Cold pressed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil

The flowering buds of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry. (synonym: Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.; family: Myrtaceae), commonly known as clove, are widely used as a spice all over the world for the strong aromatic smell. Clove oil is a popular remedy for toothache due to its potent antiseptic and analgesic activity. It also has strong antioxidant and antiviral activities. Eugenol is the main component of clove oil. The lipid profiles, the contents of tocols, and total phenolics in cold pressed clove oil are well documented. Cold pressed clove oil was reported to possess stronger radical scavenging and antimicrobial activity compared to virgin oil. Similarly, the cold pressed clove oil was also reported to possess hepatoprotective activity in experimental animals along with other biological activities. This chapter covers the chemical and biological properties of cold pressed clove oil. Future studies should focus on the comparison of the activities of cold pressed oil with other oils using advanced methods, and the relationship between their activity and the chemical composition should be studied in detail.