Clove and Cancer

Researched and written by Keith Bishop, Clinical Nutritionist, Cancer Coach, and Retired Pharmacist.

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum. They are commonly used as a cooking spice and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Anticancer Ingredients in Cloves

Cloves contain several bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties, including:

• Eugenol: Known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects[i]
• Oleanolic Acid: Demonstrated anticancer activity in studies.
• Flavonoids: Such as kaempferol and eugenitin.

The anticancer effects of eugenol from the clove are accomplished by various mechanisms, such as inducing cell death, cell cycle arrest, migration inhibition, metastasis, and angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth to tumors) on several cancer cell lines.[ii]

Cancers Studied

Laboratory and animal research has explored the effects of cloves on various cancers, including:

• Breast cancer[iii]
• Cervical cancer
• Colon cancer[iv]
• Colorectal cancer[v]
• Glioblastoma[vi] (Eugenol does cross the blood-brain barrier)
• Liver cancer
• Lung cancer[vii]
• Oral cancer[viii]
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer

Human Studies

While most studies on cloves' anticancer effects have been conducted in vitro (in the laboratory) or on animals, some human studies suggest promising results. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Impact on Hormone-Related Cancers

Cloves have shown potential in inhibiting the growth of hormone-related cancers, such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. Eugenol may reduce hormone pathways.

Clove Eugenol and Chemotherapy

Eugenol, the active compound in clove, has been studied for its potential to enhance chemotherapy effectiveness. Research suggests that eugenol may help increase cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, promoting apoptosis (cell death) and reducing drug resistance. Additionally, its antioxidant properties may help protect healthy cells from chemotherapy-induced oxidative stress.[ix]

Key Findings:

• Eugenol may synergize with chemotherapy, improving treatment outcomes.
• It has been shown to reduce drug resistance.
• Its anti-inflammatory effects may help decrease chemotherapy side effects.

Risks of Consuming Cloves

No specific evidence directly links excessive clove consumption to an increased risk of particular cancers. Still, it is always advisable to consume cloves in moderation and consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

How to Consume Cloves

Clove buds and oil are potent. Three cloves or two drops of clove oil per day appear safe. While promising, more clinical studies are needed. Always consult a healthcare professional before incorporating clove or eugenol into your treatment plan.

Cloves can be consumed in various forms:

• Clove Buds: Used in cooking or brewed as tea.
• Powdered Cloves: Added to recipes or smoothies.

I will add 3 cloves to my first cup of coffee each morning and reuse the cloves in 2 subsequent cups of hot brewed green tea, matcha, or coffee. After the third cup I often will put the clove in my mouth to check the flavor. I may leave these now weak cloves in my mouth for a while to obtain all the beneficial ingredients. 

To limit chemical exposure I prefer organic sources from local health food stores and Amazon. 

Reference Sources

[i] Zari, A. T., Zari, T. A., & Hakeem, K. R. (2021). Anticancer Properties of Eugenol: A Review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(23), 7407.

[ii] Zari AT, Zari TA, Hakeem KR. Anticancer Properties of Eugenol: A Review. Molecules. 2021;26(23):7407. Published 2021 Dec 6. doi:10.3390/molecules26237407 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332222007739?via%3Dihub https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8659182/   

[iii] Rampogu, S., Al-antari, M.A., Oh, T.H. et al. A review of six bioactive compounds from preclinical studies as potential breast cancer inhibitors. Mol Biol Rep 52, 203 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-025-10300-0

[iv] Esmeeta A, Adhikary S, Dharshnaa V, et al. Plant-derived bioactive compounds in colon cancer treatment: An updated review. Biomed Pharmacother. 2022;153:113384. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113384

[v] M. Liu, G. Zhao, D. Zhang, W. An, H. Lai, X. Li, S. Cao, X. Lin

Active fraction of clove induces apoptosis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated autophagy in human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells Int. J. Oncol., 53 (3) (2018), pp. 1363-1373

[vi] Spigarelli R, Spisni E, Magalhães M, Cabral C, Gonçalves AC, Saracino IM, Botti G, Dalpiaz A, Beggiato S, Valerii MC. Clove Essential Oil as a Source of Antitumoral Compounds Capable of Crossing the Blood–Brain Barrier: A Focus on the Effects of β-Caryophyllene and Eugenol in a Glioblastoma Cell Line. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(1):238. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010238

[vii] Sarmistha Banerjee, Chinmay Kr. Panda, Sukta Das, Clove ( Syzygium aromaticum L.), a potential chemopreventive agent for lung cancer , Carcinogenesis, Volume 27, Issue 8, August 2006, Pages 1645–1654, https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgi372

[viii] Issa H, Loubaki L, Al Amri A, et al. Eugenol as a potential adjuvant therapy for gingival squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):10958. Published 2024 May 13. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-60754-8 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11091204/

[ix] Rampogu S, Al-Antari MA, Oh TH, Shaik B. A review of six bioactive compounds from preclinical studies as potential breast cancer inhibitors. Mol Biol Rep. 2025;52(1):203. Published 2025 Feb 5. doi:10.1007/s11033-025-10300-0 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-025-10300-0