The biological activity of eugenol,a major constituent of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans): Studies on prostaglandins,the intestine and other tissues

Studies have been made of eugenol on isolated tissues from man and laboratory animals, and on rats in vivo. Eugenol inhibited prostaglandin synthesis, and reduced the tone of isolated gut muscle and myometrium. With rats in vivo, the compound reduced the rate of intestinal transit, the intestinal accumulation of fluid induced by prostaglandin E₂, and the diarrhoea induced by castor oil. Eugenol showed anti-inflammatory activity in the rat paw carrageenin oedema test.