How does cardamom work as a digestive aid?

Cardamom functions primarily as a carminative, helping to relieve intestinal gas and bloating. Its active compound, cineole, exhibits antispasmodic effects that relax smooth muscles in the gut, reducing cramping. Additionally, it stimulates digestive enzyme secretion, which facilitates the breakdown of food. These combined actions make it effective for managing dyspepsia and flatulence (Evidence Level C/Traditional).

Is cardamom safe to use during pregnancy?

Cardamom is considered unsafe for medicinal use during pregnancy. While culinary amounts used as a spice are generally acceptable, therapeutic doses may stimulate uterine contractions due to its antispasmodic properties. Pregnant women should avoid concentrated supplements or extracts. Those breastfeeding should also exercise caution due to insufficient safety data regarding therapeutic doses (Evidence Level C).

What is the recommended daily dosage for cardamom seeds?

The standard recommended dosage for adults is 1 to 3 grams of whole pods or crushed seeds daily. This amount is typically used to manage digestive complaints like nausea or flatulence. It can be consumed as a powder, chewed directly, or brewed as a tea. Dosage for children has not been rigorously established (Evidence Level C).

Does cardamom interact with prescription medications?

There are currently no well-documented severe drug interactions for culinary doses of cardamom. However, high therapeutic doses may theoretically affect liver enzymes (CYP450), potentially altering the metabolism of certain drugs. Patients taking anticoagulants or medications with narrow therapeutic indices should consult a healthcare provider before using concentrated cardamom supplements (Evidence Level C).

Who should avoid taking cardamom?

Individuals with gallstones should avoid medicinal doses of cardamom. The herb stimulates bile secretion, which could potentially cause stones to obstruct the bile ducts, leading to severe complications. Additionally, those with allergies to plants in the Zingiberaceae family, such as ginger or turmeric, should exercise caution. Generally, side effects are rare but may include contact dermatitis (Evidence Level C).

Cardamom Seeds (Elettaria cardamomum)

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 29 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a nutraceutical spice with documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic activities [PMID:36835337, PMID:35317114].

Contexte

Elettaria cardamomum, known as small or true cardamom, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family native to Southern India [PMID:37235027, PMID:28070488]. It is highly valued globally for its aroma and taste, often used as a flavoring in sweets, baked goods, and coffee [PMID:7039980, PMID:37235027].

Usages traditionnels

Traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for female reproductive health [PMID:38558676], gastrointestinal disorders [PMID:16298093], asthma, teeth and gum infections, cataracts, nausea, diarrhea, and cardiac or kidney disorders [PMID:31541721]. It has also been used during breastfeeding for infant colic and as a galactogogue [PMID:40460231].

Composés actifs

Major components include alpha-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole [PMID:40460231, PMID:39861065]. Other identified compounds include limonene, cymene, pinene, linalool, borneol, cardamonin, indole-3-carbinol, and diindolylmethane [PMID:39334932], as well as various phenolic compounds and water-soluble alpha-glucans [PMID:35317114, PMID:23795480].

Mécanisme d'action

Cardamom exerts anti-inflammatory effects by lowering the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as NFkB, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and COX2 through the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [PMID:37447289, PMID:34579443]. In mice, it modulates the neuroendocrine axis to regulate food intake, energy expenditure, and adipose tissue lipolysis [PMID:36835337]. It may also target the programmed cell death lignin-1 gene in cancer cells [PMID:39334932].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve DObesity/Weight Management

Intake in mice increased energy expenditure, reduced fat mass, and increased lean mass [PMID:36835337]

Preuve DHypercholesterolemia

Oral administration of cardamom oil in rats significantly reduced total cholesterol (31%), LDL cholesterol (44%), and serum triglycerides (42%) [PMID:27888503]

Preuve DGastric Ulcers

Methanolic extracts and essential oils significantly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and aspirin in rats [PMID:16298093]

Preuve DPeriodontal Infections

Fruit and seed extracts showed antibacterial effects against pathogens including P. gingivalis and inhibited biofilm formation [PMID:31430531]

Preuve DCancer (Ehrlich solid tumors)

Green cardamom alone or combined with cyclophosphamide reduced tumor size and inhibited tumor growth in mice [PMID:33926427]

Preuve DAnxiety-like behavior (PTSD model)

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Cardamom is listed as a rare trigger for anaphylaxis [PMID:29214141].

Grossesse et allaitement

Used during breastfeeding as a treatment for infant colic and as a galactogogue [PMID:40460231].

Synthèse des preuves

The majority of evidence is derived from in vitro studies and animal models (Level D), with some narrative and systematic reviews (Level C) summarizing these findings. Human clinical data are limited or inconclusive.

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 38558676 (2024) — Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines: A Literature Review of Their Applications in Female Reproductive Health. · Cureus
2.PMID: 40460231 (2006) — Functional foods modulating inflammation and metabolism in chronic diseases: a systematic review. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3.PMID: 36835337 (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
4.PMID: 35174687 (2022) — Effectiveness of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) or bay leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) powder in improving the quality of Labneh. · Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
5.PMID: 35317114

Cardamom Seeds

Sources et citations

Costmary

Ravintsara Malagasy

Anise Green

Résumé

Contexte

Usages traditionnels

Composés actifs

Mécanisme d'action

Preuves cliniques

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Grossesse et allaitement

Synthèse des preuves

Sources PubMed

Sources gouvernementales

Cardamom Seeds

Sources et citations

Plantes associées

Costmary

Ravintsara Malagasy

Anise Green

Résumé

Contexte

Usages traditionnels

Composés actifs

Mécanisme d'action

Preuves cliniques

Sécurité et effets indésirables

Grossesse et allaitement

Synthèse des preuves

Sources PubMed

Sources gouvernementales