title: Anti-hypercholesterolemic influence of the spice cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) in experimental rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is an aromatic seed spice grown extensively in India and used as a flavoring in sweets. In this study, the anti-hypercholesterolemic effect of cardamom was evaluated in Wistar rats by inducing hypercholesterolemia with a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Dietary interventions were made with (a) cardamom powder (50 g kg-1), (b) cardamom oil (3 g kg-1, equivalent to 50 g kg-1cardamom) and (c) de-oiled cardamom powder (50 g kg-1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in blood total cholesterol (31%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (44%) was observed by oral administration of cardamom oil in hypercholesterolemic rats, accompanied by a marked decrease in serum triglycerides by 42%. The cholesterol content of cardiac muscle was beneficially lowered by 39% with administration of cardamom oil in hypercholesterolemic rats. Liver triglycerides were reduced by 33%. Incorporation of cardamom oil/powder in the diet did not alter feed consumption by rats. Compromised activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in the hypercholesterolemic situation were generally countered by dietary cardamom. Treatment with de-oiled cardamom as well as cardamom oil countered the diminished activity of catalase in hypercholesterolemic animals. Cardamom also enhanced the activity of heart superoxide dismutase in the hypercholesterolemic situation. The concentration of ascorbic acid in serum was significantly increased by dietary cardamom or its fractions in the hypercholesterolemic situation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This animal study has established the potential of cardamom oil in restoring the alteration in lipid homeostasis in conditions of hypercholesterolemia. The significant reduction in atherogenicity index by dietary intervention with cardamom powder and cardamom oil indicates the potential cardioprotective effect of cardamom. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spice and Flavour Science, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 026, India.
authors.forename: Shamarao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagashree
authors.affiliation: Department of Spice and Flavour Science, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 026, India.
authors.forename: Kottangada K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Archana
authors.affiliation: Department of Spice and Flavour Science, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 026, India.
authors.forename: Pullabhatla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 026, India.
authors.forename: Krishnapura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Spice and Flavour Science, CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 026, India.
authors.forename: Halagur B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sowbhagya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D028523:Elettaria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017365:Spices / Q000032:analysis*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase
keywords: antioxidant enzymes; atherogenicity index; blood cholesterol; dietary cardamom; hypercholesterolemia