Cloves are best known as a sweet and aromatic spice, but they have also been used in traditional medicine.
Synonyms:- Caryophyllum, Clove flower, Clove bud, laung.
Biological Source:- It consist of dried flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllus, (Family Myrtaceae) It should contain not less than 15 % (v/w) of clove oil.
Cultivation and Collection of Clove
Deep rich loamy soil with high humus content is suitable for clove cultivation. It is also found growing favourably in open sandy loam and laterite soil of South Kerala region. Water logging of soil must be avoided. It needs warm humid climate and grows well in the vicinity of sea. The annual rainfall in the range of 150 to 250 cm is another requirement for cultivation of clove. Clove thrives best in the location ranging from sea level upto 900 m. It is propagated by seed germination. The seeds are sown from August to October. The seeds are placed in nursery beds at a distance of 10 cm. It takes from four to five weeks for seed germination. The seedlings of clove are slender and delicate, with poor growing rate. After nine months, they are transplanted to the pots where they are allowed to grow for a year. Thereafter, they are again transferred to the field and are provided with shade in initial stages of growth. Clove can also be grown with arecanut coconut or nutmeg plants. The plants are provided with suitable fertilizers like ammonium sulphate, super phosphate and potash. Generally, fertilizers are given in two doses: first in May/June and second in October The plant starts bearing after 7 to 8 years and satisfactory yield per hectare of drug is achieved only after 15 to 20 years of growth. Under normal conditions of soil, clove tree produces on an average, 3 kg of the drug Cloves are handpicked or collected by beating. with bamboos. This operation commences when cloves start changing their colour from green to slightly pink. When the tree is tall and cloves are beyond reach, platform ladders are used for collection. The cloves are dried in sun and freed from foreign material andgraded. The cloves on drying become perfectly crimson or brownish-black in colour.
Microscopic Character :- In the transverse section, clove shows the following characters. The epidermis of clove is covered with thick cuticle. The epidermis itself consists of straight walled cells and large anomocytic stomata. The oil glands, which are ovoid and schizolysigenous are found in all parts of the drug. Phloem fibres, which are isolated, are occasionally found in the spongy tissue. Cluster crystals of calcium oxalate and small number of stone cells are found in the drug, Clove does not contain starch.
Chemical Constituents:- The drug contains about 15 to 20 % of volatile oil 10 to 13 % of tannin (gallotannic acid), resin, chromone and eugenin. The volatile oil contains eugenol (about 70 to 90% eugenol acetate, methylamylketone caryophyllenes and small quantities of esters and alcohols.
Uses :- Clove is used as a dental analgesic, carminative, stimulant, flavouring agent, an aromatic and antiseptic. Exhausted cloves are used in preparation of cigarettes. The oil is used in perfumery and also in manufacture of vanillin.
Clove oil for dry skin is a great natural remedy. The best way to take advantage of this treatment is to get the oil in liquid form and spread it on your skin with a clean rag.Clove bud oil is often used as the active ingredient to soothe the itching and burning typically associated with coming in contact with poison oak or poison ivy.
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