**6. Cardamom**

Cardamom [*Elettaria cardamomum* (L.) Maton, also known as "Queen of Spices"] is an aromatic spice commonly used as a flavoring agent. This perennial herb belongs to Zingiberaceae family. It is native to Western Ghats of Southern India and widely cultivated in countries such as Sri Lanka, North America, Guatemala, New Guinea, and Thailand. Essential oil of cardamom constitutes α- terpinyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, linalool, limonene, eugenol, safrole (**Figure 5a**) [103, 104].

Cardamom is a valuable in relieving against ischemic heart disease. It showed protective effects against cardiac dysfunction associated with oxidative stress. A dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg of cardamom extract showed cardioprotective effects in albino rats who were induced with myocardial infarction due to isoproterenol [105]. Further, cardamom-oil maintained cholesterol homeostasis by potentially reducing cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic conditions and restoring atherogenicity index [106]. In addition, a dose of 1.5 g of cardamom powder for 12 weeks (two times a day) decreased the blood pressure in hypertensive individuals by 19 mmHg in systolic and 12 mmHg in diastolic BP [107].

Cardamom is an effective immunomodulatory agent due to its anti-inflammatory effects. It is capable of downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (**Figure 5b**) [108]; suppressing T helper (TH)1 cytokine release and enhancing

**Figure 5.** *(a) Chemical constituents of Cardamom; (b) Biological properties of Cardamom.*

#### *Spices-Reservoir of Health Benefits DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96471*

T helper (TH)2 cytokine release [109]. Methanol and petroleum ether extract of cardamom reduced 70% and 50% lesions in ethanol-induced ulcer mice model at 500 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg respectively exhibiting gastroprotective effects [110]. A constituent of cardamom, cardamonin inhibited the formation of new cancer stem cells in case of breast cancer by effectively suppressing the up-regulation of IL-8 and, MCP-1 cytokines and activation of NF-κB pathway [111]. Antibacterial effects of cardamom has also been demonstrated [108, 112].

Recently, its efficacy against toxic effects of uranium has been reported. Uranium increases sodium and calcium ion levels, decreases and phosphate ion levels, inhibits Na+/K+ ATPase increasing the influx of into the neurons, and thereby damaging central nervous system. Aqueous extracts of cardamom (250 mg/kg) significantly increased the levels of phosphate and potassium ions and decreased the levels of calcium and sodium ions in albino rats administered with uranyl acetate dehydrate (40 mg/kg) [113]. Furthermore, protective effects against neurological disorders have also been reported as oral administration with 100 and 200 mg/kg of cardamom oil improved behavioral patterns, inhibited amyloid-β expression, declined in oxidative stress and inhibited of acetylcholinesterase in Wister rats [114, 115].
