Most of the spices are known to have health protecting and boosting properties and those populations consuming many varieties of spices in their diet derive considerable benefits from these life sustaining food adjuncts. Mediterranean people also eat some spices in their meat preparations and their healthy diet is the subject matter of investigation by the nutritional experts during recent years to get a clue regarding the secrets of their robust health. Of the 5 spices used commonly viz Clove, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary and Sage, it was discovered that Clove was the most effective because of its high antioxidant potential that protects humans from the harmful effects of oxyradicals generated at the cellular levels within the body.
"Using spices eaten in the Mediterranean diet as natural antioxidants is a good way forward as far as health is concerned. Boffins from the Miguel Hernandez University have identified cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) as the best antioxidant spice, due to the fact they contain high levels of phenolic compounds, as well as having other properties. "Out of the five antioxidant properties tested, cloves had the highest capacity to give off hydrogen, reduced lipid peroxidation well, and was the best iron reducer", Juana Fernandez-Lspez, one of the authors of the study and a researcher at the UMH, tells SINC.As a result, the research study published in the latest issue of the Flavour and Fragrance Journal ranks this spice as the best natural antioxidant".
Dry Clove contains about 15-20% of essential oil that can be recovered by steam distillation and presence of many poly phenolic substances including Eugenol confers the antioxidant property to this oil. About 150 ml of Eugenol can be recovered from a Kg of dried cloves. Meat and other fat containing foods are protected from Lipid oxidation by Clove oil and consequent food deterioration, reduced nutritional value and loss of taste are preempted. Spice processing industry produces essential oils from spices, herbs and other aromatic botanics by steam distillation but after distilling out the volatile fraction the residue still contains fixed oils and resins that can be extracted by solvent extraction. While virtues of Clove oil are well established, the utility of its oleoresin is not that well known.
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