Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) perinatal exposure effects on the development, behavior and biochemical parameters in mice offspring

Abstract

Cardamom is a strong antioxidant plant, so it is called the queen of spices. In the present study, we explored the potentials of cardamom on developmental, learning ability and biochemical parameters of mice offspring. Thirty pregnant mice were allocated to three groups of ten animals in each. Groups Π and Ш received pilsbury's Diet containing 10 and 20% of cardamom (w/w) respectively, whereas Group I used as control. Cardomom was administered from the first day of pregnancy and was continued until post-natal day 15 (PD 15) and thereafter the mothers were switched to plain pilsbury's Diet. During the weaning period, three pups in each litter were color marked from the others, and were subjected to various tests (Physical assessment such body weight and eye opening and hair appearance; the neuromaturation of reflexes like righting, rotating, and cliff avoidance reflexes; learning ability and memory retention; estimation of monoamines neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, non-enzymatic oxidative stress such as TBARS and GSH in forebrain at different ages of pups). The results indicated that the body weight gain was declining significantly. Hair appearance and eyes opening were delayed significantly. Righting, rotating, and cliff avoidance reflexes were delayed in treated animals. Exposure to cardamom led to enhance learning and memory retention as compared to control. Monoamines (DA, 5-HT) and GSH were elevated, whereas TBARS was inhibited significantly. In conclusion, perinatal cardamom exposure enhanced learning and memory as compared to control. Cardamom and its benefit compounds were transported via placenta or/and milk during lactation. Cardamom needs more researches to investigate its benefits on other kinds of behavior.

Keywords: Cardamom; Elettaria cardamomum; Learning; Mice offspring.

Fig. 1

(A and B) Effect of perinatal cardamom doses (10 and 20%) exposure on the dose-dependent body weight gain (A) and body hair appearance and eye opening in mouse pups during the weaning (lactation) period. (*, ** and ***) Represent statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001respectively) from the control group; see text.

Fig. 2

(A–C) Effect of perinatal cardamom doses (10 and 20%) exposure on the dose-dependent righting reflex (A), rotating reflex (B) and cliff avoidance (C) of mouse pups during the weaning (lactation) period. (*, ** and ***) Represent statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001respectively) from the control group.

Fig. 3

(A–C) Effect of perinatal cardamom doses (10 and 20%) exposure on the dose-dependent mean performance value of the mice offspring at the age of 25 days postnatal in the active avoidance task.

Fig. 4

(A–C) Performance in Morris water-maze of mice offspring at the age of 30 days postnatal whose mothers were exposed perinatally to cardamom doses of (10 and 20%) in a dose-dependent manner. A: Hidden platform (y-axis) on each testing day (x-axis). B – Shows the number of failures or unsuccessful trials (y-axis) on each testing day (x-axis). C – Shows the outcome of the probe test performance. (*, ** and ***) Represent statistically significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001respectively) from the control group.

Fig. 5

(A and B) Effect of perinatal cardamom doses (10 and 20%) exposure on the dose-dependent mean levels of dopamine (A) and 5-HT (5-hydroxy-tryptamine or serotonin) (B).

Fig. 6

(A and B) Effect of perinatal cardamom doses (10 and 20%) exposure on dose-dependent mean levels of non-enzymatic oxidative stress indices like (A) lipid peroxidation content (TBARS), and (B) total glutathione (GSH) level, in the forebrain of the offspring at various postnatal developing ages (x-axis).