CLOVES:

Cloves are the rich, brown, dried, unopened flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, an evergreen tree. They are strong, pungent, and sweet. Cloves spice is used throughout Europe and Asia and is smoked in a type of locally known as kretek in Indonesia. Clove is a native of Indonesia and The Island of Pemba is known as ‘’island of clove’’. Clove spice is also grown in Zanzibar, Indonesia and Madagascar; it is also grown in India, and Sri Lanka. Clove spice contains essential oil upto 15%.Eugenol is the main constituent as essential oil which is phenolic monoterpens and has antiseptic properties. Dried clove leaves yield 2 to 3% of clove leaf oil. It is also rich in eugenol although the content is slightly lower. Clove leaf oil is used in cheaper products.

According to traditional herbalist cloves are said to be a natural antihelmintic. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy when stimulation and warming is needed, especially for digestive problems. In overdoses, cloves can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It is also used in Personal Hygiene products like toothpastes, mouthwash and tooth powders.