A comprehensive update on synthesis, pharmacokinetics, bioactivities, therapeutic potential, and future prospects of muscone

Muscone, the principal active ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine Moschus, garners significant attention for its extensive pharmacological activities and widespread applications in medicine and cosmetics. Due to the scarcity of natural Moschus and ethical concerns in its extraction, the synthesis and industrial production of muscone have been actively developed. Notably, this article elaborately expounds on muscone's regulatory effect on biological membrane permeability and its underlying mechanism. Muscone possesses multiple biological activities, including vascular protection, neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumour effects, which have attracted extensive research attention. This article presents a systematic review of its generation process, influencing factors, chemical synthesis methods, pharmacokinetic characteristics, biological activities, therapeutic potential, and future application prospects. The purpose is to lay a theoretical foundation for the indepth exploration of muscone as a therapeutic agent and the development of novel drugs.