Bridging Molecules and Models: A Study of Curcumin-Eugenol Anti-Inflammatory Synergy

A vital part of the body's ability to repair damaged tissues and protect itself from outside threats is inflammation, a basic biological response to potentially dangerous stimuli. However, when persistent or dysregulated, it can contribute to the development of chronic diseases. This study employs both in vitro and in silico approaches to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin and eugenol. The compounds were first characterized using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), followed by assessing their anti-inflammatory properties using assays for protein denaturation and anti-proteinase, with indomethacin serving as the standard control. A 1:1 combination of curcumin and eugenol exhibited significantly greater inhibition of protein denaturation (81.32%) and proteinase activity (69.67%) compared to the individual compounds and the standard drug. This combination also demonstrated the lowest IC₅₀ values in both assays, indicating enhanced potency. Molecular docking studies targeting COX-2, JAK, NF-κB, and STAT3 revealed stronger binding affinities for curcumin, while eugenol showed complementary interactions, supporting a synergistic, multi-target mechanism of action. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of this phytochemical combination as a natural, beneficial, and safer alternative to conventional anti-inflammatory agents.