An Anesthetic Drug Demonstration and an Introductory Antioxidant Activity Experiment with 'Eugene, the Sleepy Fish'

Students are introduced to spectrophotometry in comparing the antioxidant activity of pure eugenol and oil of cloves from a commercial source using a modified ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The extraction of the essential oil from dried cloves is demonstrated to facilitate discussions on green chemistry. The anesthetic properties of clove oil are also explored by temporarily sedating Eugene, the "sleepy" fish.