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Eugenol / ˈ j uː dʒ ɪ n ɒ l / is an allyl chain-substituted guaiacol, a member of the allylbenzene class of chemical compounds. [2] It is a colorless to pale yellow, aromatic oily liquid extracted from certain essential oils especially from clove , nutmeg , cinnamon , basil and bay leaf .
Oil of clove, also known as clove oil or eugenol, is an essential oil extracted from the clove plant, Syzygium aromaticum. [1] [2] Clove oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and for flavoring food, tea, and toothpaste. [2] [3] In alternative medicine, it may be used as a topical medication to relieve toothache.
The compound eugenol is responsible for most of the characteristic aroma of cloves. Eugenol comprises 72–90% of the essential oil extracted from cloves, and is the compound most responsible for clove aroma. [14] [53] Complete extraction occurs at 80 minutes in pressurized water at 125 °C (257 °F). [54]
The eugenol in clove smoke causes a numbing of the throat which can diminish the gag reflex in users, leading researchers to recommend caution for individuals with respiratory infections. [11] There have also been a few cases of aspiration pneumonia in individuals with normal respiratory tracts possibly because of the diminished gag reflex.
Guaiacol is a precursor to various flavorants, such as eugenol. [15] An estimated 85% of the world's supply of vanillin comes from guaiacol. Because consumers tend to prefer natural vanillin to synthetic vanillin, methods such as microbial fermentation have been adopted.
It is the methyl ether of eugenol and is important to insect behavior and pollination. [2] It is found in various essential oils. Methyl eugenol is found in a number of plants (over 450 species from 80 families including both angiosperm and gymnosperm families) and has a role in attracting pollinators. About 350 plant species have them as a ...
Balsam of Peru. Balsam of Peru [1] or Peru balsam, [2] also known and marketed by many other names, is a balsam derived from a tree known as Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae; it is found in El Salvador, where it is an endemic species.
It can be synthesized from eugenol and has been used in the manufacture of vanillin. It may occur as either the cis (Z) or trans (E) isomer. Trans (E) isoeugenol is crystalline while cis (Z) isoeugenol is a liquid. [6] Isoeugenol is one of several phenolic compounds responsible for the mold-inhibiting effect of smoke on meats and cheeses. [7]