Cardamom — a spice that soothes the stomach and freshens the breath?

Aim of the study: Research shows that herbal spices, including seeds of Elettaria cardamomum, may have beneficial effects on unhealthy metabolic status. This study is a systematic review of the effects of green cardamom in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.

Results: However, cardamom supplementation did not significantly affect systolic blood pressure. This meta-analysis showed that green cardamom could improve blood pressure control and have anti-inflammatory effects, which could help patients with an unhealthy metabolic profile better manage their health. Importantly, few randomized trials met the eligibility criteria, and the number of participants was quite low. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes and longer supplementation periods are needed before it can be widely used.

Aim of the study: To assess the effectiveness of alternative medicine for treating nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), three major databases—PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus—were systematically searched from their inception until January 14, 2019, to investigate the effects of herbal medicines on NVP. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale.

Results: This systematic review confirmed the findings of earlier systematic reviews, using a larger sample size. Ginger was more effective than vitamin B, but at doses of 35–500 mg, ginger and vitamin B6 had the same effect. However, over a longer treatment period (60 days), vitamin B6 was found to be more effective than ginger. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and further research? Matricaria chamomilla, Elettaria cardamomum, pomegranate and spearmint syrup, lemon, and ginger can be recommended to pregnant women to relieve NVP.

Aim of the study: Up to 85% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP), which can affect both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM), including acupuncture and herbal medicine, has been used to treat NVP; however, its effectiveness remains under debate.

Results: A total of 20,121 publications were retrieved from the databases. Twenty-five systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria, indicating that acupuncture and related techniques, as well as herbal medicines, are effective in relieving NVP. The methods used included traditional acupuncture, acupressure, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, herbal acupoint patches, and herbal decoctions. Herbs such as ginger and additional aromatherapy treatments such as lemon and cardamom have also shown beneficial effects. However, there is disagreement about the consistency of the results and the quality of the methods. Despite a low risk of bias across the reviews, all were rated low or critically low in methodological quality, and none fully followed PRISMA guidelines. This comprehensive review highlights the potential of TEAM for managing NVP but points to significant gaps in research quality and reporting.

Aim of the study: The global prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly. While blood sugar control remains the cornerstone of managing type 2 diabetes (T2DM), glucose-lowering medicines are associated with side effects. Many people with T2DM use herbal medicines despite potential risks. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for T2DM.

Results: Eight meta-analyses and two systematic reviews were included. Ginger, turmeric, and Jinlida granules significantly decreased HbA1c compared with placebo (mean differences (MD): -0.467%, -0.486%, and -0.283%, respectively), with moderate- to high-certainty evidence. Berberis vulgaris, Gegen Qinlian decoction, and pycnogenol may potentially decrease HbA1c, but the evidence is very uncertain. Ginger, turmeric, cardamom, Berberis vulgaris, Nigella sativa, and various Chinese herbal medicines improved measures of insulin resistance. However, confidence in these findings is limited overall because the included reviews were of low to very low quality. A few mild adverse effects were reported, but the data were incomplete. Current evidence supports the use of ginger and turmeric for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes; however, given the high clinical variability and low quality of the review, confidence in this finding is somewhat limited.

Aim of the study: Chemical profiling of phenolic and terpenoid compounds in whole cardamom, its skin, and its seeds (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) identified 11 phenolics and 16 terpenoids, many of which were reported for the first time. Here, we report the anti-inflammatory properties of a methanolic extract of whole cardamom in colon and macrophage cells stimulated with the inflammatory bacterial substance lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Results: In macrophages, cardamom extracts lowered the expression of the pro-inflammatory genes NFkβ, TNFα, IL-6, and COX2 and decreased NO levels by reducing ROS and increasing the gene expression of the nuclear receptors LXRα and PPARγ. Cardamom extracts at concentrations of 200–800 μg/mL showed no toxic effects in colon or macrophage cells. The methanolic extracts of whole cardamom contained high levels of phenolic compounds (such as protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and are likely responsible for the anti-inflammatory and multifunctional effects observed in this study. These findings suggest that cardamom may play a protective role against low-grade inflammation, providing a basis for future in vivo studies using mouse models of inflammation and associated chronic diseases.

Aim of the study: Cardamom is one of the world's best-known spices and is also used in the traditional medicine of many cultures. Modern research aims to clarify its therapeutic potential in various diseases.

Results: The extracts showed strong anti-inflammatory activity in tests, with the ethanolic extract being more active. As for their blood sugar-lowering activity, the extracts inhibited α-amylase but had no activity against α-glucosidase. Antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Prototheca zopfii was observed at high concentrations. This study suggests that cardamom has preliminary in vitro potential to affect carbohydrate metabolism and inflammatory conditions.

Aim of the study: A comprehensive account of CMH's ethnomedicinal uses, modern identification techniques, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities.

Results: Our findings indicate that CMH are widely used in various ethnic medical systems in China and have distinct therapeutic uses. For example, AK is used mainly in Mongolian medicine for kidney disorders, while MF is used predominantly in Tibetan medicine for cardiovascular conditions. CMH can be identified comparatively using GC, HPLC, and TLC. Their main bioactive constituents include diphenylheptanes, lignans, and diterpenoids. Traditional ethnic medical texts mainly document their use for treating gastrointestinal disorders. However, current research focuses primarily on their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. The traditional medicinal uses of CMH deserve further study through interdisciplinary approaches that combine ethnopharmacological knowledge with modern pharmacological testing.

Aim of the study: Given the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance in poultry, this study investigated the potential of Javanese cardamom essential oil (JCEO) and dried turmeric (DT) as alternative treatments for colibacillosis by evaluating their effects on the spleen.

Results: The groups given the herb combination had the lowest severity grade, with compact lymphoid follicles and reduced vasculitis. The group given a single dose of JCEO showed reduced bacterial growth both in vitro and in vivo, as well as a mild vasculitis score, indicating antibacterial activity. In contrast, treatment with DT alone and the antibiotic groups showed moderate spleen lesion damage. These findings suggest that JCEO kills bacteria, while DT has an anti-inflammatory effect, and that the two work synergistically when combined.