Eugenol

Eugenol /juːɡɛnɒl/ is a phenylpropene, an allyl chain-substituted guaiacol. Eugenol is a member of the phenylpropanoids class of chemical compounds. It is a colorless to pale yellow oily liquid extracted from certain essential oils especially from clove oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil and bay leaf. It is present in concentrations of 80–90% in clove bud oil and at 82–88% in clove leaf oil.

Modern uses

Eugenol is used in perfumes, flavorings, and essential oils. It is also as a local antiseptic and anaesthetic. Eugenol can be combined with zinc oxide to form a material – known as zinc oxide eugenol – which has restorative and prosthodontic applications in dentistry. For example, zinc oxide eugenol is used for root canal sealing.

Attempts have been made to develop eugenol derivatives as intravenous anesthetics, as an alternative to propanidid which produces unacceptable side effects around the site of injection in many patients.

It can be used to reduce the presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Lactobacillus sakei in food.