Ela Dwaya – Elettaria cardamomom Maton. – Amomum subulatum Roxb.

Recent research on Sukshama Ela (Elettaria cardamomum)

• The chemopreventive potential of cardamom was evaluated on 7, 12, dimethylbenz a anthracene-initiated, and croton oil-promoted mouse skin papilloma genesis. These findings indicate the potential of cardamom as a chemopreventive agent against two-stage skin cancer. Qibla S, Al-Hazimi A, Al-Mogbel M, Hossain A, Bagchi D. Chemopreventive effects of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L) on chemically induced skin carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. J Med Food. 2012 Jun: 15 (6): 576- 80. Epub 2C 12 Mar 9.
• 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. 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. Verma SK, Jain V Katewa SS. Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing, and antioxidant activities of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2009 Dec, 46 (6.): 503- 6.
• Petroleum ether soluble (PS) of Elettaria cardamomum was tried for its efficacy in gastroprotective activity. The PS extract at doses > or= 12.5mg/kg proved to be more active than ranitidine at 50mg/kg. Jamal A, Javed K, Aslam M, Jafri. Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. fruits in rats. J Ethriopharmam. 2006 Jan 16; 1 03 (2) 149- 53. Epub 2005 Nov 17.
• The inhibitory activity of cardamom extract was studied on human platelets. The aqueous extract of cardamom may have a component (s), which protect platelets from aggregation and lipid peroxidation, Suneetha VVJ, Krishnakantha TP. Cardamom extract is an inhibitor of human platelet aggregation. Phytochemistry another Res. 2005 May 19 (5): 437- 40.
• A comparative study of the anti-inflammatory activity of the oil extracted from commercial Elettaria cardamomum seeds, in doses of 175 and 280 microliters/ kg and indomethacin in a dose of 30 mg/kg against acute carrageenan-induced planter edema in male albino rats was performed. In addition, the antispasmodic activity was determined on a rabbit intestine preparation using acetylcholine as an agonist, the results proving that cardamom oil exerts its antispasmodic action through muscarinic receptor blockage. al Zuhair H, el- Sayeh B, Amen HA, al- Shoora H, Pharmacological studies of cardamom oil in animals. Pharmacology Res. 1996 Jul- Aug; 34 (1- 2): 79- 82.

Recent research on Bhadra Ela (Amomum subulatum)

• Kumar, Gopal. (2012). ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF AMOMUM SUBULATUM ROXB. FRUITS EXTRACT. IJPSR. Inflammatory diseases including different types of rheumatic diseases are a major and worldwide problem. Now a day’s, the world population moves toward herbal remedies for treatment. Several edible plant parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Amomum subulatum Roxb (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as large cardamom, is traditionally used for several medicinal purposes in India. The present study assessed the anti-inflammatory activity of its fruit extracts (methanolic and aqueous) at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg against carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Both the extracts were able to show a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity compared to ibuprofen as a standard. Alam, Aftab & Singh, Vijender. (2020). Composition and pharmacological activity of essential oils from two imported Amomum subulatum fruit samples. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences. 16. 10.1016/j.jtumed.2020.10.007. Objective This work attempted to isolate, identify, and correlate the composition of essential oils (EOs) and pharmacological properties of two imported Amomum subulatum fruit samples. These samples were collected from Indian and Saudi Arabia local supermarkets to ensure consistency in their therapeutic effects. Results: GC–MS retention times of both samples demonstrated 56 bioactive ingredients with different percentages. The principal bioactive compounds in the Indian and Saudi Arabian EO samples were 1,8-cineole (44.24% and 46.22%, respectively), α-terpineol (7.47% and 7.04%, respectively), terpinene-4-ol (5.01% and 4.83%, respectively), geraniol D (4.05% and 3.54%, respectively), and β-pinene (3.38% and 3.98%, respectively). Superior antimicrobial activity against the selected strains was observed for both samples, with a MIC range of 0.5%–1%. Antioxidant assays demonstrated moderate activity in both samples. Moreover, the Indian and Saudi Arabian samples exhibited IC50 values of 53.12% and 55.26 μg/mL, respectively, in albumin denaturation inhibition assays. This indicated an outstanding anti-inflammatory potential comparable to ibuprofen.
• Makhija, Pooja & Handral, Harish & Mahadevan, Gomathi & Kathuria, Himanshu & Sethi, Gautam & Grobben, Bert. (2021). Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) fruit extracts exhibit apoptotic activity against lung cancer cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 287. 114953. 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114953. Ethnopharmacological relevance The dried fruits of Amomum subulatum Roxb. (A. subulatum) are widely used as a spice. It is a part of official ayurvedic formulations and it is used in folklore medicine to treat cancer. A. subulatum has been used in ayurvedic formulations to treat various lung conditions such as cough, lung congestion, and pulmonary tuberculosis. The present traditional knowledge highlights the effectiveness of A. subulatum in treating cancer and its lung-specific efficacy. This study aims to investigate the cytotoxic potential of A. subulatum on the phenomenal and mechanistic level of lung cancer cells and identify the presence of A. subulatum actives. The bioactivity of the extracts was tested using MTT assay, apoptotic assay, cell cycle analysis, superoxide production assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and western blot analysis. Firstly, five different extracts were prepared using sequential extraction, and screening of cell lines was performed using MTT assay. Results: Lung cancer cells were selected as the most sensitive target, and dichloromethane extract (DE) was the most active extract. Annexin assay confirmed the mode of cell death as apoptosis. Sub-G1 Peak found in cell cycle analysis substantiated this finding. ROS generation and superoxide showed association with apoptotic death. The upregulation and overexpression of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1) showed the failure of DNA repairing machinery contributing to apoptosis. LC-MS findings show the presence of cytotoxic actives cardamon and alpine. 
• Antioxidant activity
• Anti-ulcer activity
• Antimicrobial activity
• Singhal, Piyush & Gautam, Girendra Kumar & Kumar, Ravi & Kumar, Gaurav. (2022). A Review on Amomum subulatum and Elettaria Cardamomum with their Pharmacological Activity. Volume-4. 1-6. Cardamom is a very common species in India its mainly two types Amomum subulatum and Elettaria Cardamomum belong to the family Zingiberaceae Amomum subulatum also known as “Badi Elaichi”. It’s traditionally used as a mouth freshener or digestive agent. It is a very common spice in Indian food. Its main chemical constituent is α-terpinyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene main chemical is alpha terpinyl acetate in cardamom. Its have many pharmacological activity like antiseptic (pulmonary), antispasmodic (neuromuscular), aphrodisiac, expectorant, anthelmintic, antibacterial (variable), cephalic, cardiotonic, diuretic, emmenagogue, sialagogue and stomachic. It also acts as a stimulant of the nervous system; some research said that it also works as an antidote in some venom. According to recent research, it requires further study on a large scale because some unidentified chemicals are present in their alcoholic extract.
• Bisht, Vinod & Negi, J.S. & Bhandari, Arvind Kumar & Sundriyal, R.C.. (2011). Amomum subulatum Roxb.: Traditional, Biochemical and Biological activities – An overview. African journal of agricultural research. 6. 5386-5390. 10.5897/AJAR11.745. Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Large Cardamom) is a perennial herbaceous crop, cultivated in swampy places across hills around water streams. It has been a well-known spice since time immemorial; used as a flavoring agent for various dishes indigenous to the Eastern Himalayan region particularly Nepal, Bhutan, and India. The Sikkim State of India is the largest producer of cardamom which is around 50% of the world’s production. Large cardamom contains 8.6% moisture, 5% total ash value, 1.5% ash insoluble in acid, 3.5% water soluble ash value, 4.88% alcohol extract, 4% non-volatile ether extract and 91.4% of total solid. It contains 1.95 to 3.32% of essential oil has a characteristic aroma and possesses medicinal properties. It is reported as an official drug in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia due to its curative as well as preventive properties for various ailments. The major constituent of large cardamom essential oil is 1, 8- cineole. The monoterpene hydrocarbon content is in the range of 5 to 17% of which limonene, sabinene, and pinenes are significant components. The terpinols comprise approximately 5 to 7% of the oil. Due to the presence of these compounds, it has pharmacognostic properties such as analgesic, antimicrobial, cardiac stimulant, carminative, diuretic, stomachic, etc. This paper recapitulates the traditional, phytochemical, and biological activities of A. subulatum.
• Patel, Vandana. (2010). PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF AMOMUM SUBULATUM ROXB. Pharma Science Monitor An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 1. 90-102. The present study deals with the pharmacognostic, preliminary phytochemical studies, and pharmacological activity of seeds of Amomum subulatum Roxb. The present paper highlights the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of seeds, physic-chemical evaluation, preliminary phytochemical studies, and analgesic activity of the seeds. These observations would be of immense value in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in crude form and would help distinguish the drug from its other species. Phytochemical standardization parameters such as moisture content, total ash, water-soluble and acid insoluble ash, alcohol soluble, and water-soluble extractives were determined. Preliminary identification of phytoconstituents was performed. GC-MS study of the volatile oil obtained from the seeds was carried out and six compounds were separated. The mass fragmentation studies revealed the presence of 1, 8- cineole and caryophyllene in the volatile oil. Methanolic extract and ethyl acetate extract of seeds of the plant were investigated for analgesic activity using the hot plate method and writhing method.
• Thomas, V. & Mamiyil, Sabu & Gupta, U. (2009). Taxonomic studies on cultivars of Amomum subulatum (Zingiberaceae). Rheedea. 19. Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Large cardamom) is an important medicinal and spice crop of India. The species of A. subulatum from Sikkim, North Bengal, and Nagaland were collected and studied in detail. Based on critical study fi ve new cultivars viz., ‘Dzongu’, ‘Green Golsey’, ‘Sawney’, ‘Seremna’ and ‘Varlangey’ have been recognized. A key to the cultivars, taxonomic descriptions, illustrations, ecology, distributions, etymology, and notes are provided.
• Joshi, Niraj & Piya, Luni. (2019). Large Cardamom (Amomum Subulatum Roxb.) Production, Marketing, and Trade in the Indian Subcontinent. 9. 1-13. Large cardamom contributes significantly to the household and regional economies in the Eastern Himalayas of the Indian subcontinent, and the national economy as well. This paper aims to assess the dynamics of large cardamom production, marketing, and trade in Bhutan, Nepal, and India. The assessment is based on data compiled through several government statistics and publications. A brief field visit was also conducted in Birtamod, Nepal, in September 2017. Nepal and India are suffering a loss in their cardamom yield due to disease infestation, poor crop management (including aged plantation), and changing climate. India has a fairly organized market for large cardamom facilitated by the Spices Board India, where its price is set through auction. The system of advance payment to the farmers would cause stress for farmers to sell their produce at a lower price. Price volatility remains the major concern in the marketing and trading of large cardamom. Differential provisions in inter-country trade are restricting the market and trade of large cardamom produced in the region. Similarly, the adulteration of large cardamom with “false cardamom” remains the major threat to large cardamom production in the Eastern Himalayas. The product-specific data suggests more than 80 percent of large cardamom exported from India goes to Pakistan, suggesting Pakistan to be the biggest global market for the large cardamom produced in the Indian subcontinent. Production constraints-specifically, diseases; poor agronomic practice and inefficient curing in the traditional way; marketing constraints through price supports and packaging with geographical indications; and trading constraints, such as custom and phytosanitary barriers in inter-country trading, improper identification of the international market, and adulteration issues need to be addressed urgently for the sustainability of large cardamom production in the Eastern Himalayas. This will be critical for improving the welfare of thousands of small households in the region.