Chemical Properties
colourless to pale yellow liquid with a
Physical properties
The oil is clear and mobile. The color usually darkens with age.
Occurrence
Found in the buds of Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. (Fam. Myrtaceae) (Fenarolfs Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1971).
Definition
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Eugenia caryophyllata or Caryophyllus aromaticus, Myrtaceae.
Preparation
By water distillation of the buds of E. caryophyllata Thunb. (Fenarolfs Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1971).
Essential oil composition
Clove bud oil contains 70 to 90% eugenol, 2 to 17% eugenyl acetate, 5 to 12% α- and β-caryophyllene and
traces of caryophyllene epoxide, gallic acid, flavonoids, oleanolic acid, rhamnetin, methyl salicylate, methyl-n-amyl ketone, methyln-
heptyl ketone, methyl-n-amyl carbinol, methyl-n-heptyl carbinol, methyl alchohol, methyl benzoate, furfural, α-methyl furfural,
furfuryl alchohol, vanillin and possibly β-pinene, valeraldehyde, methyl furfuryl alcohol and dimethyl furfural.*
Toxicity evaluation
The acute oral LD50 value in rats was reported as 2*65 g/kg (2.18-3.12 g/kg) (Moreno, 1973). The acute dermal LD50 value in rabbits was reported as approximately 5 g/kg (Moreno, 1973). The acute oral LD50 of clove oil for rats was found to be 372 mg/100-g rat (von Skramlik, 1959). Clove oil was toxic to mice when applied to the skin in two doses 7 days apart (Roe & Field, 1965).
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