Benefits of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Extracts for Their Applications as Natural Anti-Inflammatory Adjuvants

• Published in: Plants (Basel) 2021-09, Vol.10 (9), p.1908
• Main Authors: Cárdenas Garza, Gustavo R., Elizondo Luévano, Joel H., Bazaldúa Rodríguez, Aldo F., Chávez Montes, Abelardo, Pérez Hernández, Raymundo A., Martínez Delgado, Ameyalli J., López Villarreal, Sonia M., Rodríguez Rodríguez, José, Sánchez Casas, Rosa M., Castillo Velázquez, Uziel, Rodríguez Luis, Osvelia E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Adjuvants; anti-inflammatory; Anti-inflammatory agents; Curcuma longa; Cytokines; cytotoxic activity; Cytotoxicity; E coli; Elettaria cardamomum; extracts; Flavonoids; Gene expression; HeLa cells; Herbal medicine; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Nitric oxide; Peritoneum; Phytochemicals; Reagents; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sterols; Terpinyl acetate; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants10091908

The genus Zingiberaceae has been widely used for phytotherapeutic purposes in traditional medicine throughout the world for its anti-inflammatory activity. Experimental studies have established that inflammation caused by chronic infections represents a risk factor for different forms of cancer. The objective of this study was focused on determining the anti-inflammatory capacity and cytotoxic activity of aqueous extracts of Elettaria cardamomum (cardamom) and Curcuma Longa (turmeric). The extracts were obtained by maceration and, through GC-MS/MS, a total of 11 different chemical components were determined in the aqueous extract of cardamom and 7 in the extract of turmeric. The main compounds found in cardamom and turmeric were α-terpinyl acetate (54.46%) and β-turmerone (33.45%), respectively. RT-qPCR results showed significantly lower gene expression levels of innate inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) compared to the control (LPS). Also, it was observed that the extracts do not possess cytotoxic activity against different cell lines, where E. cardamomum showed EC50 (µg/mL) of 473.84 (HeLa cells), 237.36 (J774A.1 cells), 257.51 (Vero E6 cells), and 431.16 (Balb/C peritoneal cells) and C. longa showed EC50 (µg/mL) of 351.17 (HeLa cells), 430.96 (J774A.1 cells), 396.24 (Vero E6 cells), and 362.86 (Balb/C peritoneal cells). The results of this research suggest that natural extracts of E. cardamomum and C. longa possess anti-inflammatory effects and no cytotoxic activity against HeLa, J774A.1, Vero E6, and Balb/C peritoneal cell lines. Finally, it was observed that the extracts also decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in peritoneal macrophages.