Eugenol Bioactivity in Pharmacological Applications
Summary
Eugenol, a phenolic monoterpenoid predominantly sourced from clove essential oil, exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities that underpin its longstanding use in medicine, dentistry and cosmeceutics. Its core bioactivities include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects achieved through modulation of intracellular signalling pathways such as nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). These actions attenuate oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine production, preserving cellular homeostasis. Concurrently, eugenol demonstrates antimicrobial potency against bacteria, fungi and biofilm communities by disrupting cell membranes, inhibiting quorum sensing and reducing virulence gene expression. In oncology models, it exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects by shifting the balance of Bcl-2 family proteins, activating caspase cascades and enforcing cell-cycle arrest via p53-dependent and independent mechanisms. Emerging research highlights eugenol’s utility as an adjuvant to conventional therapies, with novel delivery systems under development to enhance solubility, bioavailability and target specificity. Collectively, these findings underscore eugenol’s multifaceted potential in preventive and therapeutic interventions, warranting further translational and clinical investigation.
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Eugenol Bioactivity in Pharmacological Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in eugenol bioactivity in pharmacological applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Eugenol: Phenolic monoterpenoid (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) abundant in clove oil.
Antioxidant: Agent that neutralises reactive oxygen species, preventing cellular oxidative damage.
Proapoptotic: Describes substances or signals that promote programmed cell death.
NF-κB: Transcription factor family central to regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.
Nrf2: Transcription factor that activates antioxidant response element-driven gene expression.
Biofilm: Structured microbial community embedded in an extracellular matrix adherent to surfaces.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): Lowest antimicrobial concentration that prevents visible microbial growth.
References
- The anticarcinogenic effect of eugenol on lung cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine/2-acetylaminofluorene in Wistar rats: insight on the mechanisms of action. Apoptosis (2023).
- Biological Properties and Prospects for the Application of Eugenol—A Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
- Eugenol: A Phyto-Compound Effective against Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Strain Biofilms. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Antiproliferative and Molecular Mechanism of Eugenol-Induced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells. Molecules (2012).
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