Syzygium aromaticum commonly called as clove is an aromatic tree, bearing eugenol-rich essential oil mainly from flower buds that is responsible for numerous biological properties. In this study, clove bud essential oil (CBEO) was extracted from clove buds using hydro-distillation and the chemical composition was analyzed using GC-MS. Along with compositional analysis, CBEO was also studied for its potential using in vitro biological assays for antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-tyrosinase, anti-inflammatory, and cholinesterase inhibition properties. The extracted aromatic CBEO was pale yellow in colour with yield of 0.80% (v/w). The GC-MS analysis revealed eugenol (46.76%) as the major component along with eugenol acetate (26.68%), and caryophyllene (21.84%). The eugenol-rich clove was also assessed for its anti-oxidant (DPPH: IC50= 12.30 µL/mL; ABTS: IC50= 5.00 µL/mL), anti-diabetic (IC50= 4.99 µL/mL), and anti-tyrosinase (IC50= 5.52 µL/mL) properties. Based on the biological activities (anti-inflammatory and cholinesterase inhibition property), eugenol concentration is found to be a significant marker compound for the quality assessment of CBEO. The results concluded from this study will lay emphasis for utilization of eugenol rich CBEO in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Sarma et al. (Wed,) studied this question.