Gut modulatory, blood pressure lowering, diuretic and sedative activities of cardamom.
BACKGROUND
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To rationalize cardamom use in constipation, colic, diarrhea, hypertension and as diuretic.


METHODS
Cardamom crude extract (Ec.Cr) was studied using in vitro and in vivo techniques.


RESULTS
Ec.Cr caused atropine-sensitive stimulatory effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum at 3-10mg/ml. In rabbit jejunum preparations, Ec.Cr relaxed spontaneous and K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions as well as shifted Ca++ curves to right, like verapamil. Ec.Cr (3-100mg/kg) induced fall in the arterial blood pressure (BP) of anaesthetized rats, partially blocked in atropinized animals. In endothelium-intact rat aorta, Ec.Cr relaxed phenylephrine (1 microM)-induced contractions, partially antagonized by atropine and also inhibited K+ (80 mM) contractions. In guinea-pig atria, Ec.Cr exhibited a cardio-depressant effect. Ec.Cr (1-10mg/kg) produced diuresis in rats, accompanied by a saluretic effect. It enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice. Bio-assay directed fractionation revealed the separation of spasmogenic and spasmolytic components in the aqueous and organic fractions respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that cardamom exhibits gut excitatory and inhibitory effects mediated through cholinergic and Ca++ antagonist mechanisms respectively and lowers BP via combination of both pathways. The diuretic and sedative effects may offer added value in its use in hypertension and epilepsy.
Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu <anwar.gilani@aku.edu>
Anwarul Hassan
AH
Gilani
Qaiser
Q
Jabeen
Arif-ullah
AU
Khan
Abdul Jabbar
AJ
Shah
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D028523:Elettaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013035:Spasm / Q000139:chemically induced
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010936:Plant Extracts