l-Menthol alleviates cigarette smoke extract induced lung injury in rats by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation nuclear factor kappa B, p38 MAPK and Nrf2 signalling pathways.

l-Menthol is the main ingredient of peppermint which affects various pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative activity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential effects of l-menthol on cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induced lung injury in rats. Morphology assessment results revealed that administration with l-menthol (5, 10 or 20 mg kg d) significantly alleviated CSE-induced lung injury.