Cardamom

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Synonyms: Grains of paradise, Cardamon, Cardamoni fructus

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Biological source:

Botanical name: Elettaria cardamomum

Part used: nearly ripe fruits

Family: Zingiberaceae

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Geographical source:

Cultivated in Srilanka, Malaysia, India and Nepal

Macroscopical features (fruit)

• Color: greenish to pale buff

Odor: aromatic and pleasant

• Taste: strongly aromatic
• Shape: ovoid or oblong
• Size: capsules are 1-2 cm in length
• Other features:
• Capsule has three loculi with membranous septa.
• Capsule consist of 15-20 seeds adhering together to form compact mass.
• Seeds are about 4 mm long,3 mm broad irregular, angular and is enclosed in colorless, membranous aril.

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Microscopical features (Seeds)

• The seed has external aril composed of few layers of thin walled elongated cells with small globules of oils
• Epidermis of testa consist of elongated fusiform cells.
• Outer integument (outer seed coat) consist of a layer of small celled, flattened parenchyma, then a single layer of of large rectangular cells and then 2-3 layers of small cell parenchyma.
• Inner integument (inner seed coat) consist of outer beaker shaped cells and inner narrow hyaline (translucent) band.
• The perisperm consist of parenchymatous cells filled starch grains and calcium oxalate crystals.
• The perisperm encloses the endosperm and the embryo both composed of thin walled cells rich in proteins.

Note: Raphae is the ridge formed by uniion of funicle with body of ovule

Chemical constituents

Contains 2 to 8% volatile oils

Cineole is the prominent compound (50%). In addition there are borneol, terpineol, terpinene etc.

cineole

α terpineol

Pharmacological action / Uses

• Carminative, stimulant, stomachic, aromatic and flavoring agent
• Used as flavoring agent in pharmaceutical syrup, curries.
• Used for the preparation of compound cardamom tincture.
• Useful for bronchitis, various aliments of the liver, kidney, uterus and rectum.