Amber Technology's Reference Center

Cloves

http://altmed.creighton.edu/Cloves/Research.htm

Studies in laboratory animals suggest cloves help reduce fevers

Clove and clove oil have been suggested for many other uses, based on tradition or on scientific theories. However, these uses have not been thoroughly studied in humans, and there is limited scientific evidence about safety or effectiveness. Some of these suggested uses are for conditions that are potentially very serious and even life-threatening. You should consult a health care provider before taking clove or clove oil for any unproven use.

Resources

Natural Standard: An organization that produces scientifically based reviews of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM): A division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services dedicated to research

Selected Scientific Studies: Clove

Natural Standard reviewed more than 235 articles to prepare the professional monograph from which this version was created.

Some of the more recent studies are listed below:

• Burt SA, Reinders RD. Antibacterial activity of selected plant essential oils against Escherichia coli O157:H7. Lett Appl Microbiol 2003;36(3):162-167.
• Chami F, Chami N, Bennis S, et al. Evaluation of carvacrol and eugenol as prophylaxis and treatment of vaginal candidiasis in an immunosuppressed rat model. J Antimicrob Chemother 2004;54(5):909-914.
• Choi HK, Jung GW, Moon KH, et al. Clinical study of SS-cream in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation. Urology 2000;55(2):257-261.
• Consolini AE, Sarubbio MG. Pharmacological effects of Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) aqueous crude extract on rat's heart. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;Jun, 81(1):57-63.
• Damiani CE, Rossoni LV, Vassallo DV. Vasorelaxant effects of eugenol on rat thoracic aorta. Vascul Pharmacol 2003;Jan, 40(1):59-66.
• Dragland S, Senoo H, Wake K, et al. Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. J Nutr 2003;May, 133(5):1286-1290.
• Eisen JS, Koren G, Juurlik DN, et al. N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of clove oil-induced fulminant hepatic failure. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2004;42(1):89-92.
• Elshafie AE, Al-Rashdi TA, Al-Bahry SN, Bakheit CS. Fungi and aflatoxins associated with spices in the Sultanate of Oman. Mycopathologia 2002;155(3):155-160.
• Friedman M, Henika PR, Mandrell RE. Bactericidal activities of plant essential oils and some of their isolated constituents against Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica. J Food Prot 2002;Oct, 65(10):1545-1560.
• Grover JK, Rathi SS, Vats V. Amelioration of experimental diabetic neuropathy and gastropathy in rats following oral administration of plant (Eugenia jambolana, Mucuna pruriens and Tinospora cordifolia) extracts. Indian J Exp Biol 2002;Mar, 40(3):273-276.
• Guynot ME, Ramos AJ, Seto L, et al. Antifungal activity of volatile compounds generated by essential oils against fungi commonly causing deterioration of bakery products. J Appl Microbiol 2003;94(5):893-899.
• Huss U, Ringbom T, Perera P, et al. Screening of ubiquitous plant constituents for COX-2 inhibition with a scintillation proximity based assay. J Nat Prod 2002;Nov, 65(11):1517-1521.
• Jadhav BK, Khandelwal KR, Ketkar AR, et al. Formulation and evaluation of mucoadhesive tablets containing eugenol for the treatment of periodontal diseases. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2004;195-203.
• Juglal S, Govinden R, Odhav B. Spice oils for the control of co-occurring mycotoxin-producing fungi. J Food Prot 2002;Apr, 65(4):683-687.
• Kalemba D, Kunicka A. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils. Curr Med Chem 2003;May, 10(10):813-829.
• Kim EH, Kim HK, Ahn YJ. Acaricidal activity of clove bud oil compounds against Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae). J Agric Food Chem 2003;Feb 12, 51(4):885-889.
• Li Y, Xu C, Zhang Q, et al. In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori action of 30 Chinese herbal medicines used to treat ulcer diseases. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;98(3):329-333.
• Pallares DE. Link between clove cigarettes and urticaria? Postgrad Med 1999;106(4):153.
• Sanchez-Perez J, Garcia-Diez A. Occupational allergic contact dermatitis from eugenol, oil of cinnamon and oil of cloves in a physiotherapist. Contact Derm 1999;41(6):346-347.
• Soetiarto F. The relationship between habitual clove cigarette smoking and a specific pattern of dental decay in male bus drivers in Jakarta, Indonesia. Caries Res 1999;33(3):248-250.

http://www.uea.ac.uk/cap/news.htm

Before Easter Fourteen school pupils, members of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth visited the School of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy (CAP) to assess the efficacy of clove oil as an antiseptic.

During the two day course, organised by Karen Crossfield (a teaching fellow in CAP) and coordinated by the UEA NAGTY representative Jeni Smith, participants distilled clove oil from cloves and went on to extract two components of the oil. The antiseptic activity of the extracts were tested using a microbial assay. On the second day of the course the extracts were further investigated using advanced analytical techniques including infrared spectroscopy.

Afterwards the participants said it was a “great opportunity for a more advanced experiment compared to at school”, and a “fantastic course, thank you very much.” They also though it was “Awesome!”. We plan to run similar courses in the future.

http://www.lca-uk.org/lcaforum/viewtopic.php?p=5531&

Help against diabetes and heart disease may be as close as your kitchen cabinets.

Cinnamon and cloves boost insulin function while lowering cholesterol, according to two reports presented Tuesday at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Francisco.

One study reinforced previous research indicating that as little as a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon extract, taken two times a day, can stimulate insulin-like activity while lowering triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose levels by 10 percent to 30 percent.

And this new research found that the same amount of cinnamon may also alleviate inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

The second study revealed that a few grams of cloves per day delivers a similar therapeutic effect.

Either spice might help both pre-diabetic and diabetic patients alike, researchers contended.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Md., found that cinnamon increases levels of three important proteins crucial to promoting normal insulin-signaling processes, a healthy inflammatory response, and efficient glucose transportation throughout the body.

The clove study found that all participants who ingested cloves, regardless of the amount of cloves consumed, showed a drop in glucose, triglycerides and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. Blood levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol were not affected among the clove eaters. Those who did not ingest cloves experienced no changes.

Researchers cautioned, however, that consumers should not simply start dousing their food with cloves and cinnamon. They noted, for example, that cinnamon in powder form is rendered ineffective by contact with saliva, and its lack of solubility in water can result in an unwanted build up of the spice in the body.