Pharmacological and safety evaluation studies on cardamom elettaria cardamomum: an important ingredient of gahwa [arabian coffee]

ABSTRACT

An aqueous suspension of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum was tested for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by pylorus ligation, indomethacin and cytodestructive agents [80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCI] in rats. The cardamom suspension at doses [250 and 500 mg/kg] exhibited significant decrease in basal gastric secretions and ulcers induced by Shay rats and indomethacin in rats. The suspension also significantly protected gastric mucosal against necrotizing agents. Histopathological evaluation revealed no significant pathological changes in the stomach of rats after 80% ethanol challenge. The LD[50] of cardamom was found to be 26.0 g/kg in mice. A large margin of safety was observed in animals in acute and chronic toxicity tests. Treatment with cardamom suspension did not induce any significant changes in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes [PCE] and the ratio of PCE and normochromatic erythrocytes [NCE] at both doses used as compared to control group. In conclusion, cardamom showed a significant antisecretory and antiulcer activities without causing any deleterious effects in acute, prolong administration and genotoxicity in the animals