Cloves are rich in plant compounds that have been shown to provide powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which is why they are sometimes taken as a dietary supplement. Cloves are most commonly used in cooking and baking, but some people take clove supplements, such as clove extract, clove oil, and ground cloves, in order to promote health. Human research on the effects of clove supplements is limited, but preliminary studies suggest that cloves may offer a few health benefits due to their high levels of beneficial plant compounds.