effects and Mechanism of Action
· Cooling effect:
· It can activate the transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) ion channels on human skin and mucous membranes. TRPM8 is the key receptor for the human body to perceive "cold".
· After binding to the receptor, it transmits a "cold" signal to the brain, thereby generating a strong, long-lasting and pure cooling sensation, but without actually lowering the temperature.
· Analgesic/anesthetic effect:
· Its structure is similar to that of local anesthetics (such as lidocaine), and it can achieve local analgesia and anti-itching effects by reversibly blocking the sodium ion channels on nerve cells, thereby inhibiting the generation and conduction of nerve impulses.
· Compared with traditional local anesthetics, it usually has less irritation.
4. Main Application Fields
Thanks to its dual properties of cooling and pain relief, it is widely used in:
1. Personal care and daily chemical products:
· Toothpaste and mouthwash: Provide a long-lasting refreshing taste and help relieve pain caused by oral ulcers, etc.
· Skin care products: Used in after-shave lotions and sunburn repair products, it has a soothing, calming and anti-itch effect.
· Shampoo and conditioner: Produce a cool scalp sensation.
· Lip balm: Provide a cool feeling without irritation.
2. Pharmaceuticals:
· Used as a component of topical analgesics to relieve muscle pain, joint pain, mild burns and pain and itching caused by insect bites.
· Used in throat lozenges or sprays to relieve sore throat.
3. Food industry:
· As a food additive, it is used in candies, chewing gum, beverages, etc., providing a long-lasting and mild cool flavor.
5. Advantages and Characteristics
· High efficiency: Its cooling effect is extremely strong and long-lasting, and only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired result.
· Synergistic effect: It perfectly combines the cooling and analgesic effects in one molecule.
· Good stability: It is stable at normal temperature and easy to store and use in formulations.
· High safety: At the prescribed usage concentration, it is generally considered safe and has low irritation to the skin and mucous membranes.
6. Precautions
As a chemical, it still needs to be produced and used under good practices.
When used in products, the concentration should be controlled within a safe range.
For a very small number of sensitive individuals, it may still cause mild skin or mucous membrane irritation.
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Summary
CAS 141122-62-5 (L-menthyl ethylglycinate hydrochloride) is a high-performance cooling analgesic and an outstanding representative of the combination of modern chemical synthesis technology and sensory science. By simulating the sensation of "cold" and blocking pain signals, it provides unique and valuable sensory experiences and functional benefits for numerous daily chemical, pharmaceutical and food products.