Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (Zingiberaceae) Cardamon, Malabar or Mysore Cardamon (Medicine)

Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton (Zingiberaceae) Cardamon, Malabar or Mysore Cardamon

Synonym —

Amomum cardamomum L.

Medicinal Uses (Cardamon) —

Ranked as the world’s third most expensive spice (saffron number one, vanilla number two), cardamom is almost as good a medicine as it is a spice, but there are cheaper alternatives. As McCormick (1981) notes, “the value of spices to Europeans in the late Middle Ages can hardly be imagined today. A handful of cardamom was worth as much as a poor man’s yearly wages. Many a slave was bought and sold for a few handfuls of peppercorn” (McCormick, 1981). Reported to be antidotal, aperitif, balsamic, carminative, diuretic, stimulant, and stomachic. Finely powdered seed are snuffed for headache. Cardamoms, fried and mixed with mastic and milk, are used for bladder problems (DEP). For nausea and vomiting, they are mixed into a pomegranate sherbet. The seeds are popularly believed to be aphrodisiac (DAD, DEP).
Elgayyar et al. (2001) compared antiseptic activity of several EOs against selected pathogenic and saprophytic microbes (anise, angelica, basil, carrot, celery, cardamom, coriander, dill weed, fennel, oregano, parsley, and rosemary). Oregano was strongest, inhibiting all test strains (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactobacillus plantarum, Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum, and Rhodotorula) at an MLC ca. 8 ppm. Inhibition was complete for oregano, completely nil with carrot oil.
So far, cardamom is the richest source of 1,8-cineole in my database. That can be good, that can be bad. Cineole can enhance dermal absorption of other drugs, temporarily speeding up transdermal absorption of topical drugs. But in the long run, it may nullify this advantage, by inducing detoxification enzymes. Yes, like hypericin and hundreds of other phytochemicals eaten dietarily every day, 1,8-cineole induced p450 detoxication. As Blumenthal et al. (1998), in their
translation of Commission E, remind us that cineole induces liver detoxification enzymes, thereby reducing the longevity and/or effectiveness of many natural and prescription drugs. Under myrtle, which contains a theoretical maximum (as calculated in FNF) of 2250 ppm cineole, Gruenwald et al. (1998) caution that more than 10 g myrtle oil can threaten life, “due to the high cineole content” (myrtle contains 135-2250 ppm cineole according to my calculations, meaning 10 g myrtle would contain a maximum 22.5 mg cineole). Several herbs may attain higher levels of cineole: bay, beebalm, betel pepper, biblical mint, boldo, cajeput, cardamom, eucalyptus, ginger, greater galangal, horsebalm, hyssop, lavender, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, spearmint, star anise, sweet annie, thyme, turmeric. So, reductionistically, assuming no synergies or antagonisms or additivities, a ridiculous assumption, one would assume that any goods (and evils) accruing to the cineole in myrtle should apply even more so to those listed above, which, theoretically at least, may attain higher levels of cineole—some (e.g., cardamom) attaining levels more than twentyfold higher. Symptoms of this alleged cineole intoxication may include circulatory disorders, collapse, lowered blood pressure, and respiratory failure. So, rather than placing all this under the obscure spice, myrtle, why not put it under the GRAS cardamom, which can contain up to 5.6% cineole (theoretical max in my database), compared to a mere 0.225% in myrtle?


Indications (Cardamon) —

Ague (f; DAD); Alcoholism (f; DAD); Allergy (1; FNF); Anorexia (2; PHR; PH2); Asthma (f; APA; KAP; SKJ); Bacteria (1; FNF); Biliousness (f; KAP); Bleeding (f; DAD); Bronchosis (2; FNF; KAP; PHR; PH2; SKJ); Cacoethes (f; JLH); Cancer (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, abdomen (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, colon (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, diaphragm (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, spleen (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, stomach (1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, uterus (1; FNF; JLH; KAB); Catarrh (f; DAD); Cholecystosis (2; PHR; PH2); Cholera (f; DEP); Cold (2; FNF; PHR; PH2); Colic, liver (1; APA); Congestion (1; FNF); Constipation (1; FNF); Cough (f; PH2); Cramp (1; APA); Cystosis (f; DEP; KAB; KAP); Debility (f; DAD); Dermatosis (f; KAB); Diaphragmosis (f; JLH); Diarrhea (f; PH2); Dysmenorrhea (f; DAD); Dyspepsia (2; APA; DAD; KAP; KOM; PH2); Dysuria (f; APA; KAB); Earache (f; KAB); Enterosis (f; JLH); Enuresis (f; BOW; DAD); Fatigue (1; APA); Fever (2; FNF; PHR; PH2); Flu (1; FNF); Fungus (1; FNF); Gas (1; APA; KAP; PH2; RIN); Gastrosis (1; JLH; PH2); Halitosis (1; APA; DAD); Headache (f; DEP); Hemorrhoid (f; KAB; KAP); Hepatosis (2; FNF; JLH; PHR; PH2); Hyperacidity (f; DAD); Impotence (f; APA);
Induration (f; JLH); Infection (2; FNF; PHR; PH2); Inflammation (1; FNF; KAB); Intoxication (f; DAD); Insomnia (1; FNF); Lethargy (1; FNF); Malaria (f; DAD); Morning Sickness (f; PH2); Mycosis (1; FNF); Nausea (f; DEP; PH2); Nervousness (1; FNF); Nephrosis (f; KAB); Pain (1; DAD; FNF);
Pharyngosis (2; KAB; PHR; PH2); Proctosis (f; KAB); Pulmonosis (f; DAD); Roemheld Syndrome (f; PH2); Scabies (f; KAB); Snakebite (f; KAB); Splenosis (f; JLH); Spermatorrhea (f; DAD); Stomachache (1; APA; PH2); Stomatosis (2; PHR; PH2); Strangury (f; KAP); Toothache (f; KAB);
Trichomonas (1; FNF); Tuberculosis (f; DAD; SKJ); Urethrosis (f; PH2); Urogenitosis (f; DAD); Uterosis (f; JLH); Virus (1; FNF); Vomiting (f; DEP; PH2).

Cardamon for cold/flu:

• Analgesic: ascaridole; borneol; caffeic-acid; camphor; menthone; myrcene; p-cymene
• Anesthetic: 1,8-cineole; camphor; linalool; linalyl-acetate; myrcene
• Antiallergic: 1,8-cineole; linalool; menthone; terpinen-4-ol
• Antibacterial: 1,8-cineole; acetic-acid; alpha-pinene; alpha-terpineol; caffeic-acid; caryo-phyllene; citronellal; citronellol; geraniol; limonene; linalool; myrcene; nerol; nerolidol; p-coumaric-acid; p-cymene; sinapic-acid; terpinen-4-ol; vanillic-acid
• Antibronchitic: 1,8-cineole; borneol
• Antiflu: alpha-pinene; caffeic-acid; limonene; neryl-acetate; p-cymene
• Antihistaminic: caffeic-acid; linalool; menthone
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; borneol; caffeic-acid; caryophyllene; eug-enyl-acetate; salicylates; vanillic-acid
• Antioxidant: caffeic-acid; camphene; cyanidin; gamma-terpinene; gamma-tocopherol; linalyl-acetate; myrcene; p-coumaric-acid; sinapic-acid; vanillic-acid
• Antipharyngitic: 1,8-cineole
• Antipyretic: borneol; salicylates
• Antiseptic: 1,8-cineole; alpha-terpineol; beta-pinene; caffeic-acid; camphor; carvone; citronellal; citronellol; geraniol; limonene; linalool; menthone; nerol; terpinen-4-ol
• Antitussive: 1,8-cineole; terpinen-4-ol
• Antiviral: alpha-pinene; caffeic-acid; limonene; linalool; neryl-acetate; p-cymene
• Bronchorelaxant: linalool
• Decongestant: camphor
• Expectorant: 1,8-cineole; acetic-acid; alpha-pinene; beta-phellandrene; camphene; camphor; geraniol; limonene; linalool
• Immunostimulant: caffeic-acid
Cardamon for hepatosis:
• Antiedemic: caffeic-acid; caryophyllene
• Antihepatotoxic: caffeic-acid; p-coumaric-acid; sinapic-acid
• Antiherpetic: caffeic-acid
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; borneol; caffeic-acid; caryophyllene; eug-enyl-acetate; salicylates; vanillic-acid
• Antileukotriene: caffeic-acid
• Antioxidant: caffeic-acid; camphene; cyanidin; gamma-terpinene; gamma-tocopherol; linalyl-acetate; myrcene; p-coumaric-acid; sinapic-acid; vanillic-acid
• Antiperoxidant: caffeic-acid; p-coumaric-acid
• Antiprostaglandin: caffeic-acid; eugenyl-acetate
• Antiradicular: caffeic-acid; vanillic-acid
• Antiviral: alpha-pinene; caffeic-acid; limonene; linalool; neryl-acetate; p-cymene
• Cholagogue: caffeic-acid
• Choleretic: 1,8-cineole; caffeic-acid; p-coumaric-acid; vanillic-acid
• Cytoprotective: caffeic-acid
• Hepatoprotective: borneol; caffeic-acid
• Hepatotonic: 1,8-cineole
• Hepatotropic: caffeic-acid
• Immunostimulant: caffeic-acid
• Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor: caffeic-acid; p-coumaric-acid

Other Uses (Cardamon) —

Called the “Queen of Spices” in India (where black pepper is king). Whole cardamom pods are tossed into curries and biryanis. Ground cardamom seasons tandoori chicken and enhances sweets such as “gajar ka halva” (carrot and milk pudding), rice pudding, and “gulab jamun” (fried balls of thick reduced milk, in rose-scented sugar syrup). In Ethiopia, cardamoms are important in the hot pepper mix, a condiment called “mit’mit’a” (FAC). Cardamom imparts the distinctive flavors to Danish pastries, Swedish coffee cakes, Norwegian Christmas cakes, Finnish puula, and Icelandic ponnukokur. Scandinavian cooks use it to season cookies, waffles, crispbreads, and many other baked goods. Cardamom is also used to flavor “glogg,” the hot spiced Scandinavian wine popular at Christmas. A half-teaspoon can improve gingerbread, spice cakes, and chocolate cake, apple or peach pie, fruit salads, jams, and custard or ice cream (AAR). Decorticated cardamon seeds are used for seasoning sausages and hamburgers, pastries and confections. Seeds used to flavor bitters, cakes, candies, coffee, cordials, curries, drinks, gingerbreads, liqueurs, and pickles (CFR, FAC). Arabs and East Indians chew the seed as a candy. The seeds impart a warm, slightly pungent, highly aromatic taste and are used in breath sweeteners. Occasionally, the seed are chewed with betel-leaf (DEP). Cardamom is important in some curries. In traditional “Massaman” (Muslims in S. Thailand) cardamom seed, roasted in their shell, are garnished onto curries. Cardamon is used in coffee (from a dash to 2 tsp of pods and seeds per cup of coffee), especially by Arabs, giving it a double CNS-stimulant whammy. An EO, obtained from green cardamon pods and seeds by steam distillation, serves for flavoring cakes, in confectionery, sausages, pickles, table sauces, curry preparations, and in certain bitters and liqueurs. As with many ginger relatives, cardamom leaves are used to wrap foods over the fire or stove. The young shoots, like those of many ginger relatives, are eaten raw, roasted, or steamed. If, as Rinzler (1990) notes (for high cineole content), bay leaves seem to repel fleas, moths, and roaches, cardamom should do it better. A fruit in a canister of flour just might keep out the bugs, and a fruit by the pipes coming up from the basement might keep the cockroaches underneath. Cardamom is one of the richest sources of cineole. But Rinzler was way ahead of me. She doesn’t recommend them in your flour cannister unless you wish your flour and resultant baked goods to smell of cardamom (DAD, FAC).
For more information on activities, dosages, and contraindications, see the CRC Handtopic of Medicinal Herbs, ed. 2,  et al., 2002.

Cultivation (Cardamon) —

May be raised from seed, which require 2-3 months to germinate. Sites must be sheltered from direct sun and strong winds. Clearings in forest often provide such sites. It is more usually started from selected rhizomes or bulbs 1.5 to 2 years old and with at least 2 growing stems; mature plants can be divided after fruiting. Flowers are said to be self-sterile, so it is necessary to plant a mixture of clones. In India, the fruits are harvested from August through December, as they ripen; dividing and planting is done later. Plants are set 3-4 m apart. Manual labor is generally used to keep weeds down during the first 2 years. Plants should be periodically cleaned of dried leaves and damaged or decaying stems. Raised alone in monoculture or with pepper and/or coffee. If a swampy site runs through a coffee plantation, it is often planted with cardamon (DAD, DEP). Plants mature in 2-3 years, ripening more slowly at higher elevations. Most growers have three fields of plants: plants just set, those in second year growth, and those fruiting. Fruiting plants are dug, divided, and replanted. Ripe fruits must be severed carefully with scissors so as not to injure the flowers and unripe fruit. Fruits are picked green (yellow ones split and shatter = shed their seeds). Yields all year round in the humid tropics, but chiefly during dry period. Crop is gathered every 2-3 weeks. In India and Sri Lanka, fruit is prepared for market by: (1) sulfur bleaching — sulfur fumigation, alternated with soaking and drying, carried out in four stages with a final sun drying; whole process takes from 10-12 days to complete, and bleached cardamons are creamy-white; (2) green curing — cardamons are dried on trays in a heated chamber or over an open charcoal fire in a closed chamber. These cardamons are green. Stalks and calyxes are removed from dried cardamons by cutting or grating, then sorted and graded according to size. Yields of 110-330 kg/ha of dried cardamons have been obtained, but yields of 40-80 kg/ha seem to represent more customary yields. Scientists have increased yields to 625 kg/ha by clonal propagation (DAD).

Chemicals (Cardamon)-

All things in moderation, health food or poison. And don’t be alarmed by the LD50 (2480 mg/kg orally in rats), which indicates that cineole is less than 1/10th as toxic acutely as caffeine (192 mg/kg orally in rat). Cardamom is also my richest source of p-cymene, and surely the cymene also contributes to the medicinal rationale of cardamom.
1,8-Cineole — Acaricide; Allelopathic; Anesthetic; Antiacetylcholinesterase IC50 = 41 ng/ml; Antiallergic; Antibacterial 50 ppm; Antibronchitic; Anticariogenic; Anticatarrh; Anticholinesterase; Antifatigue; Antihalitosic; Antiinflammatory; Antilaryngitic; Antipharyngitic; Antirheumatic; Anti-rhinitic; Antiseptic; Antisinusitic; Antispasmodic; Antistaphylococcic 50 ppm; Antitussive; Antiul-cer; Candidicide; Carcinogenic; Choleretic; CNS-stimulant; Convulsant; Counterirritant; Decongestant; Degranulant 0.3 |jJ7ml; Dentifrice; Edemagenic; Expectorant; Fungicide; Gastroprotective;
Gram(+)-icide; Gram(-)-icide; Hepatotonic; Herbicide IC50 = 78 [iM; Hypotensive; Insectifuge; Irritant; Myorelaxant; Nematicide; Negative Chronotropic 87 nl/ml; Negative Inotropic 87 nl/ml; p450-Inducer; Neurotoxic; Perfume; Rubefacient; Secretagogue; Sedative; Spasmogenic; Surfactant; Testosterone-Hydroxylase-Inducer; Trichomonicide LD100 = 1000 |lg/ml; Vermifuge; LD50 = 2480 orl rat; LD50 = 3480 mg/kg; LD50 = >5000 der rbt.
Palmitic-Acid — 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor; Antifibrinolytic; Hemolytic; Hypercholesterolemic; Lubricant; Nematicide; Soap; LD50 = 57 ivn mus.
P-Cymene — Analgesic; Antiacetylcholinesterase IC40 = 1.2 mM; Antibacterial; Antiflu; Antirheu-matalgic; Antiviral; Fungicide; Herbicide IC50 = 50 [iM; Insectifuge; Irritant; Laxative; Sedative; Trichomonicide LD100 = 50 ng/ml; LD50 = 4750 mg/kg orl rat.
Stearic-Acid — 5-Alpha-reductase-inhibitor; Cosmetic; Hypocholesterolemic; Lubricant; Propecic; Suppository; LD50 = 22 ivn rat.
Terpinen-4-OL — Antiacetylcholinesterase IC21-24 = 1.2 mM; Antiallergic; Antiasthmatic; Antibacterial; Antioxidant; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Antitussive; Antiulcer; Bacteristat; Diuretic 0.1 ml/rat; Fungicide; Herbicide IC50 = 200 mM, IC50 = 22 \iM; Insectifuge; Irritant; Nematicide MLC = 1 mg/ml; Renoirritant; Spermicide ED100 = 0.015; Vulnerary; LD50 = 0.78 ml/kg ims mus; LD50 = 0.25 ml/kg ipr mus; LD50 = 1.85 ml/kg orl mus; LD50 = 0.75 ml/kg scu mus.

Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae) ClLANTRO, CULANTRO, FALSE CORIANDER, SHADOW BENI, StINKWEED

Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae) ClLANTRO, CULANTRO, FALSE CORIANDER, SHADOW BENI, StINKWEED

Medicinal Uses (Culantro) —

Considered antimalarial, antispasmodic, carminative, and pectoral (DAW). Roots contain saponin and have an offensive odor. They are used as a stomachic. A decoction of root is valued in Venezuela as a stimulant, antipyretic, a powerful abortive, and sedative. In Cuba, it is a valuable emmenagogue. It is used throughout tropical America as a remedy for seizures and high blood pressure. Its infusion with salt is taken for colic. Leaf infusion used for stomachaches. The seeds and roots are used for earache (Mustalish and Baxter, 2001). Around our camps in Peru, “sacha culantro” is boiled for cramps and stomachache. Around Pucallpa, Peru, culantro with meat broth is taken for bronchitis and fever. Chamis Indians braise the dried fruits and have the children inhale smoke to treat diarrhea. Green fruits are crushed and mixed with food to treat insomnia. Creoles drink the decoction for colds and flu, and rub crushed leaves over the body to reduce high fever.

Indications (Culantro) —

Anemia (f; MPG); Anorexia (f; JFM); Arthrosis (f; DAV; MPG); Asthma
(f; IED; MPG); Biliousness (f; JFM); Bronchosis (f; DAV); Cardiopathy (f; IED; MPG); Catarrh (f; IED); Chill (f; BOW); Cold (f; DAV; JFM); Colic (f; DAV); Constipation (f; JFM); Convulsion
(f; JFM); Cough (f; DAV; JFM); Debility (f; MPG); Diabetes (1; JFM; MPG; JAC7:405); Diarrhea (f; DAV); Dyspepsia (1; BOW; DAV); Earache (f; MPG; TRA); Edema (1; PR13:75); Epilepsy (f; BOW); Fever (1; DAV; JFM; TRA); Fits (f; BOW; JFM); Flu (f; DAV; JFM); Gas (1; DAV; JFM); High Blood Pressure (f; DAV; IED; MPG); High Cholesterol (f; MPG); Inflammation (1; PR13:75);
Insomnia (f; DAV); Malaria (f; DAV); Nausea (f; DAV; TRA); Obesity (f; MPG); Parasite (f; IED); Pneumonia (f; DAV); Rheumatism (f; DAV; JFM); Snakebite (f; HHB; JFM); Stomachache (f;
DAV; MPG); Swelling (1; PR13:75); Syncope (f; JFM); Tumor (f; DAV; JLH); Water Retention
(f; HHB); Worm (f; IED; JFM); Yellow Fever (f; JFM).

Culantro for dyspepsia:

• Analgesic: p-cymene
• Antiinflammatory: alpha-pinene
• Sedative: alpha-pinene; p-cymene
• Tranquilizer: alpha-pinene

Other Uses (Culantro) —

How well I remember this as a vital constituent of the chicken caldos, called “sancocho” in Panama. Elsewhere, it’s almost as much a medicine as a spice. The Spanish name “recao de monte” indicates that it is a wild spice. It is a weed. The leaves constitute a powerful spice, a love-it or hate-it spice. Leaves are used in tropical America and elsewhere, as condiment in stews, pastries, soups, and meat dishes, to impart an agreeable flavor (though some say it smells like bedbugs). One spice mixture, called “sofrito”(chiles, cilantro, and culantro), is sold in the West Indian markets of New York and other large cities (FAC). Javanese add the tenderest leaves to rice as a lablab. Roots are also used, almost as spice vegetables, in meat dishes and soups. The leaves of culantro (Eryngium) retain their aroma and flavor better than leaves of cilantro (Coriandrum) on drying. It contains 0.02-0.04% of a volatile oil (DAV, FAC, TAD).
For more information on activities, dosages, and contraindications, see the CRC Handtopic of Medicinal Herbs, ed. 2,  et al., 2002.

Cultivation (Culantro) —

Ochse (1931) says the plant multiplies only by its seed, produced in great numbers. Seed lose their viability quickly and so must be sown as soon as they are ripe. It is easily grown in moist U.S. garden soils if started indoors and outplanted after the last frost. Minimum temp. = 15-18°C (59-640F) (Bown, 2001). After spring-planted Coriandrum has quit producing leaves due to the heat, Eryngium continues to produce, rewarding the gardener’s efforts (TAD). Leaves are best picked before flowering but may be used fresh or dried. Two-year-old roots are also utilized (Bown, 2001). Slugs and mealy bugs tend to like culantro. Storage at 500F (100C) can extend shelf life of the leaves (ambient shelf life 4 days) up to 2 weeks. Blanching at 2050F (960C) before drying preserves the green color (TAD).

Chemistry (Culantro) —

As so often happens, the phytochemicals don’t occur in isolation; e.g., the phytosterols in a single extract are many and possibly synergistic: alpha-cholesterol, brassicas-terol, campesterol, stigmasterol (as the main component, 95%), clerosterol, beta-sitosterol, delta 5-avenasterol, delta (5)24-stigmastadienol, and delta 7-avenasterol (Garcia et al., 1999). Here are a few of the more notable chemicals found in culantro. For a complete listing of the phytochemicals and their activities, see the CRC phytochemical compendium,  and , 1993 (DAD) and the USDA database.

Beta-Sitosterol —

ADI = 9-30 g/day/man; Androgenic; Anorectic; Antiadenomic; Antiandrogenic; Antibacterial; Anticancer; Antiestrogenic; Antiedemic IC54 = 320 mg/kg orl; Antifeedant; Antifer-
tility; Antigonadotropic; Antiinflammatory; Antileukemic; Antilymphomic; Antimutagenic 250 Hg/ml; Antiophidic 2.3 mg mus; Antiprogestational; Antiprostaglandin 30 mg/day/12 wk; Antipros-tatadenomic; Antiprostatitic 10-20 mg/3x/day/orl man; Antitumor (Breast); Antitumor (Cervix); Antitumor (Lung); Antiviral; Artemicide LC50 = 110 ppm; Candidicide; Estrogenic; Gonadotropic; Hepatoprotective; Hypocholesterolemic 2-6 g/man/day/orl; Hypoglycemic; Hypolipidemic 2-6 g/day; Hypolipoproteinaemic; Spermicide; Ubiquict; Ulcerogenic 500 mg/kg ipr rat; LD50 = 3000 mg/kg ipr mus; LDlo = >10,000 inj rat.
Delta-5-Avenasterol — Antioxidant.
Delta-7-Avenasterol — Antioxidant.
Stigmasterol — Anesthetic; Anticancer; Antihepatotoxic; Antiinflammatory; Antiophidic 2.3 mg/ipr mus; Antiviral; Artemicide LC50 = 110 ppm; Estrogenic; Hypocholesterolemic; Ovulant; Sedative.

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