Dose effects of the food spice cardamom on aspects of hamster gut physiology.
The dose effects of pectic polysaccharide-rich extract from the food spice cardamom (Amomum villosum Lour.) on intestinal environment were investigated. The results showed that pectic polysaccharides and hemicellulose were the major polysaccharides in the cardamom extract. The administration of cardamom extract (0.5 and 1.5 g/100 g diet) effectively (p < 0.05) shortened hamster gastrointestinal transit time by approximately 58%, increased fecal moisture contents (148-174%), increased SCFA concentrations in hindgut (4.0- to 7.8-fold), decreased the activities of beta-D-glucuronidase (by 71.4-85.7%), beta-D-glucosidase (by 24.3-51.5%), mucinase (by 63.6-72.7%), and urease (by 88.8-90.4%) in feces, and reduced the production of toxic ammonia (by 16.1-64.5%). These findings suggested that the consumption of cardamom extract (at least 0.5 g/100 g diet or 40 mg/day) might exert a favorable effect on improving the gastrointestinal milieu, and also provide a clue to substantiate its traditional therapeutic uses and dosage for intestinal health improvement.
Huang
Ya-Ling
YL
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yen
Gow-Chin
GC
Sheu
Fuu
F
Lin
Jin-Yuarn
JY
Chau
Chi-Fai
CF
D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D028523:Elettaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010368:Pectins; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014867:Water; D000641:Ammonia; D010368:Pectins