Composition and Functional Properties of Cardamom Essential Oil

Abstract

Cardamom is a valuable spice grown mainly in Guatemala and India. The plant has a pleasant unique aroma and a rich essential oil content, of which oxygenated monoterpenes are the major fraction. ?-Terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole are cardamom essential oil’s two most important volatile compounds. The essential oil of cardamom has many usage areas, including the food industry and perfumery. Several studies revealed the positive health impact of cardamom essential oil, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, cholesterol-lowering, anti-hypercholesterolemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Cardamom essential oil is mainly extracted using hydro-distillation; however, many other techniques, including enzyme-assisted hydro-distillation, solvent-free microwave extraction, and instant controlled pressure drop, have also been used for the extraction. This chapter reviews the chemical composition of cardamom essential oil, extraction techniques, and health benefits by summarizing recent studies. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.