[rosy (OP)]

One of the guys in my lab says cardamom is a really good natural antiviral, and advocates "tea" made from cardamom pods in hot water to speed recovery from colds (and to ward them off if your partner/kids/officemates have got one).

Just thought people on here might be interested

[iko]

Hi rosy,
did you check "cardamom" in PubMed (the 'real thing')?
There are 58 citations since 1950...51 since '90.
I read few and I'll read more, but it seems to have the
usual antioxidant properties (like other flavonoids) and
an aspirin-like activity: anti-inflammatory and anti-
-platelet aggregation.
I didn't search in the 'big basket' (Google), I'm afraid
I would get lost in the mess of commercials and crap.
Me might have a gander sometime.

ikod

Cardamom is "Amomum subulatum"
sounds cool enough...LOL  [^]

http://z.about.com/d/greekfood/1/0/t/1/cardamom-2460-13dec05-399w.jpg

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.

Indian J Exp Biol. 1999 Mar;37(3):238-42.

Cardamom extract as inhibitor of human platelet aggregation.

Suneetha WJ, Krishnakantha TP.
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570 020, India.

The inhibitory activity of cardamom extract was studied on human platelets. Platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet membranes, respectively, obtained from blood of healthy volunteers. Human platelets were subjected to stimulation with a variety of agonists including ADP (2.5 mM), epinephrine (2.5 mM), collagen (10 mM), calcium ionophore A 23187 (6 microM) and ristocetin (1.25 microg/mL). The IC50 were 0.49, 0.21, 0.55 and 0.59 mg with ADP, epinephrine, collagen and calcium ionophore A 23187, respectively, and no inhibition with ristocetin. The inhibitory effect was dose dependent with concentrations varying between 0.14 and 0.70 mg and time dependent at IC50. Lipid peroxidation induced by iron--ascorbic acid system in platelet membranes was analysed with malondialdehyde (MDA) as an index. An increase in concentration of cardamom has decreased the MDA formation significantly.
Hence, it may be said that aqueous extract of cardamom may have component(s), which protect platelets from aggregation and lipid peroxidation. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Phytother Res. 2005 May;19(5):437-40.

[Gaia]

mmmmmmmmm massala tea!

[Hadrian]

HEALTH BENEFITS
Its prime uses are similar to those of cinnamon and ginger—as a carminative, digestant, and stimulant. It is also a valuable flavoring agent for herbal medicinal preparations for indigestion and flatulence.

[AlphBravo]

One of the best things about cardaman is the seeds, as a breath freshener nothing better but a bit bitter!
Goodbye halitosis!

[TonyCap]

Not sure about the health benefits, but I love the taste of cardamom in my tea.  []

[Gurugirl]

Hmmm - good thread - I may have to try this cardamom tea - thanks!