Biological Importance of Menthol

           Biological Importance of Menthol , Camphor , Farnesol , Phytol , Lansterol , Lycopene , Dolichols .                                                            

 MENTHOL

                        Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn, mint or other mints. It is a waxy , crystalline substance clear or white in color , which is solid at room temperature and melt slightly above.

 Biological Importance of Menthol :-

                                                       Menthol has been used to help treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal ailments . For example menthol can prevent or treat gas and bloating, making it a potentially assistive treatment for irritated bowel . Syndrome indigestion and colic says the university of health system. Menthol can also be applied topically to help to relieve itching and inflammation due to contact dermatitis . Menthol also help to relieve headache . Additional a people have taken menthol orally to treat asthma , bronchitis, colds, flu and other respiratory ailments.  

    CAMPHOR

                      Camphor is { cinnamon camphor } is a terpene { organic compound } that's commonly used in creams ointments and lotions. Camphor oils is the oil  extracted from the wood of camphor trees and processed by steam distillation . It can be used topically to relieve pain, irritation and itching. Camphor is also used to relieve chest congestion and inflammation condition. It has a strong order and taste easily absorbed through the skin. Camphor is currently made out of turepentine but it is still safe to use as long as it correctly. It has potentially for side effect specially if you  use it in high does never take camphor intestine in internally or apply it to broken skin as it can be toxic.

 Importance :-

                        Camphor has a wide variety of topically used due to its antibacterial , anti fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat skin condition improve respiratory function and relief pain.

     Farnesol

                            Farnesol  is a natural carbon organic compound which is an a cyclic sesquiterpene alcohol. Under standard conditions it is a colorless liquid. It is hydrophobic and insoluble in water but miscible with oils.

 Importance :-

                  Farnesol   is present in mainly mainly essential oils such as a citronella, neroli,  cyclamen , lemon, grass, tuberose , rose, musk and tolu. It is used in perfumes . Its method of action enhacing perfume  scent as a co-solvent that regulate the volatility of the odorants . It is specially used in  lilac perfumes.

Phytol

                   Phytol  is an a cyclic diterpene alcohol and a constituent of chlorophyll. Phytol is commonly used as a precursor for the manufacture of synthetic forms of Vitamin E and Vitamin K 1. Furthermore phytol also used was shown to modulate transcription in cells via transcription factors PPAR alpha and retinoid X receptor( RXR)

 Importance :-

                         Refsum disease an autosomal recessive disorder that results in the accumulation of large stores of phytanic acid in tissue frequently main fest peripheral plyneuropathy cerebellar ataria and hearing  loss. Althought   humans cannot derive  phytanic acid from chlorophyll. They can convert free phytol  into phytanic acid. Thus patients with diffuse refsume disease should limit their intake of phytanic acid and free phytol . The amount of free phytol in numerous food product has been reported.

 Lansterol

                   Lansterol  is a tetracyclic  triterpenoid and is compound from which all animal and and fungal steroids are derived by contrast plant steroids are produced via cycloartenol . 

 Importance :-

                It may be possible one day to treat catoracts. It may be possible one day to simple use           lansterol in the form of a topical eye drop to reduce cataract the defelopment.

  Lycopene

                  Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid  hydrocarbon found in tomatoes  and other red fruits and vegetables such as carrots (red ), watermelon and papaya . But it is not present in strawberries or cherries. Although lycopene  is chemically a  cartene . It has no vitamin A activity.  Foods that are not red may also contain lycopene such  as and parsley.

 Importance :-

                      In plant, algae and other photosynthetic organism lycopene  is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of many carotenoid  including  beta-carotene, which is responsible for yellow, orange or red  pigmentation photosynthesis and photo protection like all charotenoids,  lycopene is a  tetraterpene.  It is insoluble in water. 11 conjugated double bonds give lycopene  its deep red colour. Lycopene  is useful as a food coloring.

Dolichols

                    Dolichols  refers to any of a group of long long chain mostly unsaturated organic compounds  that are made up of varying numbers of isoprene units  terminating in an a saturated          isoprinoid group containing an alcohol functional group.

Importance :-

 Dolichols pay a  role in the co-transelational  modification of proteins known as N-glycosylation in the form of  dolichols  phosphate . Dolichols  function as a membrane and another for the formation of the oligosaccharides Gly 3 - Man g -GlyNAc2(wher Gly is glucose man is monnose and Gly Nac N- acetylglycosamine )  . This oligosaccharides is transferred from the dolichol donor  on to certain asparagine  residuce  of newly forming polypeptide chains. Dolichol is also involved in transfer of monosaccharides to the forming Dolichol carries.