Clove (<em>Syzygium aromaticum</em>): a precious spice

*Corresponding author: Diego Francisco Cortés Rojas, M.Sc., Laboratory of R&D on Pharmaceutical Processes-LAPROFAR-Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto/USP, Av. do Café s/n, Bloco Q, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. E-mail: rb.psu.prfcf@vilopw

Received 2013 Oct 26; Accepted 2013 Dec 22.

Abstract

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is one of the most valuable spices that has been used for centuries as food preservative and for many medicinal purposes. Clove is native of Indonesia but nowadays is cultured in several parts of the world including Brazil in the state of Bahia. This plant represents one of the richest source of phenolic compounds such as eugenol, eugenol acetate and gallic acid and posses great potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and agricultural applications. This review includes the main studies reporting the biological activities of clove and eugenol. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of clove is higher than many fruits, vegetables and other spices and should deserve special attention. A new application of clove as larvicidal agent is an interesting strategy to combat dengue which is a serious health problem in Brazil and other tropical countries. Pharmacokinetics and toxicological studies were also mentioned. The different studies reviewed in this work confirm the traditional use of clove as food preservative and medicinal plant standing out the importance of this plant for different applications.

Keywords: Spice, Clove, Aromatic plant, Volatile, Antioxidant, Dengue fever, Larvicidal

Abstract

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the São Paulo Research Foundation-FAPESP-Brazil for the financial support (Grant No. 2012/09890-6).

Acknowledgments

Notes

Comments

Background

Clove (S. aromaticum) is one of the most valuable spices that have been used for centuries as food preservative and for many medicinal purposes. Clove is native of Indonesia but nowadays is cultured in several parts of the world including Brazil in the state of Bahia. This plant represents one of the richest source of phenolic compounds such as eugenol, eugenol acetate and gallic acid and posses great potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and agricultural applications.

Research frontiers

This review includes the main studies reporting the biological activities of clove (S. aromaticum) and eugenol. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of clove is higher than many fruits, vegetables and other spices and should deserve special attention. A new application of clove as larvicidal agent is an interesting strategy to combat dengue which is a serious health problem in Brazil and other tropical countries. Pharmacokinetics and toxicological studies were also mentioned. The different studies reviewed in this work confirm the traditional use of clove as food preservative and medicinal plant standing out the importance of this plant for different applications.

Related reports

This work is a review documenting the main studies reporting the biological activities of clove (S. aromaticum) and eugenol.

Innovations and breakthroughs

This review includes the main studies reporting the biological activities of clove and eugenol. Based on the information presented, it could be concluded that clove represents a very interesting plant with an enormous potential as food preservative and as a rich source of antioxidant compounds. It's proved biological activities suggest the development of medicinal products for human and animals uses and confirm why this plant has been employed for centuries.

Applications

S. aromaticum (Myrtaceae) commonly known as clove, is an median size tree (8-12 m) native from the Maluku islands in east Indonesia. The clove tree is frequently cultivated in coastal areas at maximum altitudes of 200 m above the sea level. The production of flower buds, which is the commercialized part of this tree, starts after four years of plantation. The collection could be done manually or chemically-mediated using a natural phytohormone which liberates ethylene in the vegetal tissue, producing precocious maturation.

Peer review

In the review, the authors demonstrated the main studies reporting the biological activities of clove (S. aromaticum) and eugenol. Based on the information presented, it could be concluded that clove represents a very interesting plant with an enormous potential as food preservative and as a rich source of antioxidant compounds. It's proved biological activities suggest the development of medicinal products for human and animals uses.

Notes

Footnotes

Foundation Project: Supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation-FAPESP-Brazil (Grant No. 2012/09890-6).

Conflict of interest statement: We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

Footnotes

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