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Gut modulatory, blood pressure lowering, diuretic and sedative activities of cardamom

Anwarul Hassan Gilani1, Qaiser Jabeen, Arif-ullah Khan

  • 1Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu <anwar.gilani@aku.edu>

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
|November 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cardamom extract (Ec.Cr) shows both stimulatory and relaxing effects on the gut via cholinergic and calcium channel blocking mechanisms. It also reduces blood pressure and acts as a diuretic and sedative.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Ethnobotany
  • Natural Products

Background:

  • Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) possesses traditional uses for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neuronal ailments.
  • Scientific validation is needed to support its ethnopharmacological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pharmacological basis for cardamom's traditional use in managing constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension, and as a diuretic.
  • To rationalize the medicinal use of cardamom.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies using isolated guinea-pig ileum, rabbit jejunum, and rat aorta preparations.
  • In vivo studies in anesthetized rats and mice, including blood pressure monitoring and diuresis assessment.
  • Bio-assay guided fractionation to identify active components.

Main Results:

  • Cardamom crude extract (Ec.Cr) demonstrated atropine-sensitive stimulatory effects on guinea-pig ileum.
  • Ec.Cr exhibited relaxant effects on rabbit jejunum and rat aorta, acting as a calcium channel blocker.
  • In vivo, Ec.Cr reduced blood pressure in rats, induced diuresis and saluresis in rats, and enhanced sedative effects in mice.
  • Fractionation revealed both spasmogenic and spasmolytic compounds.

Conclusions:

  • Cardamom exerts dual effects on the gastrointestinal tract via cholinergic and calcium antagonist pathways.
  • The observed hypotensive, diuretic, and sedative effects support its traditional uses in hypertension, epilepsy, and related conditions.
  • Cardamom's multifaceted pharmacological actions warrant further investigation.
Abstract

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