Pharmacological Properties and Health Benefits of Eugenol: A Comprehensive Review

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Aug 3:2021:2497354. doi: 10.1155/2021/2497354. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The biologically active phytochemicals are sourced from edible and medicinally important plants and are important molecules being used for the formulation of thousands of drugs. These phytochemicals have great benefits against many ailments particularly the inflammatory diseases or oxidative stress-mediated chronic diseases. Eugenol (EUG) is a versatile naturally occurring molecule as phenolic monoterpenoid and frequently found in essential oils in a wide range of plant species. EUG bears huge industrial applications particularly in pharmaceutics, dentistry, flavoring of foods, agriculture, and cosmeceutics. It is being focused recently due to its great potential in preventing several chronic conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared EUG as a nonmutant and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) molecule. The available literature about pharmacological activities of EUG shows remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties and has a significant effect on human health. The current manuscript summarizes the pharmacological characteristics of EUG and its potential health benefits.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Eugenol / chemistry
  • Eugenol / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Eugenol