Omnia SanaCommon names in 15 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, with 18 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Large, rhizomatous perennial herb with tall, reed-like leafy stems (pseudostems) formed by overlapping leaf sheaths, arising from a stout underground rhizome. Small, pale flowers with a violet-veined white lip are borne on separate trailing panicles that grow along the ground from the base of the plant. The fruit is a small, ridged, pale green three-sided capsule (the cardamom pod) containing numerous dark, aromatic seeds.[1]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the moist evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of southern India and Sri Lanka; cultivated in warm, humid, shaded tropical conditions, notably in India, Guatemala and Sri Lanka.[1]
Harvesting
The unripe green pods are hand-picked just before full maturity, then carefully dried (traditionally in the shade or by gentle heat) to preserve the green colour and aromatic oil; the pods are typically used whole or the seeds removed and ground just before use.
Key Constituents
Seed essential oil dominated by 1,8-cineole and alpha-terpinyl acetate, giving the characteristic aroma and much of the carminative, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity.
Additional antioxidant constituents of the seed.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from digestive action
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from antimicrobial action
Traditional Use & History
Cardamom has a long Ayurvedic, Middle Eastern and Asian tradition as a warming digestive carminative for indigestion and bloating, a remedy for respiratory complaints such as asthma and bronchitis, and a valued spice for tea, coffee and cooking.[1]
Preparations
Crushed pods or seeds infused in hot water, or added to tea/coffee, as a traditional carminative digestive preparation.
Dosage
The WHO monograph on Semen Cardamomi gives an average DAILY dosage of 1.5 g of the drug, or equivalent preparations; for tincture, a daily dosage equivalent to 12 g. Note the 1.5 g is a daily total, not a per-dose amount. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Cardamom is generally considered safe for most people when used in culinary amounts. At medicinal doses (supplement form), rare side effects include mild gastrointestinal discomfort and allergic reactions. There are no well-documented serious drug interactions at culinary doses. Cardamom may mildly lower blood pressure - caution if combined with antihypertensive medications. Some sources suggest potential gallstone formation with very high doses, as cardamom may stimulate bile flow. Avoid therapeutic doses during pregnancy until more safety data are available; culinary use is considered safe. Allergy to other Zingiberaceae (ginger, turmeric) may indicate cross-reactivity risk (Korikanthimath and Hiremath, 2002).
Duke (2002) provides clinical support (score 2) for cardamom as a cholagogue, antiviral agent, and appetite stimulant. Commission E and the German PDR (PHR) approve it for loss of appetite and bronchitis (score 2). The essential oil shows antispasmodic and carminative activity. Dose: 1.5 g ground fruit or equivalent preparation three times daily. Duke rates cardamom as generally safe (++), with no significant contraindications at therapeutic doses (Duke, 2002).
Harvest Readiness
[11]
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Ashokkumar, K., Murugan, M., Dhanya, M.K. and Warkentin, T.D (2019) 'Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities of cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton] - A critical review', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 246, pp. 112244. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.112244 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.112244 - Jamal, A., Javed, K., Aslam, M. and Jafri, M.A (2006) 'Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. fruits in rats', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 103(2), pp. 149-153. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.016 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.016 - Yahyazadeh, R., Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M., Razavi, B.M., Karimi, G. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2021) 'The effect of Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) on the metabolic syndrome: Narrative review', Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 24(11), pp. 1462-1469. doi:10.22038/IJBMS.2021.54417.12228 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2021.54417.12228 - Cardenas Garza, G.R., Elizondo Luevano, J.H., Bazaldua Rodriguez, A.F., Chavez Montes, A., Perez Hernandez, R.A. and Martinez Delgado, A.J (2021) 'Benefits of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Extracts for Their Applications as Natural Anti-Inflammatory Adjuvants', Plants, 10(9), pp. 1908. doi:10.3390/plants10091908 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091908 - Sreedharan, S., Nair, V. and Cisneros-Zevallos, L (2023) 'Protective Role of Phenolic Compounds from Whole Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) against LPS-Induced Inflammation in Colon and Macrophage Cells', Nutrients, 15(13), pp. 2965. doi:10.3390/nu15132965 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15132965 - Almeer, R.S., Alnasser, M., Aljarba, N. and AlBasher, G.I (2021) 'Effects of Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) and its combination with cyclophosphamide on Ehrlich solid tumors', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 21(1), pp. 133. doi:10.1186/s12906-021-03305-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03305-2 - Almohammed, H.I., Alkhaibari, A.M. and Alanazi, A.D (2022) 'Antiparasitic effects of Elettaria cardamomum L. essential oil and its main compounds, 1,8-Cineole alone and in combination with albendazole against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces', Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29(4), pp. 2811-2818. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.01.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.01.005 - Pavarino, M., Marengo, A., Cagliero, C., Bicchi, C., Rubiolo, P. and Sgorbini, B (2023) 'Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton Essential Oil: An Interesting Source of Bioactive Specialized Metabolites as Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase', Plants, 12(19), pp. 3463. doi:10.3390/plants12193463 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193463 - Masoumi-Ardakani, Y., Mahmoudvand, H., Mirzaei, A., Esmaeilpour, K., Ghazvini, H. and Khalifeh, S (2017) 'The effect of Elettaria cardamomum extract on anxiety-like behavior in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder', Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 87, pp. 489-495. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.116 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.12.116 - Delgadillo-Puga, C., Torre-Villalvazo, I., Carino-Cervantes, Y.Y., Garcia-Luna, C., Soberanes-Chavez, P. and de Gortari, P (2023) '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, 24(4), pp. 3909. doi:10.3390/ijms24043909 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043909 - Fern, Ken 'Elettaria cardamomum (Useful Tropical Plants)'. Available at: https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Elettaria+cardamomum Traditional / reference
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Elettaria+cardamomum - World Health Organization (2009) 'Semen Cardamomi'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Bhilave, M.P., Bhosale, S.V. and Nadaf, S.B (2013) 'Evaluation of antibacterial activity of cardamom seeds of Elettaria cardamomum', 4(1), pp. 66--69. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Evaluation%20of%20antibacterial%20activity%20of%20cardamom%20seeds%20of%20Elettaria%20cardamomum - Jamal, A., Javed, K., Aslam, M. and Jafri, M.A (2006) 'Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum (Maton) Fruits in Rats', 103(2), pp. 149--153. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.09.040 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.09.040 - Korikanthimath, V.S. and Hiremath, G.M (2002) 'Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)', pp. 144--157. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Cardamom%20%28Elettaria%20cardamomum%20Maton%29 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.) 'Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton'. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:http://ipni.org:names:796793-1 Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:http://ipni.org:names:796793-1 - Verma, S.K., Jain, V. and Katewa, S.S (2009) 'Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)', 46(6), pp. 503--506. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Blood%20pressure%20lowering%2C%20fibrinolysis%20enhancing%20and%20antioxidant%20activities%20of%20cardamom%20%28Elettaria%20cardamomum%29 - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 16 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.