GC-MS Study On The Potentials Of Syzygium aromaticum

Abstract

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum, syn. Euge nia aromaticum or Eugenia caryophyllata) are the aromatic dried flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Cloves are native to Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisines all ove r the world. Eugenol comprises 72-90% of the essential oil extracted from cloves, and is the compound most respon sible for the cloves' aroma. Other important essential oil constituents of clove oil include acetyl eugenol, beta- caryophyllene and vanillin; crategolic acid; tannins, gallotannic acid, methyl salicylate (painkiller); the flavonoids eugenin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and eugenitin; triterpenoids like oleanolic acid, stigmasterol and campesterol; and several sesquiterpenes. Eugenol has pronounced antiseptic and anaesthetic properties. Of the dried buds, 15 - 20 p ercent is essential oils, and the majority of this is eugenol. A kilogram (2.2 lbs) of dried buds yields approximately 15 0 ml (1/4 of pint) of eugenol. Eugenol can be toxic in relatively small quantities, as low as 5 ml. (Hem a R., S. Kumaravel, Sivasubramanian C. GC-MS Study On The Potentials Of Syzygium aromaticum. Researcher. 2010;2(12):1-4). (ISSN: 1553-9865). http://www.sciencepub.net.