Cardiovascular protective properties of the natural product eugenol

Medicinal herbs have long been used in traditional medicine and their multi-featured bioactivities against the pathophysiology of chronic diseases are currently being extensively investigated in both experimental and clinical settings. Eugenol, a versatile small molecule and the primary phenolic component of clove essential oil, has low toxicity and has been widely used across the food industry, biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dental care. It exhibits a wide array of therapeutic properties involving anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, analgesic, repellent, and insecticidal effects. Recent studies have revealed additional properties of this compound, thereby confirming its broad-spectrum cardioprotective effects. Notably, eugenol can reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Due to these beneficial features, eugenol protects against endothelial injury, acts as an anti-atherosclerotic agent, and helps prevent thrombosis and platelet aggregation. Eugenol also acts as a contributor to enhanced vasodilation and ventricular diastole by blocking adrenergic receptors and calcium channels, while also protecting against hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart failure, and chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Despite eugenol's significant therapeutic potential, its low aqueous solubility, instability, and susceptibility to chemical and enzymatic modifications limit its bioavailability. The current review aims to offer novel insights into its underlying cardioprotective mechanisms. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery offers a promising approach for the effective utilisation of eugenol and facilitates the transition from preclinical studies to clinical trials.