1: Ann Bot (Lond). 2002 Mar;89(3):261/72.
Performance of an age series of alnus/cardamom plantations in the Sikkim
Himalaya: productivity, energetics and efficiencies.
Sharma G, Sharma E, Sharma R, Singh KK.
G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Gangtok, Sikkim,
India.
Biomass, net primary productivity, energetics and energy efficiencies were
estimated in an age series of Alnus/cardamom plantations in the eastern
Himalaya. The impact of stand age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years) on the
performance of mixtures of N2/fixing (Alnus nepalensis) and non/N2/fixing (large
cardamom) plants was studied. Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is the most
important perennial cash crop in the region and is cultivated predominantly
under Alnus trees. Net primary productivity was lowest (7 t ha(/1) per year) in
the 40/year/old stand and was more than three times higher (22 t ha(/1) per
year) in the 15/year/old stand. Agronomic yield of large cardamom peaked between
15 and 20 years of age. Cardamom productivity doubled from the 5/ to the
15/year/old stand, and then decreased with plantation age to reach a minimum in
the 40/year/old stand. Performance of cardamom in association of N2/fixing Alnus
remained beneficial until 20 years of age. Annual net energy fixation was
highest (444 x 10(6) kJ ha(/1) per year) in the 15/year/old stand, being 1.4
times that of the 5/year/old stand and 2.9/times that of the 40/year/old stand.
Inverse relationships of production efficiency, energy conversion efficiency and
energy utilized in N2/fixation against stand age, and a positive relationship
between production efficiency and energy conversion efficiency suggest that the
younger plantations are more productive. The Alnus/cardamom plantation system
will be sustainable by adopting a rotational cycle of 15 to 20 years.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 12096738 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
2: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2001 Apr;47(2):167/71.
1,1/Diphenyl/2/picrylhydrazyl radical/scavenging active compounds from greater
cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.).
Kikuzaki H, Kawai Y, Nakatani N.
Division of Food and Health Science, Graduate School of Human Life Science,
Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi, Osaka, Japan.
Constituents of the fruits of greater cardamom (Amomum subulatum) were
fractionated into three fractions, the dichloromethane extract, and the ethyl
acetate/soluble and water/soluble fractions of the 70% aqueous acetone extract.
The ethyl acetate/soluble fraction showed a high radical/scavenging activity
against 1,1/diphenyl/2/picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Four compounds were isolated from
the ethyl acetate/soluble fraction, and their structures were ascribed to
protocatechualdehyde (1), protocatechuic acid (2),
1,7/bis(3,4/dihydroxyphenyl)hepta/4E,6E/dien/3/one (3) and
2,3,7/trihydroxy/5/(3,4/dihydroxy/E/styryl)/6,7,8,9/tetrahydro/5H/benzocyclohept
ene (4) on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. This is the first isolation of
these compounds from greater cardamom. In particular, 4 was a new type of cyclic
diarylheptanoid. DPPH radical/scavenging activity of these compounds was
measured by colorimetric analysis. Compounds 1 and 3 showed stronger activity
than such natural antioxidants as alpha/tocopherol and L/ascorbic acid.
Compounds 2 and 4 were comparable to alpha/tocopherol and L/ascorbic acid.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 11508709 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
3: J Ethnopharmacol. 2001 May;75(2/3):89/94.
Evaluation of the gastric antiulcerogenic effect of large cardamom (fruits of
Amomum subulatum Roxb).
Jafri MA, Farah, Javed K, Singh S.
Department of Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology), Faculty of Medicine (U), Jamia
Hamdard, 110 062, New Delhi, India.
Large cardamom (fruit of Amomum subulatum Roxb, N.O. Zingiberaceae) commonly
known as 'Heel kalan' or 'Bari Ilaichi' is used in Unani system of medicine in
gastrointestinal disorders. A crude methanolic extract and its different
fractions, viz. essential oil, petroleum ether (60/80 degrees ), ethyl acetate
and methanolic fractions, were studied in rats for their ability to inhibit the
gastric lesions induced by aspirin, ethanol and pylorus ligature. In addition
their effects on wall mucus, output of gastric acid and pepsin concentration
were recorded. The crude methanolic extract of A. subulatum and its fractions,
viz. essential oil, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate, inhibited gastric lesions
induced by ethanol significantly, but not those which were induced by pylorus
ligation and aspirin. However, ethyl acetate fraction increased the wall mucus
in pylorus ligated rats. The results suggest a direct protective effect of ethyl
acetate fraction on gastric mucosal barrier. While the observation of decrease
in gastric motility by essential oil and petroleum ether fractions suggests the
gastroprotective action of the test drug. These investigations validate the use
of 'Heel kalan' in gastrointestinal disorders by Unani physicians.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 11297839 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
4: Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Mar;37(3):238/42.
Anti/oxidant effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark and greater cardamom
(Amomum subulatum) seeds in rats fed high fat diet.
Dhuley JN.
Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Pimpri,
Pune, India.
In order to gain insight into the antioxidant effect of cinnamon (Cinnamomum
verum; Lauraceae) and cardamom (Amomum subulatum; Zingiberaceae) hepatic and
cardiac antioxidant enzymes, glutathione (GSH) content and lipid conjugated
dienes were studied in rats fed high fat diet along with cinnamon or cardamom.
The antioxidant enzyme activities were found to be significantly enhanced
whereas GSH content was markedly restored in rats fed a fat diet with spices. In
addition, these spices partially counteracted increase in lipid conjugated
dienes and hydroperoxides, the primary products of lipid peroxidation. Thus, it
appears that these spices exert antioxidant protection through their ability to
activate the antioxidant enzymes.
PMID: 10641152 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
5: Hindustan Antibiot Bull. 1997 Feb/Nov;39(1/4):56/60.
In vitro evaluation of inhibitory nature of extracts of 18/plant species of
Chhindwara against 3/keratinophilic fungi.
Qureshi S, Rai MK, Agrawal SC.
Department of Botany, Danielson College, Chhindwara, India.
Effect of extract of 18 plant species, viz., Acorus calamus, Adhatoda vasica,
Amomum subulatum, Andrographis paniculata, Boerhaavia diffusa, Cassia
occidentalis, Centella asiatica, Cymbopogon citratus, Hemidesmus indicus, Hyptis
suaveolens, Malvestrum sp., Passiflora edulis, Pergularia daemia, Peristrophe
bicalyculata, Shuteria hirsuta, Solanum nigrum, Tecoma stans, and Verbascum
chinense on the growth of Microsporum gypseum, Chrysosporium tropicum and
Trichophyton terrestre was evaluated and discussed. The sensitivity of the
keratinophilic fungi was evaluated by dry/weight method. The maximum inhibition
of mycelial growth was shown by M. gypseum (86.62%) followed by T. terrestre
(81.86%) and C. tropicum (74.06%) when treated with S. hirsuta whereas the
minimum inhibition was exhibited by M. gypseum (0.29%), C. tropicum (0.16%) and
T. terrestre (1.76%) when tested with the extract of P. edulis, A. vasica and B.
diffusa respectively.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 10386016 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Planta Med. 1976 Jun;29(4):391/2.
Cardamonin and alpinetin from the seeds of Amomum subulatum.
Bheemasankara Rao C, Namosiva Rao T, Suryaprakasam S.
PMID: 959382 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
