Abstract
Clove seeds are the aromatic dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum
L. belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Pharmacologically, clove seeds have been
found to possess antimicrobial activities, anti-inflammatory properties,
anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities, anti-platelets properties and
anaesthetic properties. Phytochemically, clove seed extract contains volatile
and non-volatile liquids. The volatile oil is majorly eugenol, eugenyl acetate
and beta-caryophyllene. It also consists of tannins, sterols, tri-terpenes and
flavonoids as bioactive constituents.
Traditionally, the uses of clove bud seed as aphrodisiac are mainly
preparations from the hydro-maceration and decoction of the clove seed at some
temperature higher than that of a room temperature for some hours. This
research title aims at exploring the available scientific evidence on the use
of hydro-maceration and decoction of clove seed as an aphrodisiac, evaluate the
published research articles on the topic and provide recommendations on the
speculation of using clove seed to enhance male sexual performance.
A structured literature review was conducted using relevant databases
such as PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. This review has shown that there are
scientific justifications for the use of clove seed aqueous extract
(hydro-maceration and decoction) in enhancing sexual performance in men.
1. Introduction
There has been a growing interest in sexual health in the recent time, especially in the management of erectile dysfunction. Sexual health and sexual satisfaction are said to be integral components of health and well-being. 1Documented the positive connection between sexual relationships with life satisfaction and happiness. Erectile dysfunction is an inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for mutually satisfactory intercourse with a partner2. This condition, which has serious medical and social symptoms that occur in men, has shifted the positive relationships between sexual relationships and happiness. This has necessitated the use of substances including orthodox and herbal preparations to improve sexual prowess in favour of this relationship. Increasing sexual behaviour may improve relationships and self-esteem in humans3. The term “Aphrodisiac” is coined from the Greek work “Aphrodite,” which is the Greek goddess of love4. 3Defined an Aphrodisiac as an agent (food or drug) that arouses sexual desire.
The use of plants in the management of sexual dysfunction has gained global recognition and its use in erectile dysfunction is increasing on a daily basis2. Many natural resources have been employed historically across Africa and Europe as Aphrodisiacs3. Many plants have been used for Aphrodisiacs by man from time immemorial. Some of these plants have been investigated and recorded for their Aphrodisiac properties. 5Documented that the Aphrodisiac activities of plants may be as the result of the bioactive compounds present in them.
Clove seeds are the aromatic dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum L. belonging to the family Myrtaceae6. Pharmacologically, it has been found to possess antimicrobial activities, anti-inflammatory properties, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, antiplatelets properties and anaesthetic properties6,7. Phytochemically, clove seed extract contains volatile and non-volatile liquids. The volatile oil is majorly eugenol, eugenyl acetate and beta-carophyllene. It also consists of tannins, sterols, tri-terpenes and flavonoids as bioactive constituents8,9.Much research has been conducted on clove, its phytochemicals and its pharmacological activities on biological systems, including its Aphrodisiac effect. These investigations majorly employ the use of hydro-ethanolic, methanolic and other related organic solvents. However, the use of clove bud seed as aphrodisiac are mainly preparations from the hydro-maceration and decoction of the clove seed at some temperature higher than that of a room temperature for some hours. This research reviews literature, which has been conducted on clove seed to make inferences on the use of hydro-maceration and decoction as an aphrodisiac agent.
2. Methodology
A structured literature review was conducted using relevant databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. During the review, keywords such as “clove seed”, “hydro-maceration”, “decoction”, “aphrodisiac” and “male sexual performance” were used to search for relevant articles. The selected articles were then organised and evaluated using a thematic analysis approach.
2.1. Articles inclusion criteria
Published research articles in English, focusing on the use of clove seed as an aphrodisiac and available in full-text with relevant citations and mostly current publication issues. Exclusion criteria include articles not focusing on clove seed, not available in full-text or published in languages other than English.
3. Result/Discussion
Maceration is one of the traditional and most straightforward extraction procedures used in the extraction of cloves10. One of the commonest methods of extracting volatile oil from plant materials is hydro-distillation11. Both decoction as a conventional extraction method and hydro-distillation method use water as solvent12. These methods are suitable for thermostable bioactive compounds presented in the plant materials.
When clove seeds are hydro-macerated and decocted in closed vessels, the volatile oils components of this plant material condensed and fall back into the mixture when the temperature of the mixture cools down. Batiha, et al, documented that eugenol possesses a reversible13, dose-dependent vasodilating property, which leads to increased blood circulation. Pavithra, recorded that the topical application of eugenol to the male genital inhibits premature ejaculation14. Anifowose, et al, reviewed the effectiveness of eugenol in preventing premature ejaculation15. Olounabadi ARS, et al, investigated the efficacy of a topical formulation of clove oil in premature ejaculation patients and the result shows that the use of clove gel significantly improved premature ejaculation16.
The phytochemical screening of hydro-maceration extracts of cloves confirms the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponin, flavonoid, phenol, glycosides and terpenoids17. Lone and Jain conducted a phytochemical analysis of clove dried flower buds extract and its therapeutic importance. The result of this analysis indicates the presence of alkaloids, tannins and sterols in the aqueous extract18. Adaramola & Onigbinde, carried out research that demonstrated the effect of extraction solvents on phenolic content, flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity of clove buds19. The outcome confirms the presence of phenols and flavonoids with the percentage yield of 15.1 +/- 0.32.
Yanuarty, et al, investigated the aphrodisiac activity of clove leaves and concluded that the presence of steroidal compounds could be responsible for their aphrodisiac activity20. These compounds though are insoluble in water except at high degree of temperature21,22.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
This review has shown that there are scientific justifications for the use of clove seed aqueous extract (hydro-maceration and decoction) in enhancing sexual performance in men. Although the effect produced from these extraction methods as commonly employed by individuals may not give the highest effect of clove seed extract on sexual performance. The available evidence pointed at eugenol (a volatile oil component) as the most important bioactive chemical responsible for this effect. As it has been shown that volatile oil from clove seed have pronounced effect as aphrodisiac, it is therefore recommended that the aqueous extraction of clove seed for sexual activities should be done in closed vessels rather than opened ones. If done in an enclosed medium, the volatile oil condenses and falls back into the aqueous extract, thereby retaining the volatile components of the plant extracts in the extraction medium.
It is therefore recommended that more work should be done in this area while using water as the extraction solvent.
5. Declarations
5.1. Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not Applicable.
5.2. Consent for publication
Not applicable.
5.3. Availability of data materials
This is a review and the materials used (publications) are duly referenced and hyperlinked.
5.4. Competing interests
The Author declares that there are no competing interests.
5.5. Funding
This review did not receive any financial funding directly or indirectly.
5.6. Author’s contributions
All components of this review were carried out by one author; the corresponding author.
5.7. Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
6. References