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Clove

 

Clove  Syzygium

aromaticum

 

Vitaklenz: 25mg

Vitaklenz for Kidz: not present

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Cloves’ medicinal uses have been most famously applied to toothache, and mouth & throat inflammation. 1 The German Commission E Monographs list cloves as having antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. 2 3 In China reports indicate clove was used as early as 240BC. Cloves were taken over the centuries for diarrhea, most liver, stomach and bowel ailments, and as a stimulant for the nerves. 4 Traditionally cloves have been used to treat flatulence, nausea and vomiting. 1 5 In tropical Asia cloves have been given to treat malaria, cholera and tuberculosis, as well as scabies. 6 Traditional uses in America include treating worms, viruses, candida, and various bacterial and protozoan infections. 7

 

Mouse-model studies show that oral supplementation of clove and tulsi oils protect against K. pneumoniae bacterial infection of the lungs. 8 Laboratory tests identify eugenol as being the possible reason for antimicrobial actions, and confirm cloves’ effectiveness in inhibiting food-borne pathogens, other bacteria and fungi. 9

 

Aqueous extract of clove outperformed cinnamon extract in in vitro and in vivo trials, returning excellent antibacterial action against S. aureus and E. coli without immune-depressing side effects. 10 In fact, clove has shown success against E. coli O157:H7, although thyme and oregano performed better. 11 Essential oils of clove show high antibacterial activity against antibiotic resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae and are recommended in literature as bioactive compounds to control the spread of these troublesome microbes. 12 Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been demonstrated susceptible to ethanolic clove extract showing potential for combating antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infection. 13

 

Numerous studies have established success in treating antibiotic-resistant H. pylori with various extracts of clove, with one study finding the herb destroys the bacterial structure and down-regulates the expression of virulence genes without developing resistance. 14 Specifically b-caryophyllene from clove extract has shown promise in significantly reducing H. pylori-induced inflammation in mouse studies. 15

 

Clove bud essential oil distinguished itself against persistent lyme B. burgdoferi in comparison with the control persister drug, demonstrating remarkable antibacterial action even at a very low concentration. 16 Eugenol exhibits broad antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and acid-fast bacteria, as well as fungi. 17 18 Cloves are known also for their anti-emetic (relieves nausea and vomiting) and carminative properties. 17 18 19 20

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The volatile oil of cloves (85-92% eugenol) was highly active against a range of microorganisms, being classified as bactericidal in nature. 21 Clove ethanolic extract outperformed clove essential oil in its antimicrobial action against bacteria associated with urinary tract infection, with observation that the various constituents of the plant, particularly eugenol and kaempferol, contributed to its success as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent through a synergistic action. 22

 

Essential oils, including that of clove, administered either alone or in combination with benznidazole reduced Trypanosoma cruzi (flukes) in mice after having previously shown effectiveness against T. cruzi. 23

 

Clove has a strong reputation in peer review as an anti-fungal. Murine studies have confirmed that clove administered orally worked better to reduce C. albicans overgrowth in both the mouth and the intestines, and had a role in both inhibiting lesions in the mouth and suppressing further invasion of the yeast into the oral tissue. 24 Other research has established a strong fungicidal effect of clove essential oil, 25 with Eugenia caryophyllata, the essential oil of clove bud, exhibiting antifungal activity against a large number of human pathogenic fungi with a significant effect against pathogenic Candida species. This includes treatment against fluconazole-resistant strains. 26 27

 

Antiviral action of S. aromaticum has been confirmed against HSV types 1 and 2, Cytomegalovirus and SARS -CoV-2. 28 29 30 31

 

Cloves are generally regarded as safe when taken orally and appropriately for medicinal uses, and as a short-term topical application. It is generally accepted that cloves are safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding in quantities commonly found in foods.

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References:

 

  1. Jellin JM, Batz F, Hitchens K. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Third Edition. Stockton, California: Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2000.

  2. Blumenthal M, et. al. ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin: American Botanical Council, 1998.

  3. Gruenwald J, et.al. PDR for Herbal Medicines. First Edition. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

  4. Gordon L. A Country Herbal. Devon, England: Webb & Bower (Publishers) Ltd. 1980.

  5. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants. Second Edition as Translated by Caroline K. Hatton. Paris: Lavoisier Publishing, 1999.

  6. Chevallier A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Revised Edition. Sydney, Australia: Dorling Kindersley. 2001.

  7. Duke JA, et. al. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Second Edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 2002.

  8. Saini A, Sharma S, Chhibber S. Induction of resistance to respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice fed on a diet supplemented with tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) and clove (Syzgium aromaticum) oils. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2009 Apr;42(2):107-13. PMID: 19597641.

  9. De M, Krishna De A, Banerjee AB. Antimicrobial screening of some Indian spices. Phytother Res. 1999 Nov; 13 (7): 616-8.

  10. Nassan MA, Mohamed EH, Abdelhafez S, Ismail TA. Effect of clove and cinnamon extracts on experimental model of acute hematogenous pyelonephritis in albino rats: Immunopathological and antimicrobial study. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;28(1):60-8. doi: 10.1177/0394632015572075. PMID: 25816407.

  11. Burt SA, Reinders RD. Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2003;36(3):162-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2003.01285.x. PMID: 12581376.

  12. Ginting EV, Retnaningrum E, Widiasih DA. Antibacterial activity of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) essential oil against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria. Vet World. 2021 Aug;14(8):2206-2211. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2206-2211. Epub 2021 Aug 25. PMID: 34566340; PMCID: PMC8448639.

  13. Mandal S; Manisha DebMandal; Saha K, Pal NK. In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of three Indian Spices Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Oman Med J. 2011 Sep;26(5):319-23. doi: 10.5001/omj.2011.80. PMID: 22125725; PMCID: PMC3215437.

  14. Peng C, Sang S, Shen X, Zhang W, Yan J, Chen P, Jiang C, Yuan Y, Zhu W, Yao M. In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Syzygium aromaticum and the preliminary mechanism of action. J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Apr 24;288:114995. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.114995. Epub 2022 Jan 13. PMID: 35032584.

  15. Jung DH, Park MH, Kim CJ, Lee JY, Keum CY, Kim IS, Yun CH, Kim SK, Kim WH, Lee YC. Effect of β-caryophyllene from Cloves Extract on Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Mouse Model. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 4;12(4):1000. doi: 10.3390/nu12041000. PMID: 32260414; PMCID: PMC7230661.

  16. Feng J, Zhang S, Shi W, Zubcevik N, Miklossy J, Zhang Y. Selective Essential Oils from Spice or Culinary Herbs Have High Activity against Stationary Phase and Biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017 Oct 11;4:169. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00169. PMID: 29075628; PMCID: PMC5641543.

  17. Lueng AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. Second Edition. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons, 1996.

  18. Bisset NG. ed. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Translated from Second Edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994.

  19. The British Pharmacopoeia (2001), Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

  20. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (1996). Fourth Edition. British Herbal Medicine Association Scientific Committee, West Yorks, England.

  21. Dorman HJD, Deans SG. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils. J Appl Microbiol 2000, 88; 308-316.

  22. Rosarior VL, Lim PS, Wong WK, Yue CS, Yam HC, Tan SA. Antioxidant-rich Clove Extract, A Strong Antimicrobial Agent against Urinary Tract Infections-causing Bacteria in vitro. Trop Life Sci Res. 2021 Jun;32(2):45-63. doi: 10.21315/tlsr2021.32.2.4. Epub 2021 Jun 29. PMID: 34367514; PMCID: PMC8300942.

  23. Sarto MPM, Lucas da Silva HF, de Souza Fernandes N, de Abreu AP, Zanusso Junior G, de Ornelas Toledo MJ. Essential oils from Syzygium aromaticum and Zingiber officinale, administered alone or in combination with benznidazole, reduce the parasite load in mice orally inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi II. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Feb 25;21(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03248-8. PMID: 33632196; PMCID: PMC7908772.

  24. Taguchi Y, Ishibashi H, Takizawa T, Inoue S, Yamaguchi H, Abe S. Protection of oral or intestinal candidiasis in mice by oral or intragastric administration of herbal food, clove (Syzygium aromaticum). Nihon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi. 2005;46(1):27-33. doi: 10.3314/jjmm.46.27. PMID: 15711533.

  25. Fu Y, Zu Y, Chen L, Shi X, Wang Z, Sun S, Efferth T. Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oils alone and in combination. Phytother Res. 2007 Oct;21(10):989-94. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2179. PMID: 17562569.

  26. Chaieb K, Zmantar T, Ksouri R, Hajlaoui H, Mahdouani K, Abdelly C, Bakhrouf A. Antioxidant properties of the essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata and its antifungal activity against a large number of clinical Candida species. Mycoses. 2007 Sep;50(5):403-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2007.01391.x. PMID: 17714361.

  27. Pinto E, Vale-Silva L, Cavaleiro C, Salgueiro L. Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species. J Med Microbiol. 2009 Nov;58(Pt 11):1454-1462. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.010538-0. Epub 2009 Jul 9. PMID: 19589904.

  28. Kurokawa M, Nagasaka K, Hirabayashi T, Uyama S, Sato H, Kageyama T, Kadota S, Ohyama H, Hozumi T, Namba T, et al. Efficacy of traditional herbal medicines in combination with acyclovir against herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res. 1995 May;27(1-2):19-37. doi: 10.1016/0166-3542(94)00076-k. PMID: 7486956.

  29. Kurokawa M, Hozumi T, Basnet P, Nakano M, Kadota S, Namba T, Kawana T, Shiraki K. Purification and characterization of eugeniin as an anti-herpesvirus compound from Geum japonicum and Syzygium aromaticum. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1998 Feb;284(2):728-35. PMID: 9454821.

  30. Shiraki K, Yukawa T, Kurokawa M, Kageyama S. [Cytomegalovirus infection and its possible treatment with herbal medicines]. Nihon Rinsho. 1998 Jan;56(1):156-60. Japanese. PMID: 9465682.

  31. Chandra Manivannan A, Malaisamy A, Eswaran M, Meyyazhagan A, Arumugam VA, Rengasamy KRR, Balasubramanian B, Liu WC. Evaluation of Clove Phytochemicals as Potential Antiviral Drug Candidates Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: Computational Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, and Pharmacokinetic Profiling. Front Mol Biosci. 2022 Jun 28;9:918101. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.918101. PMID: 35836934; PMCID: PMC9273859.​​​​​

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