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Clove

Clove is the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, and its main active compound, eugenol, numbs tissue and disrupts microbes. People mostly look at it for dental pain, and the evidence is moderate: small trials found a clove gel eased needle-stick pain in the mouth about as well as a common numbing gel. Most other claims, such as germ-killing or blood sugar effects, come from lab and animal work.

Sources: PMID 16621751

Best evidence
Grade B
Conditions studied
3
Outcomes
9
Graded outcomes
0126

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

3 conditions, plus general outcomes

General

General: outcomes studied for Clove
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Dental Pain Relief

Eugenol from clove oil is FDA-approved as a dental analgesic for temporary toothache relief. Limited RCTs suggest topical clove gel has efficacy comparable to benzocaine 20% when applied to oral mucosa prior to needle insertion. Widely used in dental procedures as a component of zinc oxide-eugenol cements.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect4 studies200 people

Studies that measured dental pain relief

Antimicrobial Activity

Extensive in vitro studies demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of clove oil and eugenol against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (including MDR A. baumannii and ESBL-producing strains), fungi (Candida, Fusarium), and oral pathogens. Mechanistic reviews attribute activity to eugenol-mediated membrane disruption and protein denaturation. No human clinical trials for systemic antimicrobial effects.

Changes; see studiesModerate effect15 studies

Studies that measured antimicrobial activity

and 5 more in the citations list

Anti-inflammatory Effects

In vitro studies show eugenol at noncytotoxic concentrations inhibits COX-2 and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) by murine macrophages. An in vivo animal study found clove essential oil nanogels produced significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects comparable to diclofenac. No human clinical trials for systemic anti-inflammatory use.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect7 studies

Studies that measured anti-inflammatory effects

Anticancer Properties

In vitro studies demonstrate cytotoxic effects of clove extracts and eugenol against multiple cancer cell lines of various anatomical origins. Clove oil triggered apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in colon cancer (Caco-2) cells. A review of eugenol's anticancer mechanisms highlights induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, and anti-angiogenic effects. No human clinical trials.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect6 studies

Studies that measured anticancer properties

Immunomodulatory Effects

In vitro studies show clove essential oil and constituents modulate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, affecting lymphocyte subtype expansion, cytokine profiles, and macrophage activation. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts demonstrate dose-dependent immunomodulatory activity. No human clinical trials.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect5 studies

Studies that measured immunomodulatory effects

Blood Sugar Regulation

Animal studies and small preliminary human observations suggest clove may help regulate blood glucose levels, potentially by enhancing insulin function or slowing carbohydrate digestion. Evidence remains preliminary with no well-powered human RCTs published.

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect2 studies

Antioxidant Status

Antioxidant Status: outcomes studied for Clove
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Antioxidant Capacity

In vitro studies consistently show clove has exceptionally high antioxidant capacity among spices. Eugenol, gallic acid, and flavonoids contribute to radical scavenging activity confirmed across cold-pressed oil, essential oil, and aqueous extract preparations. Systemic bioavailability and clinical relevance in humans remain unestablished.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect7 studies

Studies that measured antioxidant capacity

Cardiovascular Health

  • Antiplatelet Activity: changes; see studies
Cardiovascular Health: outcomes studied for Clove
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Antiplatelet Activity

A single study identified antiplatelet principles from clove, showing eugenol and related compounds inhibit thromboxane synthesis and platelet aggregation via prostaglandin pathway modulation. No human clinical trials evaluating cardiovascular or anticoagulant effects.

Changes; see studiesSmall effect5 studies

Studies that measured antiplatelet activity

Bone Health

  • Bone Preservation: improves
Bone Health: outcomes studied for Clove
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Bone Preservation

A single preclinical study found clove extract rich in eugenol and eugenol derivatives showed bone-preserving efficacy in an animal model of bone loss. The mechanism may involve antioxidant and anti-resorptive properties. No human clinical trials.

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect2 studies

Studies that measured bone preservation

Key findings

  • Dental Pain ReliefImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Antimicrobial ActivityChanges; see studies
  • Anti-inflammatory EffectsChanges; see studies

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Third-party tested Clove products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

  • Grade B

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Studies cited

30 studies from PubMed

  1. Antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry essential oil with identification of its chemical constituents.Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2023 · PMID 35599246
  2. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of Cinnamon and Clove essential oils nanogels: an in vivo study.BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2022 · PMID 35596157
  3. Antioxidant-rich Clove Extract, A Strong Antimicrobial Agent against Urinary Tract Infections-causing Bacteria in vitro.Tropical Life Sciences Research, 2021 · PMID 34367514
  4. Antibacterial activity of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmannii) essential oil against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria.Veterinary World, 2021 · PMID 34566340
  5. Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health.Molecules, 2021 · PMID 34770801
  6. Anticancer Properties of Eugenol: A Review.Molecules, 2021 · PMID 34885992
  7. Yield, Quality, and Antioxidant Activity of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) Bud Oil at the Different Phenological Stages in Young and Mature Trees.Scientifica, 2020 · PMID 32566363
  8. Syzygium aromaticum (clove) and Thymus zygis (thyme) essential oils increase susceptibility to colistin in the nosocomial pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2020 · PMID 32795924
  9. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of unencapsulated and encapsulated clove (Syzygium aromaticum, L.) essential oil.Food Chemistry, 2019 · PMID 30409582
  10. Triggering of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by fennel and clove oils in Caco-2 cells: the role of combination.Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 2019 · PMID 31364915
  11. Antifungal activities of selected essential oils against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici 1322, with emphasis on Syzygium aromaticum essential oil.Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 2017 · PMID 27876218
  12. Antimicrobial activity of eugenol and essential oils containing eugenol: A mechanistic viewpoint.Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 2017 · PMID 28346030
  13. Bactericidal activity of herbal volatile oil extracts against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology, 2017 · PMID 28512603
  14. Antimicrobial and Virulence-Modulating Effects of Clove Essential Oil on the Foodborne Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni.Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2016 · PMID 27520816
  15. Immunomodulatory effects of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) constituents on macrophages: in vitro evaluations of aqueous and ethanolic components.Journal of Immunotoxicology, 2015 · PMID 24873744
  16. Chemical composition and biological activities of cloveAsian Pac J Trop Biomed, 2014 · PMID 24917491
  17. Anti-cholinesterase activity of the standardized extract of Syzygium aromaticum L.Pharmacognosy Magazine, 2014 · PMID 24991103
  18. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) ingredients affect lymphocyte subtypes expansion and cytokine profile responses: An in vitro evaluation.Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2014 · PMID 28911459
  19. Bioactive lipids, radical scavenging potential, and antimicrobial properties of cold pressed clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil.Journal of Medicinal Food, 2013 · PMID 24180551
  20. Clove (Syzygium aromaticum Linn) extract rich in eugenol and eugenol derivatives shows bone-preserving efficacy.Natural Product Research, 2012 · PMID 21711176
  21. Clove and eugenol in noncytotoxic concentrations exert immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory action on cytokine production by murine macrophages.The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2012 · PMID 22420667
  22. Comparative anticancer potential of clove (Syzygium aromaticum)--an Indian spice--against cancer cell lines of various anatomical origin.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2011 · PMID 22292639
  23. Immunomodulatory activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Salvia officinalis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oils: evidence for humor- and cell-mediated responses.The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2009 · PMID 19589240
  24. Eugenol: a review of biological properties and potential usesPhytother Res, 2007 · PMID 17380552
  25. Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oils alone and in combination.Phytotherapy Research, 2007 · PMID 17562569
  26. Antioxidant activity of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and its componentsFlavour Fragrance J, 2006 · PMID 22253541
  27. Efficacy of clove oil gel for needle stick painJ Dent, 2006 · PMID 16621751
  28. Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oilsJ Food Sci, 2006 · PMID 22309962
  29. Cytotoxicity of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oil and its major components to human skin cells.Cell Proliferation, 2006 · PMID 16872360
  30. Antiplatelet principles from a food spice clove (Syzygium aromaticum L) [corrected].Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 1993 · PMID 8321872