X-Message-Number: 32606
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 2010 22:32:58 -0700 (PDT)
From:
Subject: cardamom is a probable human life extender
[At 3 gm/day cardamom over 12 weeks gradually lowered systolic blood pressure by
19 mmHg, disatolic blood pressure by 12 mm Hg, triglycerides by 15%, and LDL
cholesterol by 25%. Cardamom also heals ulcers, reduces inflammation and may
reduce cancer risk.]
Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2009 Dec;46(6):503-6.
Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of
cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum).
Verma SK, Jain V, Katewa SS. Indigenous Drug Research Center, Department of
Medicine, RNT Medical College, Udaipur 313 001, Rajasthan, India.
Abstract
Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. (Small cardamom) fruit powder was evaluated
for its antihypertensive potential and its effect on some of the
cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with stage 1 hypertension.
Twenty, newly diagnosed individuals with primary hypertension of stage 1
were administered 3 g of cardamom powder in two divided doses for 12 weeks.
Blood pressure was recorded initially and at 4 weeks interval for 3 months.
Blood samples were also collected initially and at 4 weeks interval for
estimation of lipid profile, fibrinogen and fibrinolysis. Total antioxidant
status, however, was assessed initially and at the end of the study.
Administration of 3 g cardamom powder significantly (p<0.001) decreased
systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and significantly (p<0.05)
increased fibrinolytic activity at the end of 12th week. Total antioxidant
status was also significantly (p<0.05) increased by 90% at the end of 3
months. However, fibrinogen and lipid levels were not significantly altered.
All study subjects experienced a feeling of well being without any
side-effects. Thus, the present study demonstrates that small cardamom
effectively reduces blood pressure, enhances fibrinolysis and improves
antioxidant status, without significantly altering blood lipids and
fibrinogen levels in stage 1 hypertensive individuals.
PMID: 20361714
J Med Food. 2010 Apr;13(2):371-81.
In vitro investigation of the potential immunomodulatory and anti-cancer
activities of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum).
Majdalawieh AF, Carr RI. Department of Biology and Chemistry, Faculty of Arts
and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract
Although the immunomodulatory effects of many herbs have been extensively
studied, research related to possible immunomodulatory effects of various
spices is relatively scarce. Here, the potential immunomodulatory effects of
black pepper and cardamom are investigated. Our data show that black pepper
and cardamom aqueous extracts significantly enhance splenocyte
proliferation in a dose-dependent, synergistic fashion. Enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay experiments reveal that black pepper and cardamom
significantly enhance and suppress, respectively, T helper (Th)1 cytokine
release by splenocytes. Conversely, Th2 cytokine release by splenocytes is
significantly suppressed and enhanced by black pepper and cardamom,
respectively. Experimental evidence suggests that black pepper and cardamom
extracts exert pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory roles, respectively.
Consistently, nitric oxide production by macrophages is significantly
augmented and reduced by black pepper and cardamom, respectively.
Remarkably, it is evident that black pepper and cardamom extracts
significantly enhance the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells,
indicating their potential anti-cancer effects. Our findings strongly
suggest that black pepper and cardamom exert immunomodulatory roles and
antitumor activities, and hence they manifest themselves as natural agents
that can promote the maintenance of a healthy immune system. We anticipate
that black pepper and cardamom constituents can be used as potential
therapeutic tools to regulate inflammatory responses and prevent/attenuate
carcinogenesis.
PMID: 20210607
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jan 16;103(2):149-53. Epub 2005 Nov 17.
Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. fruits in rats.
Jamal A, Javed K, Aslam M, Jafri MA. Department of Ilmul Advia, Faculty of
Medicine (Unani), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-110 062, India.
Abstract
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
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2005 Apr-Jun;6(2):118-22.
Dietary cardamom inhibits the formation of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt
foci in mice and reduces COX-2 and iNOS expression in the colon.
Sengupta A, Ghosh S, Bhattacharjee S. Department of Cancer Chemoprevention,
Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata 700026, India.
Abstract
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
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