Ceylon Cloves

Cloves are taken from a plant called Syzygium aromaticum, and they are expensive and essential because of their specific flavor and aroma. Other than that, it is composed of various medicinal benefits. Cloves are inside immature buds which grow in the plant called Syzygium aromaticum. A mature clove tree will grow up to 15-20m in height, and its bark looks like a gray tube. The specialty of the Ceylon clove is that they contain more oil when compared with the other clove varieties.

HISTORY OF CLOVE AND CULTIVATION

Cloves are considered one of the precious spices in the world. Clove is native to the Maluku Islands, which is located in the Indonesian Archipelago. Unfortunately, there are no records related to the clove introduction to Sri Lanka, But Sri Lankan believes the Arabians introduced the cloves. So it made a huge market for the cloves. Cloves were almost expensive and had a big market in Rome. At the very beginning, the Arabians were the responsible traders in preparing the market for the cloves, but the Portuguese took responsibility for them with the time. Therefore Portuguese made necessary steps to import cloves to Europe from the Maluku Islands. Portuguese considered one kilogram of clove worth similar to seven grams of gold.

When it comes to the 17th century, Dutch started to dominate the clove market. After that, cloves were introduced to many other countries, including West Indies and Zanzibar.

SHAPES AND SIZES

Cloves can be found in various forms. The clove is composed of a stem and a bulbous ending. The quality cloves are separated manually, and the best cloves are exported to the global spice market. Cloves are rich in oil, and the oil extracted from the clove is known as eugenol. So eugenol has become a significant ingredient in the perfume industry.

CLOVE CULTIVATION IN SRI LANKA

Cloves are cultivated in Sri Lanka, especially in the tropical climate, and it grows well about 1000m above sea level. The topical region receives around 1750m – 2500m of annual rainfall, which is the most suitable rainfall for the growth of the cloves. The alternation of rain and drought will be ok for the development of the clove plants, but it is difficult for the cloves to tolerate prolonged drought periods. Although the rainfall is favorable, dry periods are preferred for flowering. The mid-country is the region that is famous for the cultivation of cloves in Sri Lanka. But there are no restrictions even the low country is preferred for clove cultivation. There are various varieties and dosage forms of cloves that are imported for different purposes. Srilanka provides around 8% of the total clove needs of the global market. Therefore Sri Lanka is considered a famous export country within the clove market. Usually, Sri Lanka export cloves to India, the USA, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

PRODUCING CLOVE OIL

Clove leaves are used as the primary raw materials n clove oil extraction. Aside from the leaves, stems and buds are also used on some occasions. Clove oil extracted from the buds are significantly colorless, while the extracted oil from the stem is usually yellow. The oil extracted from the stem becomes darker with exposure to the external environment and time. The clove oil is extracted using a method called steam distillation.

USES OF CLOVE AND CLOVE OIL

The buds of the clove plants are used in dries form as whole buds. The powdered cloves/ ground clove is widely used in the preparation of various curries. The general population uses cloves as a flavoring agent, but cloves are seriously utilized in the pharmaceutical industry and perfumes manufacturing. There are instances where the cloves are used during the manufacturing of cigarettes.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CLOVE PRODUCTS

Cloves are rich in various nutrition like fibers, vitamins, and minerals. Cloves are rich in manganese which are essential in maintaining the health of the brain and the bones. So the consumption of cloves helps in maintaining bone and brain health.

Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are very helpful in daily life to prevent the accumulation of free radicals. Free radicals can develop oxidative stress within the body. So this oxidative stress can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. Therefore antioxidants help remove the free radicals.

Have anti-cancer properties.

The research studies show that the extracted ingredients from the cloves can help suppress the tumor cell growth and help in spreading the cancer cells all over the body. The consumption of concentrated clove extracts will help destroy cancer cells. But the longterm use of focused clove extracts may result in liver damage.

Contain antibacterial effects

Cloves can suppress the growth of bacterial colonies. According to the laboratory studies, the scientists found cloves can kill common bacteria like e coli. Therefore the antibacterial properties of the cloves are used to maintain oral health. There are well-known mouth wash and toothpaste products manufactured using cloves, and they desire to have antibacterial effects on the oral cavity.

Improve liver health

Oxidative stress within the liver may damage the liver by altering liver functions. So the liver functions can be maintained intact with the use of cloves. Cloves help prevent fatty liver and cirrhosis. Therefore it is clear that the liver can be protected with the frequent consumption of cloves.

Regulation of blood sugar

Cloves can improve glucose uptake from the blood vessels to the cells. Therefore consuming cloves may help in regulating blood sugar fluctuations. Other than that, the ingredients within cloves may help improve insulin secretion. Adequate insulin secretion may also enhance the regulation of blood glucose levels.

Improve bone health

Poor bone mineralization and reduced density is the main reason behind pathological fractures associated with osteoporosis. Specific ingredients within the cloves may help in preserving bone density. Manganese is an essential mineral that helps in maintaining bone health. As cloves are rich in manganese, they help maintain proper bone density

Heal gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcers are the erosions found within the stomach lining. Specific ingredients within cloves may help in healing such ulcers. Cloves can improve the formation of the gastric mucus layer. The erosion of the mucosal lining is the primary reason for the construction of gastric ulcers.

The Utilization of cloves

Clove oil has been considered an essential oil for many years. Initially, cloves were used as a flavoring agent and as a preservative. But when it comes to the current situation, cloves are widely used within the food and pharmaceutical industries. The shelf life of the cloves may persist up to 12 months when they are stored in a cool, dry place.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Cloves and clove oil are used in the manufacturing of oral health products. So clove has become a common ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwashes. Cloves’ anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties will help oral health products improve their health.

Cloves are used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture dental gels, which are used to treat oral ulcers and periodontitis. Different oil preparations manufactured from cloves are used to treat premature ejaculation.

Usage of cloves

Cloves are famous in the cosmetic industry due to their remarkable effects on skin and hair. Other than that, cloves can improve the fragrance of cosmetic products. Cloves are rich in vitamin c, so it suitable to treat acne. The antibacterial properties of cloves are used to prevent and to prevent the worsening of acne. The other vitamin and mineral composition of cloves may help preserve the skin’s elasticity. As a result, the manufacturing companies used cloves to produce lotions and ointments. The eugenol, which is derived from cloves, contains exfoliating properties. So scrubs and bath bombs are manufactured, including cloves. Eugenol is used in the production of soap as it can exfoliate dead skin cells. The rich aroma of the cloves helps in perfume production.

The analgesic properties of the cloves may help in pain relief. Other than the anesthetic properties, they can provide a mild anesthetic effect. The aroma emitted by the cloves can be used in aromatherapy and is useful in pain relief. Aromatherapy is known to use in treating stress and anxiety. So can be successfully used in treating mood disorders.

Precautions

Cloves can get interact with certain medications. The anticoagulant effect of blood thinners can be improved with the consumption of cloves. So it is important to avoid highly concentrated cloves while ingesting anticoagulants. The interaction of cloves with the blood thinners may cause worse bleeding and can be life-threatening.