Clove Oil as a Xenobiotic: Assessment of Acute Oral Toxicity and Multi-Organ Damage in Rats

Clove oil, a natural product widely used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine, contains eugenol as its principal bioactive compound. Despite its broad application, concerns remain regarding its safety when consumed at doses exceeding recommended limits. This study aimed to assess the acute oral toxicity of clove oil as a xenobiotic substance in Wistar rats following repeated exposure. Twenty-four adult rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6 per group): a control group, a group receiving the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended safe dose, a medium-dose group, and a high-dose group. Clove oil was administered orally once daily for seven consecutive days. Animals were closely monitored for clinical signs of toxicity, behavioral alterations, and changes in body weight throughout the study period.

Rats exposed to medium and high doses exhibited clear dose-dependent toxic manifestations, including lethargy, pruritus, coughing, respiratory distress with wheezing, delayed neurological responses, and significant body weight loss. No mortality was observed; however, pronounced pathological changes were detected during postmortem examination. These included extensive cardiac hemorrhage and rupture, along with severe bleeding and tissue damage in the liver and kidneys, indicating multi-organ toxicity. In contrast, animals in the control and safe-dose groups showed no notable adverse effects.

The findings demonstrate that excessive oral exposure to clove oil can induce significant acute toxic effects, particularly affecting vital organs involved in xenobiotic metabolism and clearance. This study highlights the importance of strict adherence to established safety guidelines and underscores the need for further toxicological investigations to better define the risks associated with prolonged or high-dose exposure to plant-derived xenobiotics such as clove oil.