Clove medicinal uses

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is medicinally powerful herb. Cloves are also known as Clovos, Lavang, Laung. In india, cloves are grown in Nilgiries, Tensaki Hills of Tamil Nadu state, Kottayam and Kollam district of kerala. It holds several phytochemicals. Major phytochemicals includes Eugenol, Eugenyl acetate and Beta-caryophyllene. Clove contains essential oils in its buds, leaves, stem and fruits. Clove owns major pharmacological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, antipyretic and analgesic, etc.

1. A Review On Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove) By Miss. Shruti Ashok Salve Final year B. Pharmacy Under the guidance of Mr. Vinayak Gaware Sir

2. Introduction Synomys: Clove buds, Clove flowers, Lavang (Marathi), Laung (Hindi)   Common Names: Cloves, Carophyllus, Clovos, Caryophyllus   Botanical Names: Eugenia caryophyllus, Syzygium aromaticum   Family: Myrtaceae

3. Biological Source: Clove is obtained from flower buds of plant Eugenia caryophyllus . It is tropical evergreen tree of the family Myrtaceae . Geographical Source: Clove tree is a native of Indonesia. It is cultivated mainly in Islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, Brazil, Amboyna and Sumatra. It is also found in Madagaskar , Penang, Mauritius, West Indies, India. In India, Cloves are grown in Nilgiris , Tenkasi -Hills of Tamil Nadu state. It is also cultivated in Kottayam and Kollam district of Kerala.

4. Cultivation: The plant requires moist, warm and equable climate. Deep rich loamy soil with high humus content is suitable for clove cultivation. Water logging of soil must be avoided. It is propagated by the seed germination. Plants starts bearing after 7 - 8 years and a satisfactory yield per hectare of the drug is achieved only after 15 - 20 years of growth. Plant seedlings

5. Collection: Flower buds are collected when their base turns into crimson-red in colour in dry weather from August to December. Natives climb on the tree or put ladder for the collection. The cloves are dried in open air and their stalks are separated. On drying about 70% water is lost. Clove Harvesting

6. Microscopy: T. S. of Hypanthium : Epidermis: Single layered small cells and has very thick cuticle. Cortex: 3 different zones can be seen The peripheral region with 2 to 3 layers of Oil glands. The middle layer has few layers of vascular bundles. In the inner portion, it has loosely arranged aerenchyma cells. Columella : The central cylinder contains thick walled parenchyma. Fig.(a) T.S. Passing through hypanthium

7. T. S. of Ovary: The transverse section through the ovary shows the epidermis and zones of oil glands, vascular bundles and numerous ovules. Fig .(b) T.S. Passing through Ovary

8. Phytochemical constituents of Clove: Clove buds contains 15-20% of essential oil, which is dominated by Eugenol ( 75-85%) Eugenyl acetate ( 15%) beta-caryophyllene (5-12 %). Other phytochemical constituents of clove are Vanillin, Crategolic acid, tannins, gallotannic acid, Methyl salicylate , Flavonoids Eugenin , kaempferol , Rhamnetin , Eugenitin and Triterpenoids like Oleanolic acid, Methyl amyl ketone , Methyl salicylate , Alpha & Beta humulene , Benzaldehyde , Beta- ylangene and chavicol. The minor constituent like methyl amyl ketone , methyl salicylate etc., are responsible for the characteristic pleasant odour of cloves.

9. Volatile Constituents: Bud Oil: Good quality clove buds contain 15-20% essential oil. The oil is dominated by Eugenol (70-85%), Eugenyl acetate (15%) and Beta- caryophyllene (5-12%), which together make up 99% of the oil . Clove yields different types of volatile oil which is extracted from leaves, stem, buds, fruits. These oils differ considerably in yield and quality. The chief component of all the types of oil is eugenol.

10. Leaf Oil: Clove leaves yield 3.0-4.8% essential oil. The eugenol content in the leaves increased from 38.3 to 95.2% with maturity. Clove bud and leaf oil contain various classes of compounds, e.g. monoterpenes , sesquiterpenes , aldehydes and ketones .   Clove Stem Oil: Clove stem yields 6% volatile oil. The oil is a pale to light yellow liquid containing 80.2% eugenol and 6.6% beta- caryophyllene , besides several minor components.   Fruit Oil: Ripe fruits yield 2% of oil, which is comprised of 50-55% eugenol .

11. Pharmacological Activity of Clove: Anti-oxidant activity: Antioxidants are the compounds which are essential for the treatment of oxidative stress causing memory deficit. Strong antioxidant activity of clove is comparable to synthetic antioxidants like BHA ( Butyl Hydroxy Anisole) and pyrogallol . Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxy phenol) & Eugenyl acetate a major phenolic component from clove oil has the most powerful antioxidant activity. Eugenol Eugenyl acetate

12. Anti-carcinogenic activity : Clove essential oil has also been reported to show anti carcinogenic activity. Several preliminary studies suggested chemo-preventive role of clove oil, particularly in cases of lung, skin and digestive cancers. Oleanolic acid, one of the component of ethyl acetate extract of clove was found to be responsible for its antitumor activity. Eugenol shows better curative effects in skin cancer and melanoma. O leanolic acid

13. Anti-microbial activity : Clove oil was found to be more effective than sodium propionate (Standard food Preservative) against some food borne microbes. Clove oil was found to be very effective against Staphylococcus species . Amongst the fungi, Aspergillus niger was found to be highly sensitive to the clove oil. Clove oil shows antimicrobial activity against some human pathogenic bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics. G allic acid

14. Anti-inflammatory activity : Anti-inflammatory agent in clove oil is eugenol . Aspirin eugenol ester, Ibuprofen eugenol ester and other NSAID’s not only posssess the anti-inflammatory action of aspirin & Ibuprofen but also can reduce toxic side effects of of these two drugs on stomach and liver. Clove also contains kaempferol , rhamnetin and beta- caryophyllene which also contributed to clove’s anti-inflammatory property. Kaempferol Caryophyllene

15. Medicinal Uses : Clove is good for diabetic patients as it controls the blood level of glucose. Eugenol in the clove prevents the formation of blood clots. Topical application of clove oil relieves muscular cramps and also relieves sore gums. Mixture of eugenol and zinc oxide is used for short-term filling of dental cavities. Pure clove oil is used in aromatherapy of arthritis and rheumatism. Application of one drop of clove oil can soothe headaches. Inhalation of clove essential oil soothes various respiratory conditions such as asthma, cold, cough, bronchitis.

16. Conclusion : Clove is medicinally powerful herb. It has physical as well as mental health benefits. Clove buds contains 15-20% essential oil . The major pharmacological activities of clove are antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic and analgesic, etc. Cloves are also beneficial in maintains oral health, relieves headache, diabetes management, liver protection, boosts immunity, maintains respiratory health, improves hair health, treats acne. Therefore considering numerous medicinal uses and health benefits from phytochemicals of clove there is adequate extent for future research.