Black cardamom can prevent lung cancer

 SINGAPORE: Black cardamom or elder cardamom is commonly used especially in the East and now a biological compound has been discovered that can not only prevent lung cancer but also treat cancer.

National University of Singapore (NUS) scientists have said that black cardamom, which has long been used in medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, has been used in the treatment of lungs. Now an important biologically active compound has been found in it which not only prevents lung cancer but can also increase the life span of its patients.

Two NUS institutes have provided evidence that black cardamom can be very beneficial. It contains two main components called cardamonin and alpinatin. Both of these compounds have been alternately tested on lung, breast and liver cancer cells.

According to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, components of black cardamom protect against lung cancer. Scientists say that its sap is commonly used in chest congestion, cough, tuberculosis and respiratory and throat diseases while doctors also use it in cancer.

Experts tested black cardamom seed extract on breast, liver and lung cancer cells, and it best inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells.

This is because compounds called cardamonin and alpinatin in black cardamom proved to be very important and they destroyed cancer cells very quickly.

This important research is expected to open new avenues of natural treatment against lung cancer.