• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3735-3742
• /
• 2013

Background: Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom), also known as "Queen of Spices", has been traditionally used as a culinary ingredient due to its pleasant aroma and taste. In addition to this role, studies on cardamom have demonstrated cancer chemopreventive potential in in vitro and in vivo systems. Nevertheless, the precise poly-pharmacological nature of naturally occurring chemo-preventive compounds in cardamom has still not been fully demystified. Methods:In this study, an effort has been made to identify the proapoptopic, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic targets of Cardamom's bioactive principles (eucalyptol, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, d-limonene and geraniol) by employing a dual reverse virtual screening protocol. Experimentally proven target information of the bioactive principles was annotated from bioassay databases and compared with the virtually screened set of targets to evaluate the reliability of the computational identification. To study the molecular interaction pattern of the anti-tumor action, molecular docking simulation was performed with Auto Dock Pyrx. Interaction studies of binding pose of eucalyptol with Caspase 3 were conducted to obtain an insight into the interacting amino acids and their inter-molecular bondings. Results:A prioritized list of target proteins associated with multiple forms of cancer and ranked by their Fit Score (Pharm Mapper) and descending 3D score (Reverse Screen 3D) were obtained from the two independent inverse screening platforms. Molecular docking studies exploring the bioactive principle targeted action revealed that H- bonds and electrostatic interactions forms the chief contributing factor in inter-molecular interactions associated with anti-tumor activity. Eucalyptol binds to the Caspase 3 with a specific framework that is well-suited for nucleophilic attacks by polar residues inside the Caspase 3 catalytic site. Conclusion:This study revealed vital information about the poly-pharmacological anti-tumor mode-of-action of essential oils in cardamom. In addition, a probabilistic set of anti-tumor targets for cardamom was generated, which can be further confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.130-134
• /
• 2008

Diarrhoea is a major health care problem in developing countries. Elettaria cardamomum Maton fruits, commonly known as cardamom are widely used for flavoring purposes in food. In this study we evaluated the antidiarrhoeal activity of hot water extract of cardamom against experimental diarrhoeal models on mice. Cardamom extract showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity against castor oil and magnesium sulphate induced models. Whereas, the gastrointestinal motility was slightly increased.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2007

The prevalence and population density of the mycobiota of 50 samples belonging to 10 kinds of spices (anise, black pepper, red pepper, black cumin, peppermint, cardamom, clove, cumin, ginger and marjoram) which collected from different places in Jeddah Governorate were studied. The natural occurrence of mycotoxins in those samples was also investigated. Fifteen genera and thirty-one species of fungi in addition to one species variety were isolated and identified during this study. The most common genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Aflatoxins ($12{\sim}40\;{\mu}g/kg$) were detected in the extract of 5 samples of each of anise seeds and black pepper fruits; three samples of black cumin seeds and on sample only of each of peppermint and marjoram leaves out of 5 samples tested of each. Sterigmatocystin ($15{\sim}20\;{\mu}g/kg$) was detected in some samples of red pepper, cumin and marjoram. The inhibitory effects of 10 kinds of powdered spices were tested against 3 toxigenic isolates of fungi (Aspergillus flavus, A. versicolor and Penicillium citrinum). Clove proved to be antimycotic compounds. It inhibited the growth of the tested toxigenic fungi. Black pepper, peppermint, cardamom, cumin and marjoram completely inhibited aflatoxins production, while black pepper and cardamom also completely inhibited sterigmatocystin production.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.319-323
• /
• 2019

Impatiens cardamomensis S. H. Cho, C. K. Lim & H. Won, a new species of the family Balsaminaceae from the Cardamom Mountain Range in southwestern Cambodia, is described and illustrated. The species is similar to I. noei from Thailand in that it possesses solitary flowers, fusiform capsules, and compressed seeds, but is readily distinguished by its ovate to widely ovate leaves, shorter petioles, widely elliptic dorsal petals and smaller seeds.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.743-757
• /
• 2023

The formulation of a novel functional fresh apple juice enriched with dietary prebiotic fiber (inulin or polydextrose), ginger extract (GE), and cardamom essential oil (CEO) was carried out based on a combined D-optimal design. In the first stage, sensory evaluation was performed to screen and select the optimum sample for further experiments. The sensory evaluation showed that the sample containing inulin 0.25 g/100 g GE and 0.03 g/100 g CEO had the highest organoleptic score. In the second stage, various chemical experiments, including pH, acidity, formalin index, total phenol, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, and vitamin C content, were evaluated on the selected enriched apple juices. The addition of GE and CEO caused changes in nutritional characteristics, including antioxidant capacity, total phenol, flavonoids, vitamin C, and IC50, from 35 g/100 g, 350 mg GAE/g, 17 mg/L, 370 mg/kg, and 1,800 mg/kg to 45 g/100 g, 460 mg GAE/g, 21 mg/L, 420 mg/kg, and 1,200 mg/kg respectively. The steady shear flow and dynamic oscillatory shear rheological tests were also performed on the screened samples, and results showed that the addition of dietary fiber in apple juices increased the apparent viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity. In general, adding plant extracts and processed essential oil to apple juice increased the nutritional-nutraceutical value and sensory attributes of apple juice.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.301-305
• /
• 2016

Two newly recorded species of Melastomataceae, Medinilla rubicunda and M. septentrionalis, were found from the Phnom Bokor National Park and the Central Cardamom Protected Forest in Cambodia. Medinilla rubicunda is similar to M. laurifolia from Indonesia (Sumatra and Java) and Thailand, but is readily distinguished from the latter by its shorter petiole and a cyme bearing fewer than six flowers. Medinilla septentrionalis is similar to M. nana from China (Yunnan) and Vietnam, but is clearly distinguished from the latter by its terete branchlets, which have a thin and not a corky bark. Descriptions, photographs, and a diagnostic key of the three species of Cambodian Medinilla are provided for species identification.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.158-163
• /
• 2016

Mushroom surveys and collections were conducted in the western and eastern forest areas in Cambodia, and then fungal biodiversity was analyzed by identifying mushrooms. One thousand and three hundreds eighty three specimens were identified by morphological and genetical characteristics, and were classified into 238 species, 160 genera, 52 families, 15 orders, and 3 phylums. The collected mushrooms were immersed in 70% ethyl alcohol for DNA extraction, and the rest of them were dried in the portable mushroom dryer for 12 hrs. Among these mushrooms, the genera Mycena (8.7%), Ganoderma (5.6%), Microporus (5.3%), Marasmius (4.2%), Marasmiellus (3.0%), Phellinus (2.5%), Trametes (2.5%), Hygrocybe (1.9%) and Pycnoporus (1.5%) were dominant. In the western Cambodia, 1,061 specimens were collected from Koh Kong forests, while 263 specimens were collected from the eastern Cambodia, Seima and Mondulkiri forests. Elevations of surveyed sites were ranged from 0 to 750 m above sea level. The number of species observed in the elevation of 251-500 m was the highest as compared to the other ranges of elevation. Daldinia concentrica, Microporus vernicipes, Microporus xanthopus, Pycnoporus coccineus, Stereum hirsutum, and Stereum ostrea were commonly distributed in all ranges of elevation, while the distribution of Ceratomyxa fruticulosa, Panus fulvus, Schizophyllum, Trametes versicolor, and Tyromyces chioneus were limited under 500 m. One hundred and forty one species including Amauroderma sp., Bjerkandera adusta, Trichaptum abietinum, and Tyromyces chioneus were collected only in Cardamom, while 20 species including Auricularia auricula-judae, Coriolopsis sanguinaria, Rigidoporus microporus, and Xylaria polymorpha were collected only in Seima. Ganoderma sp., Mycena sp., Marasmius sp., Microporus xanthopus, Phellinus sp., and Russula sp. were dominant species in both the western and eastern Cambodia. Species diversity indices in the eastern and western survey sites were 1.83 and 1.77, respectively, while evenness indices were 0.92 and 0.90. The species similarity index between two survey sites was 0.42.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.49-65
• /
• 2017

Overall, 3,950 mushroom specimens were collected from the Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF) in Koh Kong province, the Kirirom National Park (KNP) in Kampong Speu province, the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area (SBCA) in Kratie province, the Mondulkiri Protected Forest (MPF) in Mondulkiri province, the Phnom Bokor National Park (PBNP) in Kampot province, the Western Siem Pang Protected Forest (SPPF) in Stung Treng province, the Ream National Park (RNP) in Sihanoukville province of Cambodia from 2009 to 2014, and then they were identified and classified into 302 species, 165 genera, and 64 families by morphological and genetical characteristics. The mushrooms belongs to Ascomycota were classified into 26 species, 14 genera, and 10 families, while those belongs to Basidiomycota were classified into 276 species, 151 genera, and 54 families, respectively. Among these mushrooms, the most species-rich families are Polyporaceae (26.2%), Marasmiaceae (9.1%), Ganodermataceae (7.7%), Hymenochaetaceae (7.5%), and Mycenaceae (7.1%), and comprised 57.5% of the total specimens identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.1590-1595
• /
• 2009

Alternative methods for controlling bacterial endospore contamination are desired in a range of industries and applications. Attention has recently turned to natural products, such as essential oils, which have sporicidal activity. In this study, a selection of essential oils was investigated to identify those with activity against Bacillus subtilis spores. Spores were exposed to 13 essential oils, and surviving spores were enumerated. Cardamom, tea tree, and juniper leaf oils were the most effective, reducing the number of viable spores by 3 logs at concentrations above 1%. Sporicidal activity was enhanced at high temperatures ($60^{\circ}C$) or longer exposure times (up to 1 week). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified the components of the active essential oils. However, none of the major oil components exhibited equivalent activity to the whole oils. The fact that oil components, either alone or in combination, did not show the same level of sporicidal activity as the complete oils suggested that minor components may be involved, or that these act synergistically with major components. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine spores after exposure to essential oils and suggested that leakage of spore contents was the likely mode of sporicidal action. Our data have shown that essential oils exert sporicidal activity and may be useful in applications where bacterial spore reduction is desired.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-27
• /
• 2004

The following are the conclusions obtained by the philological study of the prescriptions introduced in Dongeuybogam such as Pyungwuisan, Pyungwuisan-added prescriptions, Pyungwuisan blended prescriptions: 1. Pyungwuisan and drugs based on Pyungwuisan were prescribed for stomach diseases, food poisoning, indigestion, impaired spleen, symptoms developed by dampness, diseases caused by changing water, diarrhea, edema, malignant malaria, an intestinal convulsion, blood in excrement, malaria, abortion, sparrow eye. 2. Dual prescriptions using Pyungwuisan and other independent prescriptions were applied to internal diseases concerning digestion, diarrhea and dysentery, abscess, intestinal swelling jaundice, symptoms developed by dampness, malaria, vomit, etc. 3. Etiological factors and diseases for which Pyungwuisan and medicines based on Pyungwuisan, dual prescriptions using Pyungwuisan were prescribed, were surveyed to include indigestion, weak spleen and stomach, drying dampness of spleen and stomach, dysfunctioning gall bladder, infection, damaged internals, external sensitiveness and internal damage, hypochondria, chilliness due to lack of chi. 4. A prescription for each disease needed specially added medicines to Pyungwuisan as the following: 1) For indigestion and dyspepsia, Pyungwuisan were prescribed with optional addition of Hoisaengsan, Sagunjatang, Ryukgunjatang, Ijintang, Sosihotang, etc., according to the symptoms, and were most frequently used with aromatic and digestive medicines such as mawwa medivata fermentata, malt, natgrass galingale rhizome, vilous amomum fruit, aucklandia root, round cardamom seed etc. 2) For diseases originated from damage by coldness, Pyungwuisan was taken with suitable amount of Jichulhwan, Hyangsosan, Hyangyusan, according to the symptoms. 3) For diarrhea and dysentery, Pyungwuisan were prescribed with the recipes of Oryeongsan, Sambaektang, Ijintang. 4) For jaundice, prescriptions always included natgrass galingale rhizome in the recipe of Pyungwuisan. 5) For malaria, mostly added prescriptions to Pyungwuisan were Sagunjatang, Ryukgunjatang, Ijintang, with usual addition of antifebrile dichroa root, tsaoko, green tangerine orange peel. 6) Pyungwuisan was prescribed with Hoisaengsan for vomit, with Oryeongsan for edema, and with kinds of Ueolgukhwan for hypochondria.