European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BIOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC USES OF AMOMUM SUBULATUM ROXB: A REVIEW

Uzma Parveen, Mohd Maaz*, Mohd Mujeeb and Umar Jahangir

ABSTRACT

Amomum subulatum Roxb (Zingiberaceae) is commonly known as „Badi Elaichi‟ or Greater Cardamom is a well known Indian medicinal plant widely used in the treatment of many clinical conditions. It is a perennial herbaceous crop, cultivated mainly in marshy places across hills near water streams. It is a well known spice, used as flavouring agent to various dishes native to the Eastern Himalayan region particularly Bhutan, Nepal, and India. It is reported as an official drug in Unani as well as Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. The major constituent of large cardamom is volatile oil (2-4%). It is the principal aroma-giving compound and 1, 8-cineole is the major active compound, in an extent 60 to 80% of the total volatile oil. The monoterpene hydrocarbon content range is from 5 to 17%, out of which lamonene, sabeinene, and pinenes are significant components. Terpinols comprise approximately 5 to 7% of the oil. Its uses has been described by Hakeem Kabiruddin in his book “Makhzanul-mufradat”. Seeds and dry ripe fruit are used for its therapeutic actions such as stimulant (muharriq), laxative (mulayyan), aromatic (moattar), carminative (kasir riyah) and gastroprotective (Muqawwi-e-meda), cardioprotective (nuqavi-qalb) property. Keeping in view the medicinal properties of A. subulatum Roxb (Badi Elaichi) an attempt has been made to give overview on the processing technology, chemistry, bioactivity and therapeutic uses of large cardamom and its components and to discuss on some lagging aspects.

Keywords: Amomum subulatum Roxb, Stimulant, Aromatic, Unani medicine, Biological activity.