Phytochemical Properties and Health Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a spice renowned for its complex phytochemical composition, chiefly comprising oxygenated monoterpenes (such as 1,8-cineole and α-terpinyl acetate), sesquiterpenes, flavonoids and phenolic acids (including protocatechuic, caffeic and syringic acids). This assemblage confers pronounced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by scavenging reactive oxygen species and modulating key signalling pathways. Beyond its traditional use in digestive disorders, contemporary research implicates cardamom extracts in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, neuroprotection via cholinesterase inhibition, and adjuvant roles in cancer prevention and therapy. Mechanistically, bioactives such as linalool, limonene and cardamonin interfere with pro-inflammatory transcription factors, promote apoptotic pathways in malignant cells and enhance mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Clinical and preclinical studies highlight its potential in obesity management, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic health, underlining cardamom’s global significance as a nutraceutical with broad therapeutic applications.

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Phytochemical Properties and Health Benefits of Cardamom publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and health benefits of cardamom across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage lipids, proteins and DNA.

NF-κB: A transcription factor central to the regulation of genes involved in inflammation and immune response.

Lipolysis: The enzymatic breakdown of triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol within adipose tissue.

Hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis: A neuroendocrine feedback system governing thyroid hormone production and metabolic rate.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death characterised by specific morphological and biochemical changes to maintain tissue homeostasis.

References

1. Protective Role of Phenolic Compounds from Whole Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) against LPS-Induced Inflammation in Colon and Macrophage Cells. Nutrients (2023).
2. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) Seeds Intake Increases Energy Expenditure and Reduces Fat Mass in Mice by Modulating Neural Circuits That Regulate Adipose Tissue Lipolysis and Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism in Liver and Skeletal Muscle. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
3. Deciphering the Potentials of Cardamom in Cancer Prevention and Therapy: From Kitchen to Clinic. Biomolecules (2024).
4. Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton Essential Oil: An Interesting Source of Bioactive Specialized Metabolites as Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase. Plants (2023).
5. Antioxidant Activity and GC-MS Profile of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) Essential Oil Obtained by a Combined Extraction Method—Instant Controlled Pressure Drop Technology Coupled with Sonication. Molecules (2023).
6. Cardamom powder supplementation prevents obesity, improves glucose intolerance, inflammation and oxidative stress in liver of high carbohydrate high fat diet induced obese rats. Lipids in Health and Disease (2017).
7. Green cardamom increases Sirtuin-1 and reduces inflammation in overweight or obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutrition & Metabolism (2018).
8. The effect of cardamom supplementation on serum lipids, glycemic indices and blood pressure in overweight and obese pre-diabetic women: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders (2017).