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STUDIES AVAILABLE OF CARDAMOM
Sources :- http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov
Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, Unilever Research India, 64, Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560066, India.
The effect of a tea fortified with five herbs selected from Indian traditional medicine (Ayurveda) for their putative immunoenhancing effect (Withania somnifera, Glycyrrhzia glabra, Zingiber officinale, Ocimum sanctum and Elettaria cardamomum) on innate immunity was investigated. Ex vivo natural killer (NK) cell activity was assessed after consumption of fortified tea compared with regular tea in two independent double-blind intervention studies. Both studies were conducted in India with healthy volunteers (age >/= 55 years) selected for a relatively low baseline NK cell activity and a history of recurrent coughs and colds. In a pilot study conducted with 32 volunteers, the consumption of Natural Care tea significantly improved the NK cell activity of the volunteers in comparison with a population consuming regular tea. These results were validated in an independent crossover study with 110 volunteers. Data from these two studies indicate that regular consumption of the tea fortified with Ayurvedic herbs enhanced NK cell activity, which is an important aspect of the (early) innate immune response to infections. Copyright (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 19504465 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing. guojun1126@sina.com
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ziyin Tongbi Decoction (ZTD) in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Adopting randomized positive controlled clinical trial method, the 100 BPH patients were assigned to two groups equally. The treatment group was medicated with ZTD, one dose per day, consisting of wild weed 12 g, yellow cocktree bark 12 g, rehmannia root 10 g, Chinese yam 15 g, bitter cardamon 10 g, red sage root 10 g, burreed tuber 8 g, tumeric rhizome 8 g, mantis egg-case 8 g, ground beetle 8 g, Zhejiang fritillary bulb 10 g, and prunella spike 15 g, etc., by decocting with water, taking twice daily and 150 mL each time. The control group was treated by Longbishu Capsule, a product of Kedi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., consisting of psoralea fruit, motherwort, and lysimachia, etc., twice a day, 0.9 g each time. A course of 4 weeks was given to both groups. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by changes in TCM symptoms after treatment (including frequency of night urination, degree of dysuria, condition of urinary thread, soreness and weakness in loin and knees, lower abdominal distention, spiritless and general weakness), the International Prostate Syndrome Score (I-PSS), maximum flow rate (Qmax), residual urine volume and prostate volume. RESULTS: The TCM symptoms were improved in the treatment group after treatment, showing significant as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05); as compared with the control group, the difference in urinary thread and lower abdominal distention in treatment group was significant improved (P < 0.05). The total effective rate in the treatment group was 89.00% (43/48), while that in the control group was 73.46% (36/49), showing statistically significant difference between them (P < 0.01). The efficacy in the treatment group in aspect of improving I-PSS and Qmax was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The residual urine volume was reduced in both group, as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), but showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). No obvious change of the prostate volume was found in both two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). There are 4 patients in the treatment group and 5 in the control group complained of slight adverse reactions as gastric discomfort and dry mouth, but these were not attended and showed no affection on the treatment. CONCLUSION: ZTD is effective and safe for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
PMID: 19317162 [PubMed - in process]
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, 659 5th 'A' Main, Hebbal, Bangalore 560024, India.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Elettaria cardamomum, a highly priced spice, is native to the Western Ghats of South India. Wild populations still occur in isolated patches in their natural habitats; however, much of today's commercial product comes from cultivated sources. There is no information on domestication-related traits of this species; the main objective of this study was to compare wild and cultivated populations of cardamom in terms of vegetative and reproductive features in order to identify domestication syndromes and to examine whether the two populations have developed reproductive barriers. METHODS: Two wild populations and five cultivated plantations were used for the present study. Vegetative and floral traits, flowering phenology, pollination biology and breeding systems of wild and cultivated populations were compared. Effective pollinators amongst floral visitors were identified by confirming pollen transfer as well as by fruit set following their visit to virgin flowers. Manual pollinations were carried out in order to study the breeding systems of the two populations and reproductive barriers, if any, between them. KEY RESULTS: Several productive traits including the number of branches, number of inflorescences, and total number of flowers per clump, number of flowers that open each day, the duration of flowering, the length of the flower and the amount of nectar per flower are significantly greater in cultivated cardamom. The principal pollinators in wild cardamom are solitary bees, Megachile sp. and two species of Amegilla, whereas those in cultivated cardamom are the social bees Apis dorsata, A. cerana and Trigona iridipennis. Both the wild and cultivated populations are self-compatible and there are no reproductive barriers between the two populations. CONCLUSIONS: Domestication in cardamom has brought about significant changes in vegetative and reproductive traits and a shift in effective pollinators from native solitary bees to social bees. The shift in pollinators seems to be due to the availability of a large number of flowers for prolonged periods in cultivated cardamom that can attract and sustain social bees, rather than due to co-evolution of the flower and the pollinator.
PMID: 19126635 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
School of Biochemistry, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Food constituents are the major source of various phytochemicals and micronutrients. The importance of these dietary constituents has been stressed in recent years due to their antioxidant and anticarcinogenic potential. Spices used in Indian foods such as cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), mace (aril of Myristica fragans), and greater cardamom (Amomum subulatum) were tested for their antioxidant properties in vitro. The metal chelating activity, bleomycin dependent DNA oxidation, diphenyl-p-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the ferric reducing /antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured in rat liver homogenate in presence of spices. Metal chelating activity was significantly high with all the spice extracts except mace. The spices due to higher reducing potential (in presence of bleomycin-FeCl_{3}) showed increased DNA oxidation. Cloves showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, followed by licorice, mace and cardamom. FRAP values for cloves were also the highest, while other spices showed comparatively lesser FRAP values. The results show that the spices tested are strong antioxidants and may have beneficial effects on human health.
PMID: 18997285 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Field Research Laboratory, Defence Research
and Development Organisation Leh-Ladakh, J&K, India. ballabhbb@yahoo.co.in
AIM OF THE STUDY: Traditional medicine of clod desert Ladakh has large potential to treat various ailments among tribal communities inhabited in the remotest region of Indian subcontinent. This study was conducted to document the new ethno-medico-botanical information and traditional use of medicinal plants against kidney and urinary disorders, and thus to conserve the rapidly disappearing traditional knowledge system of Amchis of Ladakh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information was collected from 105 villages of Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region by involving 47 Amchis (the herbalists), village heads and old aged persons including women population through on spot interview and repeated queries among other interviewees over a period of 3 years from 2004-2006. RESULTS: The use of 68 medicinal plants belonging to 29 families and 58 genera of clod desert was documented against the treatment of kidney and urinary disorders in the tribal communities of Ladakh region in India. These species were used in combination of some exotic species such as Bergenia ligulata, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Crocus sativus, Elettaria cardamomum, Emblica officinalis, Ficus religiosa, Mangifera indica, Punica granatum, Santalum album, Spondiax axillaris, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula, Zingiber officinale and some medicinal stones, minerals and salts etc. Problem in urine discharge, burning sensation and painful urination, inflammation and bleeding in the kidney, irritable condition of bladder, haemorrhage of kidney and removal of blocked urine and kidney stone were the frequently reported disorders in the study area. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of traditional system of medicine, role of Amchis in preparation of remedies according to age, sex and severity of ailment, method of preparation, doses and its administrations among tribal communities of Ladakh provides certain new information. Though the system is extensively used among the tribal communities in the remotest regions but still it has a great scope of proper phytochemical and pharmacological validation of the medicinal plants used in different remedies for conservation and development of traditional system of medicine according to modernization.
PMID: 18550306 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dept of Cancer Chemoprevention, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India.
Globally, colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer in men since 1975.The present study focuses on the preventive strategies aimed at reducing the incidences and mortality of large bowel cancer. Chemoprevention of colon cancer appears to be a very realistic possibility because various intermediate stages have been identified preceding the development of malignant colonic tumors. Several studies have demonstrated that generous consumption of vegetables reduces the risk of colon cancer. This idea has prompted the present investigation to search for some novel plant products, which may have possible anticarcinogenic activity. It has already been proved from various experiments that chemopreventive agents, by virtue of their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, apoptosis-inducing activity, act at various levels including molecular, cellular, tissue and organ levels to interfere with carcinogens. Previous studies from our laboratory have already reported the inhibitory effect of cinnamon and cardamom on azoxymethane induced colon carcinogenesis by virtue of their anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activity. This particular experiment was carried out to assess the anti-oxidative potential of these spices. Aqueous suspensions of cinnamon and cardamom have been shown to enhance the level of detoxifying enzyme (GST activity) with simultaneous decrease in lipid peroxidation levels in the treatment groups when compared to that of the carcinogen control group.
PMID: 18260732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Cardamom Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Pampadumpara 685 556, Dist. Idukki, India. entojoe2003@yahoo.co.in
An elastase-like chymotrypsin was purified by aprotinin-agarose affinity chromatography from the midgut extract of cardamom shoot and capsule borer, Conogethes punctiferalis. The purified enzyme had a Vmax of 687.6 +/- 22.1 nmole pNA released/min/mg protein, Km of 0.168 +/- 0.012 mM with SAAPLpNA as substrate and gave a single band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass of 72.1 kDa. Casein zymogram revealed one clear zone of proteolytic activity, which corresponded to the band obtained with SDS-PAGE indicating that this could be a single-polypeptide enzyme.
PMID: 18072546 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu <anwar.gilani@aku.edu>
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: To rationalize cardamom use in constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension and as diuretic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cardamom crude extract (Ec.Cr) was studied using in vitro and in vivo techniques. RESULTS: Ec.Cr caused atropine-sensitive stimulatory effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum at 3-10mg/ml. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Ec.Cr relaxed spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions as well as shifted Ca++ curves to right, like verapamil. Ec.Cr (3-100mg/kg) induced fall in the arterial blood pressure (BP) of anaesthetized rats, partially blocked in atropinized animals. In endothelium-intact rat aorta, Ec.Cr relaxed phenylephrine (1 microM)-induced contractions, partially antagonized by atropine and also inhibited K+ (80 mM) contractions. In guinea-pig atria, Ec.Cr exhibited a cardio-depressant effect. Ec.Cr (1-10mg/kg) produced diuresis in rats, accompanied by a saluretic effect. It enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice. Bio-assay directed fractionation revealed the separation of spasmogenic and spasmolytic components in the aqueous and organic fractions respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that cardamom exhibits gut excitatory and inhibitory effects mediated through cholinergic and Ca++ antagonist mechanisms respectively and lowers BP via combination of both pathways. The diuretic and sedative effects may offer added value in its use in hypertension and epilepsy.
PMID: 18037596 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Firmenich SA, Corporate R&D Division, Geneva, Switzerland. christian.starkenmann@firmenich.com
Natural plant extracts containing taste modifier compounds will gain more commercial interest in the future. Black cardamom, Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemarié, used as a spice in Asia, produces a nice refreshing effect in the mouth. Therefore, an ethyl acetate extract was prepared, and constituents were separated by liquid chromatography. Guided by the tasting of each fraction (LC tasting), a new pungent compound was discovered, (+/-)-trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde. To confirm this new structure, a synthesis was performed starting from cyclopentene-1-carbaldehyde. The Wittig conditions were determined to control the stereochemistry of the ring fusion to prepare (+/-)-trans-(2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1 H-inden-4-yl) methanol and (+/-)-cis-(2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-inden-4-yl) methanol. After oxidation, (+/-)-trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde and (+/-)-cis-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde were tasted in water and only the trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde, present in black cardamom, produced a trigeminal effect in the mouth.
PMID: 18020415 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
High fructose feeding in normal rats induces insulin resistance and also facilitates oxidative damage. The present study examines the effects of a spices mixture (SM) on oxidative stress markers and antioxidant potential in tissues of high fructose-fed insulin-resistant rats. Male Wistar rats received a semisynthetic diet containing either 60% fructose or 60% starch. SM administration at three different doses (10, 30, and 50 mg/day per rat) was initiated orally 15 days later and continued for the next 30 days. After the total experimental period of 45 days, peroxidation of lipids and antioxidant status in liver and kidney were quantified. Fructose-treated rats showed increased levels of peroxidation indices such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides in tissues. The condition was associated with an inadequate antioxidant system. Administration of SM along with fructose diet reduced the levels of peroxidation markers in tissues and improved the antioxidant status. The positive effect of SM on the oxidant-antioxidant balance could be attributed to the active constituents of the different spices present in the mixture.
PMID: 17472479 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
The dose effects of pectic polysaccharide-rich extract from the food spice cardamom (Amomum villosum Lour.) on intestinal environment were investigated. The results showed that pectic polysaccharides and hemicellulose were the major polysaccharides in the cardamom extract. The administration of cardamom extract (0.5 and 1.5 g/100 g diet) effectively (p < 0.05) shortened hamster gastrointestinal transit time by approximately 58%, increased fecal moisture contents (148-174%), increased SCFA concentrations in hindgut (4.0- to 7.8-fold), decreased the activities of beta-D-glucuronidase (by 71.4-85.7%), beta-D-glucosidase (by 24.3-51.5%), mucinase (by 63.6-72.7%), and urease (by 88.8-90.4%) in feces, and reduced the production of toxic ammonia (by 16.1-64.5%). These findings suggested that the consumption of cardamom extract (at least 0.5 g/100 g diet or 40 mg/day) might exert a favorable effect on improving the gastrointestinal milieu, and also provide a clue to substantiate its traditional therapeutic uses and dosage for intestinal health improvement.
PMID: 17440996 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Mudigere-577 132 University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. djn97@rediffmail.com
Experiments were conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Mudigere, India, for two years with an objective to study the population fluctuation, seasonal incidence and evaluation of neem products and insecticides for their efficacy against cardamom shoot fly. During the study period, it was noticed that shoot fly population the increased during the dry months (March, May and October) but was low from June to September months. The population exhibited a negative correlation with rainfall, minimum temperature and maximum relative humidity and positive correlations with maximum temperature and sunshine h. Among the six insecticides tested, phorate, phorate with neem cake and neem cake alone were found superior over other treatments. The present study clearly indicated that application of neem cake helps not only in reduction of shoot fly incidence but also enhances the production of side suckers compared to other treatments.
PMID: 17385516 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Cardamom Research station, Pampadumpara 685 556, Idukki District, Kerala, India. entojoe2003@yahoo.co.in
Protease inhibitors cause mortality in a range of insects, and transgenic plants expressing protease inhibitors have been protected against pest attack, particularly internal feeders that are not amenable to control by conventional means. A study of luminal proteases in Conogethes punctiferalis Guenée was performed to identify potential targets for proteinaceous biopesticides, such as protease inhibitors. The midgut protease profile of the gut lumen from C. punctiferalis was studied to determine the conditions for optimal protein hydrolysis. Optimum conditions for peptidase activity were found to be in 50 mm Tris-HCl, pH 10 containing 20 mm CaCl2; incubation for 30 min at 40 degrees C. Four synthetic substrates, i.e. benzoyl-arg-p-nitroanilide, benzoyl-tyr-p-nitroanilide, succinyl-ala-ala-pro-leu-p-nitroanilide (SAAPLpNA) and leu-p-nitroanilide were hydrolysed by C. punctiferalis gut proteases in Tris-HCl buffer pH 10. Trypsin and elastase-like chymotrypsin were the prominent digestive proteases, and age-related modulation of midgut proteases existed for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase-like chymotrypsin and leucine aminopeptidase. Serine protease inhibitors such as aprotinin, soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride inhibited peptidase activity. Some metal ions such as Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Pb(2+) and Co(2+) enhanced BApNA-ase activity whereas others like Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(2+) and Hg(2+) were inhibitory at 6 mm concentration. Trypsin and elastase-like chymotrypsin were significantly inhibited by 94% and 29%, respectively, by aprotinin (150 nm) under in vitro conditions. A possible incorporation of protease inhibitors into transgenic plants is discussed.
PMID: 16441909 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Mahady GB, Pendland SL, Stoia A, Hamill FA, Fabricant D, Dietz BM,
Chadwick LR.
Program for Collaborative Research in the
Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S.
Wood Street M/C 877, 60612, USA. mahady@uic.edu
The gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori (HP), identified in 1982, is now recognized as the primary etiological factor associated with the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In addition, HP infections are also associated with chronic gastritis, gastric carcinoma and primary gastric B-cell lymphoma. For centuries, herbals have been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as dyspepsia, gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). However, the mechanism of action by which these botanicals exert their therapeutic effects has not been completely elucidated. As part of an ongoing screening program, the study assessed the in vitro susceptibility of 15 HP strains to botanical extracts, which have a history of traditional use in the treatment of GI disorders. Methanol extracts of Myristica fragrans (seed) had a MIC of 12.5 microg/mL; Zingiber officinale (ginger rhizome/root) and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf) had an MIC of 25 microg/mL. Methanol extracts of botanicals with a MIC of 50 microg/mL included Achillea millefolium, Foeniculum vulgare (seed), Passiflora incarnata (herb), Origanum majorana (herb) and a (1:1) combination of Curcuma longa (root) and ginger rhizome. Botanical extracts with a MIC of 100 microg/mL included Carum carvi (seed), Elettaria cardamomum (seed), Gentiana lutea (roots), Juniper communis (berry), Lavandula angustifolia (flowers), Melissa officinalis (leaves), Mentha piperita (leaves) and Pimpinella anisum (seed). Methanol extracts of Matricaria recutita (flowers) and Ginkgo biloba (leaves) had a MIC > 100 microg/mL.
PMID: 16317658 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Department of Ilmul Advia, Faculty of Medicine (Unani), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-110 062, India.
Cardamom, the fruits of Elettaria cardamomum Maton. (Zingiberaceae) commonly known as "Heel khurd" is used in Unani system of medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders. A crude methanolic extract (TM), essential oil (EO), petroleum ether soluble (PS) and insoluble (PI) fractions of methanolic extract, were studied in rats at doses of 100-500, 12.5-50, 12.5-150 and 450 mg/kg, respectively for their ability to inhibit the gastric lesions induced by aspirin, ethanol and pylorous ligature. In addition their effects on wall mucus and gastric acid output were recorded. All fractions (TM, EO, PS, PI) significantly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and aspirin but not those induced by pylorus ligation. TM proved to be active reducing lesions by about 70% in the EtOH-induced ulcer model at 500 mg/kg. The PS fraction reduced the lesions by 50% at 50 and 100mg/kg (no dose response was observed) with similar effect than the PI fraction at 450 mg/kg. In the aspirin-induced gastric ulcer, the best gastroprotective effect was found in the PS fraction, which inhibited lesions by nearly 100% at 12.5mg/kg. In our experimental conditions, the PS extract at doses >or=12.5mg/kg proved to be more active than ranitidine at 50mg/kg.
PMID: 16298093 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
Attitudes and practice concerning complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are currently an area of considerable interest. However, little is known about the overall importance of such practices, for example, in immigrant communities such as the Sikh (Punjabi) British. The use of CAM in immigrants belonging to the Sikh religion in London was studied. The primary objective was to analyse the extent to which traditional medicine is used and understood by this population. Traditional Sikh medicine is important to this group of informants and a total of 42 species were recorded and identified tentatively. The most frequently mentioned species were Allium cepa (onion -- gunda), Allium sativum (garlic -- lasan, thon), Capsicum frutescens (cayenne pepper -- lalmirch), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamom--dhal chini), Citrus limon (lemon -- nimbu), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel -- saunf), Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom -- elaichi) and Zingiber officinale (ginger -- adrak). The study also highlights the rapid change this tradition is undergoing in a diaspora situation.In depth studies on the use of CAM among other immigrant communities and among ethnic groups are urgent and may help to manage better the treatment of minor ailments as well as chronic diseases. Specifically, more research on traditional and herbal remedies amongst the numerous ethnic groups in urban Britain and how this impacts on the use of biomedicine (e.g. as it is provided by the NHS) is essential.
PMID: 16161027 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India.
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. Human platelets were subjected to stimulation with a variety of agonists including ADP (2.5 mM), epinephrine (2.5 mM), collagen (10 mM), calcium ionophore A 23187 (6 microM) and ristocetin (1.25 microg/mL). The IC50 were 0.49, 0.21, 0.55 and 0.59 mg with ADP, epinephrine, collagen and calcium ionophore A 23187, respectively, and no inhibition with ristocetin. The inhibitory effect was dose dependent with concentrations varying between 0.14 and 0.70 mg and time dependent at IC50. 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. Hence, it may be said that aqueous extract of cardamom may have component(s), which protect platelets from aggregation and lipid peroxidation. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 16106388 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Department of Cancer Chemoprevention, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata 700026, India. archana_sen@yahoo.com
Recently, considerable attention has been focused on identifying naturally occurring chemopreventive compounds capable of inhibiting, retarding, or reversing the multi-step carcinogenesis. The primary aim of the present study was to identify the effects of a commonly consumed spice, viz., cardamom against azoxymethane (AOM) induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in Swiss Albino mice. The secondary aim, was to explore the ability of cardamom to modulate the status of proliferation and apoptosis, and to understand its role in altering cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Male Swiss albino mice were injected with AOM (dose: 5mg/Kg body weight) or saline (Group 1) weekly once for two weeks. The AOM-injected mice were randomly assigned to two groups (Groups 2 and 3). While all the groups were on standard lab chow, Group 3 received oral doses of 0.5% cardamom, in aqueous suspension, daily for 8 weeks. Following treatment, significant reduction in the incidences of aberrant crypt foci (p<0.05) was observed. This reduction in ACF was accompanied by suppression of cell proliferation (mean Brdu LI in carcinogen control =13.91+/-3.31, and 0.5% cardamom =2.723+/-0.830) and induction of apoptosis (mean AI in carcinogen control=1.547+/-0.42 and 0.5% cardamom = 6.61+/-0.55). Moreover, reduction of both COX-2 and iNOS expression was also observed. These results suggest that aqueous suspensions of cardamom have protective effects on experimentally induced colon carcinogenesis. Cardamom as a whole and its active components require further attention if the use of this spice is to be recommended for cancer prevention.
PMID: 16101317 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Cagliari, Italy.
The volatile oil of Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton seeds was obtained by supercritical CO(2) extraction (SC-CO(2)). The effect of the extraction conditions on the yield and composition of the resulting cardamom volatile oil was examined by testing two pressure values, 9.0 and 11.0 MPa; two temperatures, 40 and 50 degrees C; two flow rate values, 0.6 and 1.2 kg/h; and two particles size values, 250-425 and >850 microm. The extraction conditions that gave the highest yield, Y (grams of extract per gram of seeds), of 5.5%, were as follows: pressure, 9.0 MPa; temperature, 40 degrees C; carbon dioxide flow, phi = 1.2 kg/h; and particles sizes in the range of 250-425 microm. Waxes, recovered as traces, were entrapped in the first separator set at 9.0 MPa and -10 degrees C. The oil was recovered in the second separator working at 1.5 MPa and 10 degrees C. The main components were as follows: alpha-terpinyl acetate, 42.3%; 1,8-cineole, 21.4%; linalyl acetate, 8.2%; limonene, 5.6%; and linalool, 5.4%. A comparison with the hydrodistilled oil, obtained at a yield of 5.0%, did not reveal any consistent difference. In contrast, the extract obtained using hexane, Y = 7.6%, showed strong composition differences. Indeed, the volatile fraction of the extract was made up mainly of the following: limonene, 36.4%; 1,8-cineole, 23.5%; terpinolene, 8.6%; and myrcene, 6.6%.
PMID: 15453700 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Division of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Molecular Toxicology, Imperial College School of Medicine, South Kensington, London, UK.
Natural flavour complexes (NFCs) are chemical mixtures obtained by applying physical separation methods to botanical sources. Many NFCs are derived from foods. In the present paper, a 12-step procedure for the safety evaluation of NFCs, 'the naturals paradigm', is discussed. This procedure, which is not intended to be viewed as a rigid check list, begins with a description of the chemical composition of the commercial product, followed by a review of the data on the history of dietary use. Next, each constituent of an NFC is assigned to one of 33 congeneric groups of structurally related substances and to one of three classes of toxic potential, each with its own exposure threshold of toxicological concern. The group of substances of unknown structure is placed in the class of greatest toxic potential. In subsequent steps, for each congeneric group the procedure determines the per capita intake, considers metabolic pathways and explores the need and availability of toxicological data. Additional toxicological and analytical data may be required for a comprehensive safety evaluation. The procedure concludes with an evaluation of the NFC in its entirety, also considering combined exposure to congeneric groups. The first experiences with the use of this procedure are very promising. Future safety evaluations of larger numbers of NFCs will indicate the usefulness of the system, either in its present form or in a form modified on the basis of experience.
PMID: 15093265 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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