Syzygium aromaticum. Eugenia caryophyllus   Cloves   Family: Myrtaceae     
Cloves and clove oils are used in the preparation of certain types of cigarette, such as Indian "beedis" and Indonesion "kretaks", for their stimulant action, in perfumery and in cookery.

PART USED: Unexpanded flower buds
TASTE AND ODOR: Characteristic- on pressing with the fingernail, oil should exude.
ACTIONS
GROUP: Herbs For Exhaustion & Vitality.
1. Tonic.[1]
2. Antiemetic.[1,3]
3. Antiseptic.[1,5]
4. Antispasmodic.[1] Calminative.[3]
5. Aromatic.[1,3]
6. Local anodyne.[1]
7. Stimulant.[1,3]
8. Antihistaminic.[5]
9. Anthelmintic.[5]
INDICATIONS
1. Nausea of pregnancy.[1] Nausea.[1] Vomiting.[1] Dyspepsia.[1] Flatulence. Colic.[1] Mucous colitis.[1] Diarrhea.[1]
2. Bronchial catarrh. Tuberculosis.[1]
3. Poor peripheral circulation.[1]
4. Spasmodic conditions including St. Vitus Dance.[1]
5. Epilepsy. Twitches and palsy.[1]
6. Toothache.[1]
7. Halitosis.[1]
PREPARATIONS
Powdered Buds   1-3 g.[1] 120-300 mg.[3]
Fluid extract 1:2 in 45% alcohol.[2]
Infusion   (S)  15-30 ml.[1]
Concentrated Clove infusion BPC 1954, dose 2-4 ml.[3]
Concentrated Clove water BPC 1934, 0.3-1 ml.[3]
Volatile Oil   0.05-0.2 ml.[1] 0.05-0.2 ml.[3]

Clove essential oil
INDICATIONS
1. As an anodyne in toothache and is a constituent of various dental preparations.
ORIGIN: Molucca Islands, Indonesia; introduced into Tanzania, Madagascar, Penang, Brazil.
DESCRIPTION:
Cloves: or flower buds, are brown, about 1-1.5 cm long, the lower portion consisting of the calyx tube enclosing in its upper half the ovary filled with minute ovules. There are numerous stamens and four calyx teeth, surrounded by the unopened, globular corolla of four concave, operlapping petals.
References
  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of 50% ethanolic extract of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) on sexual behaviour of normal male rats
Tajuddin,corresponding author1 Shamshad Ahmad,1 Abdul Latif,1 and Iqbal Ahmad Qasmi1
Abstract
Background
The flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. (clove) has been used in Unani medicine since ancient times for the treatment of male sexual disorders. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of 50% ethanolic extract of clove on general mating behaviour, libido, potency along with its likely gastric ulceration and adverse effects on sexually normal male albino rats.
Methods
The suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dose of 100, 250, and 500 mg / kg, to different groups of male rats (n = 6) once a day for seven days. The female albino rats involved in mating were made receptive by hormonal treatment. The general mating behaviour, libido and potency were determined and compared with the standard reference drug sildenafil citrate. The probable gastric ulceration and adverse effects of the extract were also evaluated.
Results
Oral administration of the extract significantly increased the Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency; Intromission Latency, Erections; Quick Flips, Long Flips as well as aggregate of penile reflexes and caused significant reduction in the Mounting Latency and Post Ejaculatory Interval. The most appreciable effect of the extract was observed at the dose of 500 mg/kg. The test drug was also found to be devoid of any conspicuous gastric ulceration and adverse effects.
Conclusion
The results indicated that the 50% ethanolic extract of clove produced a significant and sustained increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats, without any conspicuous gastric ulceration and adverse effects. Thus, the resultant aphrodisiac effectivity of the extract lends support to the claims for its traditional usage in sexual disorders.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004; 4: 17.
Published online 2004 Nov 5. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-4-17
PMCID: PMC534794 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove) extract regulates energy metabolism in myocytes.
Tu Z, Moss-Pierce T, Ford P, Jiang TA.
Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. Herbs and spices have been used for the treatment of diabetes for centuries in folk medicine. Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove) extracts (SE) have been shown to perform comparably to insulin by significantly reducing blood glucose levels in animal models; however, the mechanisms are not well understood. We investigated the effects of clove on metabolism in C2C12 myocytes and demonstrated that SE significantly increases glucose consumption. The phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), as well as its substrate, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) was increased by SE treatment. SE also transcriptionally regulates genes involved in metabolism, including sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and PPAR? coactivator 1a (PGC1a). Nicotinamide, an SIRT1 inhibitor, diminished SE's effects on glucose consumption. Furthermore, treatment with SE dose-dependently increases muscle glycolysis and mitochondrial spare respiratory capacity. Overall, our study suggests that SE has the potential to increase muscle glycolysis and mitochondria function by activating both AMPK and SIRT1 pathways.
J Med Food. 2014 Sep;17(9):1003-10. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0175. Epub 2014 Jul 7.
PMID: 24999964 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0175 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum Linn) extract rich in eugenol and eugenol derivatives shows bone-preserving efficacy.
Karmakar S, Choudhury M, Das AS, Maiti A, Majumdar S, Mitra C.
Abstract
This study examined the efficacy of hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds, which is rich in phenolic compounds namely eugenol and eugenol derivatives (precursors of flavones, isoflavones and flavonoids), on different primary and secondary osteoporotic marker changes in an ovariectomised (OVX) rat model of osteoporosis. Female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated control (A), OVX (B) and OVX plus 50% hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds for 4 weeks (C). Results indicated that, compared to control, serum alkaline phosphatase (AP; 48.25%, p?<?0.01), serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP; 63.48%, p?<?0.01), urinary calcium (14.70%, p?<?0.01), urinary phosphate (50.30%, p?<?0.01) and urinary creatinine (122.44%, p?<?0.01) were significantly altered in OVX rats. All these altered responses were significantly restored (AP: 27.53%, p?<?0.01; TRAP: 33.51%, p?<?0.01; calcium: 53.15%, p?<?0.01; phosphate: 27.49%, p?<?0.01; creatinine: 46.40%, p?<?0.01) by supplementation with hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds. Results of bone density, bone mineral content, bone tensile strength and histological analysis also showed similar trend of results, which supported initial observations of this study. It is proposed that hydroalcoholic extract of dried clove buds has bone-preserving efficacy against hypogonadal osteoporosis.
PMID: 21711176 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2010.511216
Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(6):500-9. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2010.511216. Epub 2011 Jun 28.  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anticancer potential of Syzygium aromaticum L. in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines
Parvinnesh S. Kumar,1 Raden M. Febriyanti,2,3 Ferry F. Sofyan,2 Dimas E. Luftimas,3,4 and Rizky Abdulah1,3
Abstract
Background:
The common treatment for cancer is unfavorable because it causes many detrimental side effects, and lately, there has been a growing resistance toward anticancer drugs, which worsens the future of cancer treatment. Therefore, the focus has now shifted toward natural products, such as spices and plants, among many others, to save the future of cancer treatment. Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L.) are spices with the highest antioxidant content among natural products. Besides acting as an antioxidant, cloves also possess many other functions, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic, which makes them an ideal natural source to be developed as an anticancer agent.
Objective:
This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of cloves toward MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines.
Materials and Methods:
Different concentrations of water extract, ethanol extract, and essential oil of cloves were investigated for their anticancer potential in vitro through a brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) and an MTT assay.
Results:
In both BSLT and MTT assays, the essential oil showed the highest cytotoxic effect, followed by ethanol and water extract. The LD50 concentration of essential oil in the 24 hours BSLT was 37 µg/mL. Furthermore, the IC50 values in the 24 hours and 48 hours MTT assays of the essential oil were 36.43 µg/mL and 17.6 µg/mL, respectively.
Conclusion:
Cloves are natural products with excellent cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells; thus, they are promising sources for the development of anticancer agents.
Pharmacognosy Res. 2014 Oct-Dec; 6(4): 350–354.
doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.138291
PMCID: PMC4166826 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eugenol-rich Fraction of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) Reverses Biochemical and Histopathological Changes in Liver Cirrhosis and Inhibits Hepatic Cell Proliferation
Shakir Ali, Ram Prasad, Amena Mahmood, Indusmita Routray, Tijjani Salihu Shinkafi, Kazim Sahin, and Omer Kucuk
Abstract
Background:
Dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) is rich in eugenol, an antioxidant and antiinflammatory compound that can protect liver against injury. Clove, besides eugenol, also contains other pharmacologically active phytochemicals such as ß-sitosterol and ascorbic acid. This study reports the effect of eugenol-rich fraction (ERF) of clove on liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide.
Methods:
Cirrhosis of the liver, which predisposes to hepatocellular carcinoma, was induced by administering thioacetamide (0.03%) in drinking water for 16 weeks. Cirrhotic animals were divided into two groups; the treated group was administered ERF for 9 weeks, one week after discontinuation of thioacetamide, while the other group received normal saline for a similar duration of time.
Results:
The treatment with ERF, as determined by histopathology and through a battery of biochemical markers of hepatic injury, oxidative stress and drug metabolizing enzymes, significantly ameliorated the signs of liver cirrhosis. It lowered the elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, ?-glutamyl transferase and other biochemical changes in liver cirrhosis. Histopathology of the liver corroborated the effect of ERF with biochemical findings. ERF treatment further inhibited cell proliferation, as demonstrated by reduced [3H]-thymidine uptake.
Conclusions:
Data provide evidence supporting the protective action of ERF on liver cirrhosis. The study assumes significance because cirrhosis predisposes the liver to cancer, which is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. ERF in this study is reported to inhibit hepatic cell proliferation and at the same time decrease oxidative stress, which might be the mechanism of protection against liver cirrhosis.
J Cancer Prev. 2014 Dec; 19(4): 288–300.
doi: 10.15430/JCP.2014.19.4.288
PMCID: PMC4285960 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov