Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is prepared from the dried, unopened flower buds of the Clove tree and is used as a spice in cuisine all over the world. In addition to its culinary uses, Clove buds have an abundance of medicinal uses, with both Indian and Chinese traditional medicine systems utilising Clove extensively for over 2,000 years. The distinctive aroma and flavour of Clove is due to the volatile oils, which compose around 15%-20% of the extract. Eugenol, a component of the essential oil of Clove, is considered to be the major bioactive constituent of this phytomedicine and is present in a therapeutically significant amount. Clove and its bioactive constituents have demonstrated many medicinal properties including acaricidal, local analgesic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. Furthermore, due to Clove’s influence as a warming digestive tonic, this phytomedicine is often employed by herbalists as a pungent herb to stimulate the gastrointestinal system (instead of/alongside bitters) in conditions such as constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C).
