A comprehensive update on phytochemistry and medicinal developments of apocynin

The natural phenolic compound apocynin, referred to as acetovanillone, generated significant attention due to its diverse pharmacological properties, especially as an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and it was applicable orally and effectively even at small doses. During chronic inflammation, various pro-inflammatory-related factors such as nuclear factor kappa β (NF-kβ), nitrotyrosine, poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase (PARP), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD₃₁), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), glycoproteins granule membrane protein 140 (GMP140), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK), membrane cofactor protein (MCP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), all of which could be targeted by apocynin. Research suggests that apocynin significantly benefits conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders due to its ability to mitigate inflammation and enhance endothelial function. Further investigations are essential to examine apocynin and its derivatives, mainly its long-term potency. Future research must focus on clinical trials to evaluate its safety, effectiveness, and optimal dosing in various applications. This review provides a recent update on apocynin, covering aspects such as its extraction and isolation, chemical framework, biosynthesis, synthetic derivatives, pharmacological activities, patent landscape, stability and specifications.