Abstract
The present study reports the antioxidant and antimutaganic potential of the aqueous (30 and 70%) and acidified (0.5 and 1 N) methanolic extracts from seeds and pods of green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). The Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC) of extracts were determined by Follin-Ciocalteu reagent. Antioxidant activity of the extracts produced was evaluated by the measurements of 2, 2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and percentage inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation method, whereas mutagenic and antimutagenic activities were assessed using Ames bacterial test. The TPC, scavenging of DPPH degrees and inhibition of linoleic acid were found to be 27.75-126.35 mg gallic acid equivalent g(-1) DW, 46-91% at 5 mg L-1 of extract concentration and 34-83%, respectively. Furthermore, the extracts of seeds and pods of green cardamom showed strong antimutagenic potential against mutant strains S. typhimurium TA98 and S. typhimurium TA100 while none of the extract showed mutagenicity. The results of this study support that the extracts from cardamom seeds and pods can be explored as potential chemotherapeutic agents against cancer as well as for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.