Low temperature extraction of essential oil bearing plants by liquefied gases. 7. Seeds from cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum /L./ Maton)

Abstract

The chemical composition of extract from the seeds of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton, obtained by extraction with tetrafluoroethane was analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The major compounds (concentration higher than 3%) of extract were: terpinyl acetate (36.8%), 1,8-cineole (29.2%), linalyl acetate (5.2%), sabinene (3.9%) and linalool (3.1%). The studied extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Salmonella abony and was inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract possessed low antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals.

Keywords

• antimicrobial activity
• antioxidant activity
• cardamom
• extraction with tetrafluoroethane