Benefits of Cloves

When were benefits of cloves found?

Clove is considered as a most ancient spice. This spice has its origin before Christ in history. During the period of Chinese Han dynasty from 207 B.C. to 220 A.D. had used clove as a mouth freshener. Later Arabs obtained these dried and fragrant buds from Eastern Asia and started commercial trading in the European countries during the period of 4th century A.D.

Clove attracts herbal researchers due to its potent antimicrobial and antioxidant property. Scientifically clove has two synonymous names Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia cariophylata, which belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Maluku islands in east Indonesia is the native place of clove. Other Asiatic countries such as India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Madagascar, and Tanzania especially the Zanzibar island are the places where clove grows abundantly and global trading conducted through these countries. Brazil also cultivates cloves and produces near 2500 tons per year.

What are the chemicals present in Cloves?

Different phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, and hydroxyphenyl propens are different phytochemicals present in the clove. These chemicals generate cloves medicinal benefits. However, eugenol is the primary active constituent of clove. An adequate amount of phenolic acids, gallic acid and gallic acid derivates such as hydrolyzable tannins are also present in the clove.

The essential oil of the clove is volatile in nature and contains multiple bioactive compounds such as eugenol, eugenol acetate, β-cariofileno, α-humulen, β-pinene, limonene, benzaldehyde, ethyl hexanoate, farnesol, and 2-heptanone.

What is the Mode of action of Cloves benefits?

Phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids, flavanol glycosides, tannins, and volatile oil contents such as eugenol, and acetyl eugenol combination present in clove buds provide potent antioxidant activity. Researchers showed that free radical scavenging activity of clove oil is significantly higher than synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole, Trolox. An animal research study reported antioxidant activity of clove oil to provide protection against hepatic and nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress-related memory deficits conditions.

Clove has a potent inhibitory effect against broad-spectrum microbial growth including both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, etc. Moreover, phytochemical eugenic present in clove can inhibit the viral DNA polymerase and effective against viral infections, including herpes virus strains.

Clove has a significant analgesic effect as it activates calcium and chloride channels in ganglion cells. Eugenol exerts the voltage-dependent effects in sodium and calcium channels and also in the receptors present in the trigeminal ganglion impart the analgesic effect of clove. Moreover, clove has capsaicin agonist property, which gives an analgesic effect.

Clove has cancer preventive and treatment effects as it interferes with cell signaling pathways, specifically the nuclear factor kappa B and exerts cytotoxic effect against cancer cells. Clove oil can alter total blood leukocytes count and inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, which exerts anti-inflammatory effect.

Clove can inhibit platelet aggregation and prevent blood clotting by suppressing the synthesis prostaglandin, thromboxane B2 and also prevent arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation.

Clove oil containing eugenol has an inhibitory effect of prostaglandin H synthesis, which not only provides analgesic effect but also exerts mild anesthetic property. Clove has a calcium channel receptor antagonist activity and provides anti-spasmodic activity. Clove acts against monoamine oxidase neurotransmitters and provides antidepressant activity.

Different Forms of Cloves

Clove oil extracted from cloves can add to different formulations in which the concentration of eugenol is significant. There are several clove oil uses due to this form and chemical. These formulations are

• Toothpaste, mouth wash, and oral care medications, which are used to treat an oral cavity and toothache issues.
• Concentrated form of clove oil: Used as a pain reliever and in the treatment of fever, headache, cough, asthma, indigestion, depression.

Encapsulated clove powder: This formulation has a great anti-oxidant property and helps to improve the shelf-life of products.

Benefits of Cloves

The major form of cloves uses is in the oil form. There are several cloves essential oil benefits.

Cloves benefits for Teeth

Clove and its essential oil are useful ingredients in dental and oral care products. The antibacterial property of the clove prevents dental caries and oral infections. The analgesic property of clove oil can reduce toothache. In dentistry, preparation of temporary filling for the tooth cavity contains zinc oxide and eugenol.

Cloves benefits for joints pain

The flavonoids present in clove has anti-inflammatory and analgesic property, which is effective to provide symptomatic relief from rheumatism and arthritic pain. The application of clove oil poultice can relieve muscular cramps.

Cloves benefits for stomach

Clove acts as a carminative and stimulates gastric secretion from the stomach and improve peristalsis movement. Clove is effective to treat indigestion, nausea, flatulence, and loose motion. Clove has a curative effect to relieve symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and gastric irritability. The antimicrobial property of Clove is effective against Helicobacter pylori and normalizes gastrointestinal pH, which gives a protective effect against gastric ulcer progression.

Cloves benefits for cold and flu

Clove helps to improve certain common respiratory conditions like cough, cold, nasal decongestion due to its expectorant property and nasal tract clearance activity. It reduces the asthma attack and smoothens respiratory passage. The anti-inflammatory property of the clove is effective to treat bronchitis and sinusitis.

Cloves health benefits for cancer

The anticancer effect of clove essential to prevent digestive system cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer.

Blood circulation and body temperature regulation

Clove is an effective measure to prevent clots and circulate blood smoothly. It also stimulates blood circulation and thus regulate body temperature. Individuals suffering from cold extremities get beneficial results after the application of clove oil.

Cloves benefits for Eye

Clove acts against age-related eyesight weakness by protecting docosahexaenoic acid rupture, which is essential to uphold the eyesight in older age people. This natural ingredient can prevent macular degeneration and retinal damage.

Cloves benefits for skin and Wound healing property

Application of clove powder paste in the insect bites or cuts helps to accelerate wound healing.

Cloves benefits for energy

Inhalation of clove can reduce general malaise symptoms including headache, drowsiness, lethargy, and irritability.

Clover benefits for Mental health

Clove acts as a memory booster, anti-depressant and helps to remove mental clouding, which boosts mental health.

Miscellaneous health benefits

Apart from the above mentioned significant medicinal uses, clove has many other health benefits, such as it acts as an aphrodisiac agent, mosquito repellent.

There is limited data on cloves benefits for hair and cloves benefits for diabetes.

Side effects of cloves

The dose is an important factor to avoid side effects of cloves. Excessive dose of clove is also not safe and provide different side effects, such as direct contact of a high dose of concentrated clove oil provides skin reaction. Animal research showed a high dose of clove oil administration can cause moderate erythema, edema, and severe irritation. Therefore, clove oil may be contraindicated for dermatitis patients.

There can be serious oil of cloves side effects. Improper usage of Clove oil in aromatherapy can provide the poisonous effect. The higher dose of clove administration can cause eugenol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Clove cigarettes become very famous nowadays, but regular and chronic use of this product can cause lung problems such as shortness of breathing, frequent lung infections, and coughing. Eugenol, the active constituent of clove has a mild anesthetic effect, and cause numbness, and reduction of loss of sensation. Clove oil can increase skin sensitivity and increase the risk of an allergic reaction.

Some precautionary measures are essential to avoid such side effects. The correct dose is very important, therefore discuss with experts before introducing alternative treatments. Pregnant and lactating mothers should not use a high dose of clove formulations, as it irritates the fetus or newborn. Children must not use clove containing products without physician consultation, as clove can cause convulsion or seizure attacks.[5]

References

• Diego Francisco Cortés-Rojaset al. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014 Feb; 4(2): 90–96.

• Parle Milind, Khanna Deepa. CLOVE:A CHAMPION SPICE. International Journal of Research in Ayurveda & Pharmacy, 2(1), Jan-Feb 2011 47-54
• Monika Mittal et al. PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 6, Issue 8, 67-72 
• Clove. ScienceDirect.
• Pavithra Dennis. Side Effects of Clove Oil – Need to Know.