Clove oil for Anti-inflammatory

Clove oil, derived from the aromatic buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic properties as an anti-inflammatory agent. Multiple scientific investigations have explored its efficacy, primarily focusing on eugenol, the key bioactive component responsible for clove oil's anti-inflammatory effects. These studies explore whether clove oil can offer a beneficial natural approach for managing inflammatory conditions and related health concerns.

Protocols Studied in Research

[1] Clinical efficacy of polyherbal formulation Eezpain spray for muscular pain relief. (Cited by: 4) (PMID: 25553684)

• Protocol: A prospective, open-label pilot study with 20 subjects evaluating a topical polyherbal formulation containing clove oil, Gaultheria oil, Eucalyptus oil, Turpentine oil, Menthol, and Camphor for muscular pain relief over 14 days.
• Outcome: The Eezpain spray demonstrated significant efficacy in relieving mild to moderate muscular pain when applied locally to affected areas.

Research Interpretation: Summary and Conclusion

The collective evidence from multiple review articles and one clinical trial strongly supports clove oil and its primary constituent, eugenol, as promising natural agents with significant anti-inflammatory potential. Eugenol consistently demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties across various studies, primarily through its ability to inhibit inflammatory mediators and regulate signaling pathways like NF-kappaB. The anti-inflammatory action is multifaceted, extending to potential applications in managing chronic inflammation, reducing cardiovascular disease risk, and enhancing conventional therapy efficacy.

The single clinical trial (PMID 25553684) involved a polyherbal formulation containing clove oil, demonstrating practical therapeutic benefits for muscular pain relief in 20 subjects. While this study shows promise, it was limited by its open-label design and small sample size. The majority of evidence comes from comprehensive review articles that consolidate findings on eugenol's biological properties, consistently highlighting its anti-inflammatory effects alongside other beneficial properties including antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial activities.

Emerging research explores nanoemulgels as delivery systems to enhance topical anti-inflammatory effects of clove oil, suggesting improved bioavailability and therapeutic potential. While generally considered safe, some studies acknowledge concerns regarding eugenol's toxicity at high concentrations, indicating the need for careful dosage considerations.

Further controlled clinical trials with larger sample sizes and diverse populations are needed to confirm these promising results and establish optimal therapeutic protocols. The current evidence suggests significant potential for clove oil as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, though more rigorous clinical validation is warranted to fully establish its therapeutic efficacy and safety profile.

Publications

[1] Ulanowska M; Olas B (2021). Biological Properties and Prospects for the Application of Eugenol-A Review International journal of molecular sciences 22 (7). (PMID: 33916044)

[2] Batiha GE; Alkazmi LM; Wasef LG; Beshbishy AM; Nadwa EH; Rashwan EK (2020). Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities Biomolecules 10 (2). (PMID: 32019140)

[3] Mohammadi Nejad S; Ozgunes H; Basaran N (2017). Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties of Eugenol Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences 14 (2) :201-206. (PMID: 32454614)

[4] Zari AT; Zari TA; Hakeem KR (2021). Anticancer Properties of Eugenol: A Review Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 26 (23). (PMID: 34885992)

[5] Pandey VK; Srivastava S; Ashish; Dash KK; Singh R; Dar AH; Singh T; Farooqui A; Shaikh AM; Kovacs B (2024). Bioactive properties of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil nanoemulsion: A comprehensive review Heliyon 10 (1) :e22437. (PMID: 38163240)

[6] Lal DK; Kumar B; Saeedan AS; Ansari MN (2023). An Overview of Nanoemulgels for Bioavailability Enhancement in Inflammatory Conditions via Topical Delivery Pharmaceutics 15 (4). (PMID: 37111672)

[7] Devi S; Chauhan S; Mannan A; Singh TG (2024). Targeting cardiovascular risk factors with eugenol: an anti-inflammatory perspective Inflammopharmacology 32 (1) :307-317. (PMID: 38085446)

[8] Pramod K; Ansari SH; Ali J (2010). Eugenol: a natural compound with versatile pharmacological actions Natural product communications 5 (12) :1999-2006. (PMID: 21299140)

[9] Chen M; Nie YK; Liu XY; Liu Y; Guo DY (2025). Antiviral properties of the natural product eugenol: A review Fitoterapia 185 :106674. (PMID: 40513765)

[10] Nawaz A; Sheikh ZA; Feroz M; Alam K; Nazar H; Usmanghani K (2015). Clinical efficacy of polyherbal formulation Eezpain spray for muscular pain relief Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences 28 (1) :43-7. (PMID: 25553684)

[11] Tavvabi-Kashani N; Hasanpour M; Baradaran Rahimi V; Vahdati-Mashhadian N; Askari VR (2024). Pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and recent advances in Eugenol's potential benefits against natural and chemical noxious agents: A mechanistic review Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology 238 :107607. (PMID: 38191032)

[12] Kamatou GP; Vermaak I; Viljoen AM (2012). Eugenol--from the remote Maluku Islands to the international market place: a review of a remarkable and versatile molecule Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 17 (6) :6953-81. (PMID: 22728369)