Hydroxychavicol from Piper beetle Linn.: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Its Chemistry, Pharmacological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Hydroxychavicol (4-allylbenzene-1,2-diol) is the main phenolic bioactive compound found in Piper betle Linn., an herbal plant widely used in traditional medicine across Asia. In the last two decades, hydroxychavicol has gained a lot of attention from researchers because of its diverse range of pharmacological properties and potential as a multi-purpose therapeutic substance. This narrative review aims to elaborate on the existing understanding of hydroxychavicol’s chemistry, natural presence, isolation, pharmacological characteristics, molecular mechanisms, drug delivery systems, therapeutic potential and future possibilities. An exhaustive search was conducted for the literature, focusing on peer-reviewed journals covered in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, primarily from the years 2000 to 2026.Experimental results indicate that Hofyexyvania has important antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, wound healing, liver protecting, heart protecting, brain protecting, and immune disease preventing properties. The drug operates through the changes in different cellular pathways like NF-кB\ Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and mitochondrial pathways affecting the processes of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Though the drug seems to be very effective, it is not widely used in practice because it does not dissolve well in water, has poor absorption and is destroyed by our body very quickly. New technology developments such as nanoparticles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and gels allow overcoming existing pharmaceutical problems related to the drug so the its efficiency in treatment can be increased. The evidence in totality points towards the important presence of a multitarget phytochemical called hydroxychavicol which shows great promise to be utilized in the prevention and management of chronic inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. However, there is a need for pharmacokinetic research, formulation standardization, and clinical trials on a bigger scale.