EUGENOL - A REVIEW OF A VERSATILE MOLECULE WITH REMARKABLE PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) is a major volatile component of clove (Eugenia aromaticum) essential oil and several medicinal plants. It is a remarkable molecule with broad spectrum of applications extensively in the fields of cosmetic, agricultural and pharmaceutical as it shows slow toxicity, easily available at low cost and rapid metabolism. Recently eugenol has been used for prevention of life threatening diseases like sepsis, Leishmaniasis, Alzheimer’s, gingivitis, heart diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and cancer as it possesses wide range of pharmacological activities in addition to analgesic activity including anti-oxidant activity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In recent years, eugenol remains a priority in research field due to its broad range of remarkable biological and pharmacological actions. However, there is no overall discussion of versatility and pharmacological action of eugenol elsewhere. In this review, we discuss the overall scenario of pharmacological potential of eugenol.