LAUSR

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a lethal disease without available medicine for treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of eugenol (4‐allyl‐2‐methoxyphenol) against AAA and the underlying mechanism. Eugenol is the major bioactive component of clove. A mouse AAA model was established through porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) incubation peri‐adventitially and 1% 3‐aminopropanonitrile (BAPN) diet. Continuous AAA progression from day 0 to day 15 was observed after PPE plus BAPN treatment, according to the AAA diameter and histopathological evaluation. Accompanying with AAA progression, sustained increased expressions of CD68, COX‐2 and NF‐κB were observed through immunofluorescence assay. After elucidation the efficiency of eugenol against AAA progression by AAA diameter, hematoxylin–eosin staining and orcein staining, the down‐regulations of eugenol on COX‐2 and NF‐κB were further detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Eugenol not only blocked AAA expansion and protected the integrity of aortic structure in a dose‐dependent manner, but also held high oral bioavailability. Excellent efficiency, high oral bioavailability and down‐regulation on COX‐2/NF‐κB endowed eugenol great potential for future AAA therapy.