Health Benefits Of Cloves

What are cloves?

Before we had modern dentistry, we had cloves!  

Cloves are the clove tree's dry, unopened flower buds (Syzygium aromaticum). They are native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia “Native to the Maluku islands in Indonesia, Cloves are the clove tree’s dry, unopened flower buds (Syzygium aromaticum)”. However, they have been grown across the globe and are used in a wide variety of sweet and savoury dishes due to their aromatic fragrance.¹

Historically, cloves have also been exploited for their medicinal properties and have been used in food preservation. Interestingly, modern chemical analysis of cloves has shown that they are much more complex than just a mere spice/flavour and can offer a range of valuable therapeutic properties, including anti-cancerous properties.²

Health benefits of cloves

Besides their delicious flavour, cloves are highly pharmacologically active, containing a range of phytochemicals (biologically active chemicals produced by plants) that can benefit humans. Cloves are rich in sesquiterpenes, hydrocarbon, monoterpenes and phenolic compounds. In clove oil, the most significant phytochemicals include eugenyl acetate, eugenol, and β-caryophyllene.²

There have been several reports documenting the pharmacological activity of eugenol, including its antioxidant, anti-depressant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial activity against several pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus.² 

10 therapeutic properties of cloves are summarised below:

• Protection against skin damage - an investigation into the effects of cloves on the skin of mice exposed to UVB (ultraviolet-B) revealed that cloves protect against skin damage from UVB, due to their ability to regulate oxidation, inflammation and energy consumption in the body.³

• Anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties - Cloves were found to have healing properties in wound-induced mice, with results similar to that of neomycin which is currently used as an antibiotic to control inflammation and heal wounds.⁴

• Analgesic properties - Clove essential oil (CEO) offers analgesic properties with the capacity to treat headaches, toothaches and joint pain. It is also used widely as an oral antiseptic.^5-6

• Improvement in  male sexual health - cloves have been documented to possess nerve-stimulating activity, which may increase sexual performance, increase sexual motivation and reduce premature ejaculations.^7-8

• Anti-depressive properties - The active phytochemical eugenol found in cloves, along with its analogues (similar chemical structure, differing in another regard), contribute to reducing Monoamine oxidase A which demonstrates anti-depressive activity.⁹ 

• Anti-diabetic and regulation of blood glucose - cloves have been found to suppress an increase in blood glucose in type-2 diabetic mice, indicating that it may be a helpful ingredient for patients with type 2 diabetes.¹⁰

• Improves liver health - studies show that cloves can protect against fatty liver, dyslipidemia (imbalance of lipids) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver from long-term damage). Cloves can inhibit cell multiplication and decrease oxidative stress, both of which may protect against liver cirrhosis.^11-12

• Promote bone health - Cloves are helpful in bone preservation, with studies showing a positive effect on bone density, bone tensile strength and bone mineral content.¹³

• Reduce stomach ulcers - Cloves have been found to increase mucus production in the stomach, which offers gastroprotective properties which may prevent stomach ulcers.¹⁴

• Anti-cancer properties -  Cloves contain eugenol, α-humulene, and β-caryophyllene, which have been found to have cytotoxic and anti-tumour activity. The anti-cancer property is mainly associated with CEO's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.¹⁵

Nutritional facts

A serving size (2.1g) of cloves will provide 5.8 calories making it ideal for a low-calorie diet. A serving size will provide carbohydrates (1.4g), of which 50% is dietary fibre, making it an ideal supplement to any dish to increase the total fibre content. A serving size will also provide fats (0.3g) and protein (0.1g). Cloves are also rich in essential minerals, including manganese, calcium, iron and magnesium. Some of which are essential for the numerous therapeutic benefits mentioned above.^16-17

Side effects and other concerns

The essential oil of cloves is generally considered safe for human consumption. The WHO (World Health Organisation) has established a guideline where the recommended daily intake should not exceed 2.5mg/kg of weight in humans.^8,18

Summary

Cloves are an absolute powerhouse of phytochemicals that can immensely benefit human health, with benefits ranging from preventing depression to preserving and strengthening bones. Additionally, cloves have displayed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral and anti-cancerous properties. In truth, the benefits of cloves are numerous, and it would be impossible to cover them all in a single article. A fact supported by hundreds of research papers focused on the therapeutic utilisation of cloves and their essential oil. 

Practically, cloves can be used by people of all ages in their diet. Some ideas include throwing a portion in a Thai/Indian curry, using them when cooking meat/fish or using them to fragrance rice.