Evaluating Bioactive Compounds in Whole Seeds of Aframomum daniellii (Ataiko): Between Traditional Spice and Nutraceutical Source

Ataiko (Aframomum daniellii or African cardamom) as it is called in the local dialect by some Nigerian communities is consumed as a soup spice for flavor in traditional dishes and it is known to have medicinal properties. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to elucidate bioactive compounds present in the whole seeds. Two solvents namely methanol and dichloroethane/methanol (1:1, v/v) were used for the extraction of hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive compounds, respectively. Results indicated the presence of 11 bioactive compounds in both extracts. The most abundant bioactive compounds in the methanol extract were linoelaidic acid, Z,Z,-10,12-hexadecadiene-1-ol-acetate, nonanoic acid, cyclohexane, 4-pentyl-1-1(4-propylcyclohexyl) and n-hexadecanoic acid in proportion of 30.90, 22.51, 14.88, 12.08 and 8.88% respectively. Most abundant compounds in the dichloromethane/methanol extract were cis-Vaccenic acid, 9-12- Octadecanoic acid (Z,Z), n- hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid in proportion of 40.39, 13.95, 13.44, 10.33 and 9.89% respectively. Solvents used for extraction influenced nature of compounds present in them. Bioactive compounds present in both extracts have been reported to have various biological effects. As such, whole Ataiko seeds is of benefit not just as soup/stew spice alone but also as a therapeutic, a good substrate for the extraction of bioactive compounds which will be useful as nutraceutical in the food industry, pharmacology and new drug development.