Comprehensive Overview of Eugenol: Focusing on Sources, Structure, Pharmacological Activities, Mechanisms of Action, Safety Profile, and Applications

Eugenol is a natural occurring phenylpropanoid that is primarily derived from clove oil. It’s known to have a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects such as, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, neuroprotective, and anticancer activities. Its therapeutic action are mediated through various molecular mechanisms, such as the inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes, regulation of oxidative stress, induction of apoptosis, and prevention of tumor metastasis. However, despite its promised clinical benefits as a bioactive compound, its clinical potential faces limitation due to the poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability and dose dependent toxicity. Nevertheless, recent advancements in the field of drug delivery systems particularly Micro/Nano-formulations through encapsulation techniques offer potential solutions to these limitations. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of eugenol, aiming on its natural sources, chemical structure, pharmacological properties, and mechanisms of action, safety considerations, current applications, recent advancements and future perspectives for eugenol as multifunctional bioactive compound potential.