Abstract
Cardamom, a dietary phytoproduct, is the most popular spice in the world, and its beneficial health properties are gaining more and more attention. Small cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. (Family: Zingiberaceae)] has been used for traditional therapeutic applications, including the management of asthma, teeth and gum infections, cataracts, nausea, diarrhea and heart, digestive and kidney disorders. Numerous studies have demonstrated the biological activity of cardamom and its polyphenols, including antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic control.1,8-cineole, and its esters, Limonene, a-terpinyl acetates are the most abundant bioactive constituents in cardamom. They are known to be multifunctional compounds that can be efficient in the prevention or treatment of various types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory conditions, digestive disorders, as well as infectious bacterial and fungal diseases. In this review, we summarized the up-to-date research and underlying molecular mechanisms of cardamom and its active components.