Elettaria cardamomum
Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomum, commonly known as cardamom, is a highly prized aromatic spice belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. Renowned for its intense flavor and sweet-spicy aroma, this medicinal plant offers significant therapeutic benefits, including digestive support, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a cornerstone of traditional herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Elettaria cardamomum
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Zingiberales, it is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. Finally, its specific taxonomic classification is placed within the genus Elettaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Zingiberales | WCVP |
| Family | Zingiberaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Elettaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Elettaria cardamomum, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 小豆蔻 (zh), while in Tibetan, it is called སུག་སྨེལ། (bo). In Javanese, the plant is known as Kapulaga (jv), and it is called kardamon malabarski (pl) in Polish. Additionally, in the Basque language, it is known as Kardamomo (eu).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 小豆蔻 | Wikidata |
| bo | སུག་སྨེལ། | Wikidata |
| jv | Kapulaga | Wikidata |
| pl | kardamon malabarski | Wikidata |
| eu | Kardamomo | Wikidata |
| gd | Càrdamon | Wikidata |
| bs | Kardamom | Wikidata |
| es | Cardamomo | Wikidata |
| ta | ஏலம் | Wikidata |
| or | ଅଳେଇଚ | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several tropical regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it is naturally found in both India and Bangladesh. Its presence extends into the Indo-China region, specifically inhabiting the landscapes of Cambodia and Thailand. Additionally, the species can be found in the Western Indian Ocean on the island of Réunion. Together, these locations highlight the wide range of environments where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Lesser Sunda Is. | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Trinidad-Tobago | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Elettaria cardamomum, commonly known as cardamom, utilizes various components for its medicinal and aromatic properties. The most economically significant part consists of the small, dark, aromatic seeds contained within the pods, which are widely used for their digestive and carminative benefits. The plant also produces delicate, white, bell-shaped flowers that play a vital role in its reproductive cycle. Furthermore, the plant is a rich source of essential oil, which is extracted from the seeds and contains the complex volatile compounds responsible for its intense fragrance and potent therapeutic effects.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Essential Oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Elettaria cardamomum has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,8-cineole, (1R,4R)-(+)-camphor, ABA, borneol, cardamonin.
- Total chemicals
- 20
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1,8-cineole | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (1R,4R)-(+)-camphor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ABA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| borneol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardamonin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carotenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cymene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diindolylmethane | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fenchene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fenchone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Elettaria cardamomum has 8 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Androgenic, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 8
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Androgenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifeedant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Estrogenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Elettaria cardamomum has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 24 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include COPD, COVID-19, E. coli, Fungal infections, NAFLD.
- Total uses
- 24
- Scientific sources
- 24
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| COPD | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| E. coli | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fungal infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| NAFLD | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atopic dermatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood pressure | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiac disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |