plant grown in parts of Asia and South America. People use the oils, dried flower
buds, leaves, and stems to make medicine.
Clove is most commonly applied directly to the gums for toothache, pain control
during dental work, and other dental-related issues. But there is limited scientific
research to support these and other uses.
Clove Uses
Clove has been used for thousands of years in India and China not only as a spice
and condiment but also as a medicine for many ailments:
Clove has been used for tooth decay, halitosis, and bad breath.
In Chinese medicine, clove was considered to possess aphrodisiac properties.
Ground cloves are traditionally applied to minor cuts for healing purposes.
Clove tea is a popular warm beverage to relieve congestion.
Clove oil helps relieve headaches, flatulence, as well as reduce stretch marks.
It is also popularly used as a bug and insect repellant. Just add a few drops to
water and see them vanish!
Nutrition Facts
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, the nutrients found in
cloves include carbohydrates, protein, energy, and dietary fiber. Minerals in
cloves include potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. The vitamins found
in them include vitamin E, folate, and niacin. They also contain phosphorus,
iron, zinc, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin A and K.
How Cloves Protects the Liver?
Studies show that the beneficial compounds in cloves could help promote liver
health.
The compound eugenol may be especially beneficial for the liver.
One animal study fed rats with fatty liver disease mixtures containing either
clove oil or eugenol.
Both mixtures improved liver function, reduced inflammation and decreased
oxidative stress .
Another animal study showed that the eugenol found in cloves helped reverse
signs of liver cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver .
Unfortunately, research on the liver-protecting effects of cloves and eugenol in
humans is limited.
However, one small study found that taking eugenol supplements for one week
decreased levels of GST, an enzyme involved in detoxification that’s often a
marker of liver disease .
Cloves are also high in antioxidants, which may help prevent liver disease due to
their ability to help decrease oxidative stress .
Nevertheless, keep in mind that eugenol is toxic in high amounts. One case study
in a 2-year-old boy showed that 5 to 10 ml of clove oil caused serious liver
damage.
Bioactive Substances in Cloves
According to research conducted by Professor Tom Mabry et al. from the
University of Texas at Austin, certain bioactive compounds isolated from clove
extracts include flavonoids, hexane, methylene chloride, ethanol, thymol,
eugenol, and benzene. These biochemicals have been reported to possess various
properties, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, and anti-
inflammatory properties.
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