The effect of eugenol on nerve transmission.

Because of its long-time use as a sedative or anodyne in dental procedures, eugenol was studied to determine its effect on evoked nerve impulse transmission. The sciatic nerve of the bullfrog was stimulated in a nerve chamber, and the compound action potential was visualized on and recorded from an oscilloscope screen. It was determined that eugenol concentrations ranging from 100 per cent to 0.01 per cent extinguished the impulse-transmission capabilities of the nerve within 3 hours. No reversal was observed within this time frame.