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Shveta Sharma et al. / IJDFR volume 2 Issue 6, Nov.-Dec.2011
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Available online at www.ordonearresearchlibrary.org ISSN 2229-5054
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG FORMULATION AND RESEARCH
Therapeutic uses of Elettaria cardomum
Shveta Sharma*1, Jagmohan Sharma2, Gurpreet Kaur1
1. Lala Lajpat Rai College of Pharmacy, Moga
2. B.I.S college of Pharmacy, Gagra( Moga)
Received: 13 Sep. 2011; Revised: 22 Oct. 2011; Accepted: 16 Nov.. 2011; Available online: 5 Dec. 2011
INTRODUCTION
Small cardamom, well known as the ‘queen of spices’, belongs to the family Zingiberaceae , order Scitaminae is a rich
spice obtained from the seeds of a perennial plant, Elettaria cardamomum Maton, locally known as “elaichi”1. It is a
perennial herb, indigenous to India, Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka2. In India it is mainly found in evergreen forests of
Kerala and Karnataka. It is a shade loving plant cultivated at an altitude of 600 to 1200 m above MSL with an annual
rainfall of 1500 to 4000 mm and a temperature range of 10 to 35ºC3. It is one of the highly prized spices of the world and
is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. Cardamom shared about 60% of the total import value of
US$204 million in 2004. World production of cardamom is estimated at 30,000 MT. Currently, the major producer is
Guatemala, recording an average annual production of 18,000– 20,000 MT. India is the second largest producer, with an
average production of 11,000–12,000 MT. Indian cardamom is considered a superior quality in the international markets4.
HARVESTING
The peak period of harvesting is October–November. The average yield of Cardamom is around 150 kg (dry)/ha;
however, record yield of 695 kg/ha (average of 9 crop seasons) was obtained by adopting high production technology
directly in farmers’ plantations5. Just ripened fruits or physiologically ripened are generally harvested. More splitting of
capsules was observed in over-matured capsules6. Percentage of dry recovery was highest (29%) in the fully ripened
capsules followed by the one harvested at physiological maturity (24%) and in immature stage (14%). Capsules may be
washed in water to remove the adhering soil and a treatment with 2% washing soda (alkali) for 10 minutes enables
retention of the green colour and prevents growth of mould.
Review Article
ABSTRACT
Cardamom, popularly known as the “Queen of Spices,” has a checkered history, dating back to the Vedic period (ca. 3000 bc).
Mainly used in the dietary habits of millions around the world, Cardamom use ranges from a simple dietary constituent to that
of immense pharmacological benefits. Various pharmacological activities contributed to cardomum are sedative,
antihypertensive, antibacterial and many more.
Key Words:
Elaichi, cardamum oil
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VARIETIES:
Cardamom generally exists in two major forms “Green or true cardamom” (Elettaria cardamom) and “ Black or Brown
cardamom” ( Amomum subulatum). Amomum mainly consists of 3% of essential oil which is rich in 1,8 cineol. It also
contains traces of limonene, terpinene, terpinyl acetate and Sabinene7. Mysore, Malabar, Ceylon, Vazhukka, Manjarabad,
Bijapur, Kunnielam, Makaraelam, Thara Guatemala and Nanda are some important cultivated types grown in different
parts of Kerala and Karnataka. Among these, Mysore, Malabar and Vazhukka are most popular cultivated which can be
identified on the basis of morphological characterstics8.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Seeds of Elattria cardamom are rich in volatile oil that mainly includes phenolic and flavonoid components. Starch,
protein, waxes and Sterols are other components of the oil.
1. volatile oil is the major component of all the varieties of Elattria cardamom. In the study, volatile oil for the major
varieties (Mysore, Malabar, Vazhukka and Guatemala) have been reported as 7.9, 8.79, 7.9, 8.6 respectively. Table 2.1
shows the major constituents of volatile oil of cardomum seed9.
Table 2.1: Main components of volatile oil present in different varieties of cardamom.
Component
Mysore
Malabar
Vazhukka
Guatemala
-Pinene 0.36
0.07
0.14
0.11
Sabinene
1.32
0.31
0.41
0.55
β -Myrcene
0.85
0.37
0.25
0.53
Limonene
2.23
1.82
1.57
1.92
1,8 cineole
11.76
7.55
7.23
9.29
γ-Terpinene
0.23
0.03
-
0.11
Terpinolene
0.31
0.09
-
0.18
Linalool
0.94
4.53
0.86
5.96
Linalyl acetate
0.33
1.92
0.42
1.63
Terpinen-4-ol
1.51
1.18
1.34
1.53
- Terpineol
5.51
3.69
2.91
4.92
β-Terpineol
0.64
0.2
0.21
0.22
-Terpinyl acetate
64.45
63.32
68.19
61.65
Octyl Acetate
0.06
0.07
0.11
0.11
Nerly Acetate
2.11
1.61
1.75
1.58
Nerolidol
0.88
3.75
1.71
2.17
Geraniol
1.66
2.5
1.52
2.47
Geranial
0.49
0.51
0.54
0.65
Β-caryophyllene
0.12
0.23
0.4
0.14
Cis, trans Farnesol
0.16
0.84
0.14
0.38
Cis, Cis Farnesol
0.17
0.36
0.19
0.21
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Chemical Structures of major constituents of cardamom
1,8- Cineole p-cymene -terpinene
Linalool linalyl acetate terpinen-4-ol
α –terpineol citronellol methyl eugenol
Alpha-pinene
beta-pinene
myrcene
sabinene
alpha-phelandrene
limonene
O
OH
O
O
OH
OH
OH
O
O
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Nerol geraniol
2. Waxes and Sterols: 1H NMR and MS studies revealed that the nonsaponifiable lipid fraction of cardamom consisted
mainly of waxes and sterols. The waxes identified were n-alkanes (C21, C23, C25, C27, C29, C31, and C33) and n-alkenes (C21,
C23, C25, C27, C29, C31, and C33). In the sterol fraction β-sitostenone and γ-sitosterol are newly reported. Phytol and traces
of eugenyl acetate were also identified in cardamom for the first time10.
USES
Cardamom is an ancient spice and has the longest influence in India, its birthplace. The ancient Greeks and Romans also
use it in food, medicines and perfumes1.
Traditional use:
Matsya Purana : a constituent of an antivenom drug.
Ayurveda: seeds are used as abortifacient, alexiteric, aromatic, acrid, sweet, cooling, carminative, cardiac tonic, digestive,
diuretic, expectorant,stimulant, and tonic, beneficial in asthma, bronchitis, strangury, haemorrhoids, renal and vesical
calculi, halitosis, anorexia, dyspepsia, gastropathy and burning sensation.
Siddha : dried fruit, seed and stem-bark are used to prepare drugs cell 'Elam', 'Elarici' .
Unani: preparations used as antidote to poison, astringent, exhilarant and in nausea.
Pharmacological uses
Antibacterial Activity: Ethanolic extract of E. cardamomum possess antibacterial effect at the dose of 512μg/mL11.
Toxicity of the extract was observed at 0.3 mg/g, which showed inflammation in brain, oxidative stress and cells necrosis
in heart. The use of E. cardamomum as spice should not exceed the 0.003 mg/g since at this amount no negative effects
were observed12 .
Gastroprotective Activity: Gastroprotective activity of E. cardamomum was best found in the petroleum ether soluble
extract which inhibited lesions by nearly 100% at 12.5 mg/kg in the aspirin-induced gastric ulcer. Methanolic extract also
possess gastroprotective effect 13.
Blood Pressure Lowering Activity: powdered E. Cardamomum posses antihypertensive activity. At a dose of 3g, it
significantly decreases diastolic pressure. It enhances fibrinolysis and improves antioxidant status, without significantly
altering blood lipids and fibrinogen level in hypertensive patients14. exhibits gut excitatory and inhibitory effects. These
effects are mediated through cholinergic and Ca++ antagonist mechanisms respectively and lowers BP via combination of
both pathways15.
OH
OH
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Anti-inflamatory, Analgesic & Antispasmodic Activity: Seeds of E. cardamomum possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic
and antispasmodic. In Carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema the oil extract of Elettaria cardamomum seeds, in doses of
175 and 280 microliters/kg were found to reduce the inflammation. Analgesic activity was evaluated by p-benzoquinone-
induced writhing method but antispasmodic activity was evaluated in-vitro 16. Studies reveal that antispasmodic action is
produced through muscarinic receptor blockage.
Antioxidant activity: Cardamom oil is effective as an antioxidant and can increase levels of glutathione9, a natural
antioxidant in body. The effect is increased by increasing the content of the oil from 100 to 5000 ppm 17.
Insecticidal Activity: The volatile oil from cardamom acts as a potential grain protectant by killing various life stages of
the stored product insects attacking wheat, e.g. Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus zeamais, via contact and fumigant
action 18.
Haematological and Lipid Peroxidation activities: Aqueous extract of cardamom have lipid peroxidation as well as
activity against platelet aggregation. The inhibitory activity of cardamom extract was studied on human platelets. Platelet
aggregation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet membranes, respectively,
obtained from blood of healthy volunteers. The inhibitory effect was dose dependent with concentrations varying between
0.14 and 0.70 mg and time dependent at IC50 19.
Lipid peroxidation induced by iron – ascorbic acid system in platelet membranes was analysed with malondialdehyde
(MDA) as an index. An increase in concentration of cardamom has decreased the MDA formation significantly.
Skin Disorders : Group of 27 plants including cardamom is used in promoting skin complexion, destroying itching and
pustules1.
Sedative and anticonvulsant Activity: Unmadnashak Ghrita, an ayurvedic formulation which contains Ellatria
cardomum as one of the component possess CNS depressant as well anticonvulsant activity. Unmadnashak Ghrita’ (UG)
is a ayurvedic formulation containing Ferula narthex (6 g), Gardenia gummifera (6 g), Ellataria cardamom (6 g), Bacopa
monneri (6 g), and cow’s ghee (clarified butter fat-76 g) 20.
Cigarette De addiction: It can also be used to ease cigarette addiction. Eating a few seeds of cardamom can safely be
recommended to initially minimize the number of cigarettes being smoked and slowly the smoker may give up the chronic
addiction to chain smoking21.
Toxicology Studies:
Not all, but some of the components of cardamom possess mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.
The following compounds were found to be non-mutagenic in the biological model for 3 strains: TA98, TA100, and
TA1535 :
1-decanol, 1-heptanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, α-ylangene, β-guriunene, cedrol, citronellal, decanal, decyl acetate, dodecyl
acetate, eicosanoic acid, farnesol, farnesyl acetone, geranyl acetone, humulene, octyl acetate, trans-2-cis-6-dodecadienal,
trans-farnesol and undecan-2- one.
The following compounds are found to be non-carcinogenic in the computational
model for Rodent carcinogenicity prediction:
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1-heptanol, 1-hexanol, 2methyl-3-buten-2-ol, 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, α,pdimethylstyrene, α-terpinyl acetate,
carvone oxide, decanal, delta-terpineol, ethyl 2-hydroxyhexanoate, hexanal, nonanal, oct-1-en-3-ol, octanal, p-
dimethylstyrene, phenol, pmenth-8-en-2-ol, terpinyl acetate, tetrahydrolinalool, thymol, trans-2-butenal, trans-dec-2-enal,
trans-nerolidol and trans-oct-2-enal
Only three compounds were found to be non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenic.
These include: 1-heptanol, 1-hexanol, Decanal, Nerolidol 22.
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