Cardamon is one of the most important spices in many Eastern cuisines and is used in some Middle Eastern countries for flavoring coffee. It is also a renowned breath freshener. As one of the most expensive of the spices, cardamon is exceeded in price only by saffron and vanilla.     

Important Phytochemicals 

Antioxidants: Caffeic acid, camphene, cyanidin, gamma-terpinene, gamma-tocopherol, salicylates
Others: Cineole, camphor, linalool, palmitic acid, cymene, stearic acid, terpinene, vanillic acid    

Medicinal Properties 

Cardamon contains several important antioxidants, notably the anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective salicylates. Like basil, cardamon also contains linalool which is an antiviral agent.