Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) Seeds Extract as Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Agent

Department of Pharmacy, AlNoor University College, Nineveh, Iraq

^* Corresponding Author: academicstaff@alnoor.edu.iq

Abstract

recently, the interest in plants is increased in different approaches of science, as it can be used to reinforce multiple materials of industry, as well as exhibit therapeutic properties to many pathologies and pathogens, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidants, and modulating various disorders. The importance of plants is gained from the presence of rich materials with multiple functions (most importantly therapeutic functions) called phytochemicals. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is an herb used as spice and exhibit many biological benefits. Our goal was to prepare an acetone extract of the cardamom seeds and use it as antibacterial, antifungal, and wound healing agent. The antimicrobial activity was investigated against two Gram negative bacterial strains escherichia coli as well as klebsiella sp, also two Gram positive bacterial strains Staphylococcus epidermidis and also Staphylococcus aureus, as well as one fungi (Candida albicans). Our results have shown a good activity of the acetone extract of the cardamom seeds against Gram positive as well as Gram negative bacteria as well as fungi. However, the most powerful effect was obtained against Candida albicans, which make the antifungal properties of cardamom extract over the antibacterial properties in acetone solvent. Furthermore, the effect of acetone extract of cardamom seeds on wound healing was significant, in which the healing was faster in rats whom treated with the extract. As it can exhibit these therapeutic potentials, cardamom can be used in the natural pharmacology field.