REVIEW ARTICLE Open Access

Seven spices of India—from kitchen toclinicVinod Kumar

Abstract

Spices play a vital role in Indian cuisine since long time. These are the some of the most valuable items of domesticas well as industrial kitchens. The role of spices is to increase the palatability and used as a flavoring, coloring, andpreservative agents. Rather than cooking spices is the part of many industry like medical, cosmetic, pharmaceuticaland perfumery, and many more. In the current, study explores the role of spices in kitchen as well in medicalindustry as it acts as anti-proliferative, anti-hypercholesterolemia, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects onhuman health. Spices also help to curing many diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis cancer, andAIDS. This review outlines the role of some spices used in the Indian kitchen for its flavor and taste which arepotential to maintain a healthy heart.

Keywords: Spices, Indian cooking, Pharmaceutical, Medicine, Disease

IntroductionSpices always play a prominent role in kitchen as well asin certain medicinal activity like diuretic, eccoprotic, car-minative aperients, expectorant, and many more. Spicesare being used medicinally since early. Spices are beingused as revile for health in many disease, for example,fenugreek, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, clove,and other. Traditionally spices, as part of the diets, haveholistic effects on human health. In Indian kitchen, allspices are used from ancient time in daily food as well asused in traditional manner [1]. India is a great producerof plenty of spices, from 80 types of spices grown in theworld where as about 50 types are grown in India. Spicesnot only improve the taste of food but also a goodsource of vitamins B and C, iron, calcium, and other an-tioxidants. Spices drawn from various parts of plants likebud, bark, root, flower, and fruits. Spices are being usedby many medical industries like cosmetic, pharmaceut-ical, and aromatic as perfumery [2]. The different Indiankitchen flavors explicitly against multidrug-safe clinicalseclude of enterococci having various hereditary appar-atus of harmful variables. Seven kinds of the run of the

mill Indian flavors and herbs to be specific Cuminumcyminum (cumin), Trigonellafoenum graecum (fenugreek),Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), Elettaria carda-momum Maton (cardamom), Syzygium aromaticum(cloves), and Curcumin (turmeric). The rough ethanolicconcentrate of cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, cardamom,and cumin indicated critical antibacterial movementagainst all the clinical disconnects of enterococci [3]. In-dian spices have been reported to exhibit a wide range ofphysiological and pharmacological properties that producebeneficial health promoting/protective effects for variouschronic diseases. Indian spices as a biotherapy have be-come important in the developed and developing worldwith specific spices such as cinnamon and curcumin in-volved in the control of the immune system and the anti-microbial therapy. Cinnamon has been shown to regulateinsulin levels [4] (Table 1).The culinary world would be inert without flavors.

Flavors, similar to their organic verdant partner’s herbs,confer assorted flavor, shading, and taste to differentnourishments around the globe. They likewise offer a largegroup of incredible phytonutrients that can upgrade humanwellbeing and prosperity. While culinary flavors are havingbeen utilized from many years for their various wellbeingbenefits, broad research over the most recent two decades

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Correspondence: vinodchauhan.4u@gmail.comAmity School of Hospitality, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Journal of Ethnic FoodsKumar Journal of Ethnic Foods (2020) 7:23 https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-020-00058-0

has had the option to investigate and clarify the vistas ofshrouded otherworldly ponders inside them. Indeed, theymay counteract incessant ailments, for example, malignantgrowth, diabetes, cardiovascular infection, and different

genuine pneumonic, neurological, and immune systemconditions. Flavors are prevalently known for their flavor inthe residential and worldwide markets everywhere through-out the world [5].

Table 1 Major compound with structural formula of spices

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Flavors are the chief wellspring of spore formingmicroscopic organisms in huge volumes of sustenance,for example, soups, meals, stews, and sauces created bycooking foundations; under great conditions, they de-velop and duplicate to infective and harmful levels [6].Flavors are an essential piece of both veggie lover andnon-vegan Indian cooking. They are normal nourish-ment added substances that confer flavor and fragrance.A typical Indian kitchen with onion, garlic, ginger, tur-meric, tejpat, coriander, pepper, Ajwain, Jeera, tea, tulsiand neem leaves, and so on is really a little home grownmedication store. Flavors can be the buds (cloves), bark(cinnamon), roots (ginger), berries (peppercorns), fra-grant seeds (cumin), and even the disgrace of a bloom(saffron). A portion of the dynamic cancer preventionagent parts in flavors incorporates carnosic corrosive,carnosol, rosmarinic corrosive, thymol, carvacrol, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, zingerone, curcumin, capsaicin, van-illin, eugenol, caffeic corrosive, and ferulic corrosive [7].Flavors, for example, mint (Mentha spicata), garlic (Al-lium sativum), ajowan (Trachyspermumammi), fennel(Foeniculum vulgare), and coriander (Coriandrum sati-vum), are the typical elements of such stomach-relatedenergizer arrangements both business and as homecures. Flavors have been for the most part accepted toincrease salivary stream and gastric juice discharge, inthis way helping absorption. The stomach-related stimu-latory activity of flavors is likewise most likely throughthe incitement of exercises of compounds that take aninterest acid reflux [8]. Flavors and EOs (Ethylene oxide)are utilized by the nourishment business as characteristicspecialists for expanding the time span of usability ofnourishments. An assortment of plant and flavor basedantimicrobials is utilized for decreasing or wiping outpathogenic microorganisms and expanding the generalnature of nourishment items. EOs in plants by and largeare blends of a few parts. A portion of that nearnessapply antimicrobial impacts, for example, segments inoregano, clove, cinnamon, citral, garlic, coriander, rose-mary, parsley, and lemongrass. In excess of 400 flavors havebeen utilized on the planet, generally in hot atmosphere na-tions. Phenolic mixes of flavors, which contain a high levelof eugenol, carvacrol as well as thymol, are essentially an-swerable for bactericidal/bacteriostatic properties [9].Foods are also known as functional food which helps

in many ways with a healthy life style. Food gives vitalityand building materials to endless substances that arebasic for the development, and endurance of each per-son nourishment can be considered as a pharmaceutical,in the event that it effectsly affects the elements of thebody, so as to make impacts past dietary impacts, for ex-ample, wellbeing and anticipation of sickness. Ethnicand conventional FF-based medicines not exclusivelycan forestall and control incessant illnesses without

indicating reactions of engineered pharmaceuticals inpeople yet in addition do not cause heftiness, neurologicalissues, and cardiovascular infection [10]. Jędrusek-Golińska et al. in their study found that functional foodsare intended to improve the metabolic capacities and bio-chemical parameters in the human body and help in fore-stalling no communicable ailments, for example,cardiovascular infections (CVDs), malignant growth, dia-betes type 2, and osteoporosis. Foods that have beenagreeably exhibited to influence advantageously at leastone objective elements of the body, past satisfactory diet-ary impacts, in a way that is important to either an im-proved condition of wellbeing and prosperity or decreaseof the hazard to illnesses [11]. Continuing this aspect, re-searcher finds that dietary enhancements, useful foods,and nutraceuticals are additionally suggested for the ad-ministration of hyper tension and its related complexities.Many foods are characterized as nourishment inferreditems that are braced or changed to upgrade its nutritiveand organic incentive to improve wellbeing status andlessen the danger of ailment [12]. Foods containing spicesincrease the medicinal value as it is currently realized thatthe fundamental supplement components, for example,zinc, calcium, potassium, selenium, and iron, add to theimportant compound natural and healthful properties ofvarious flavors. The human wellbeing needs a few compo-nents that are viewed as basic, among them potassium,calcium, and iron. These minerals are important to as-sume a huge physiological job, where they may contributein numerous medicinal and restorative properties identi-fied with human wellbeing. Among them, the centraliza-tions of potassium are about comparable (32,797 μg/g; 38,045 μg/g) for cumin and coriander individually [13]. Srini-vasan in his study mentions that cumin seeds are gener-ously utilized in a few cooking styles of a wide range ofnourishment societies since old occasions, in both entireand ground structures. In India, cumin seeds have beenutilized for a large number of years as a customary elem-ent of incalculable dishes including kormas and soups andfurthermore structure an element of a few other flavormixes. Other than nourishment use, it has likewise nu-merous applications in customary medication. In theAyurvedic arrangement of medication in India, cuminseeds have tremendous restorative worth, especially forstomach-related disarranges. They are utilized in incessantlooseness of the bowels and dyspepsia [14] (Fig. 1).Food is always an important element of human life

and is also mention in Ayurveda that there are threemainstays of wellbeing, which shield the soundness of aperson from all points of view. Ahara (nourishment) isone of these, the others being rest and controlled sexuallife. Nourishment is likewise called “Mahabheshaj,”which signifies “the greatest medication.” Ayurveda of-fers another novel scientific classification of food sources

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that depends on the impact that nourishment has on themental mien of any individual. Ayurveda is one of themain old sciences to have an instinctive knowledge intophysiological contrasts as indicated by singular protectedsort and along these lines the distinction in a dietarysolution for various people [15]. Indian home grownprescriptions have been generally utilized for over 3000years, with ~ 80% of its populace depending on Ayur-vedic and other conventional meds, regularly only.Regardless of the advantageous impacts, numerousrestorative herbs and their blends can introduce a well-being hazard because of the nearness of dangerous fol-low components. Follow components regularly structurethe dynamic elements of Indian homemade, and theyare, in this way, answerable for their restorative just asdangerous properties [16]. Hoda et al. mention in hisstudy that organic products, and vegetables, flavorsincorporate constantly pretty much every plant part, forexample, natural product, bloom, bud, bark, roots,leaves, and seeds. Flavors have a different scope of phy-tochemicals that grant trademark seasoning and smell.These phytochemicals are chiefly auxiliary metabolitesthat likewise have huge helpful potential against a widescope of ailments. Flavors have been successfully utilizedas a natural medication since old occasions on accountof their trademark phytochemical profiles. They arebasic elements of the wide scope of conventional medi-cation utilized for the treatment of different illnesses in-cluding transferable and noncommunicable maladies.They are especially successful against illnesses identifiedwith metabolic pressure, for example, diabetes, malig-nancy, and cardiovascular maladies. They are significantelements of diabetic utilitarian nourishment due to twomain considerations; right off the bat, phenolic mixespresent in flavors are incredible cell reinforcement parti-cles that extinguish oxidative free radicals; besides,among all plant-based nourishment items [17]. When all

is said in done, the leaves of a plant utilized in cookingare designated as culinary herbs, while some other pieceof the plant is known as a flavor. Flavors can be leaf (forexample, narrows leaf), buds (clove), bark (cinnamon),root (ginger), berries (grains of pepper), seeds (cumin),or even the shame of the blossom (saffron). The twoflavors and herbs can be utilized crisp, dried, entire,hacked, or ground and, because of their shading, smellor potentially season attributes are utilized in the readi-ness of nourishments and beverages. A large number ofthe useful properties introduced by flavors are relatedwith the nearness, type, and centralization of phenolicmixes, in spite of the fact that the specific arrangementwill rely upon a few components, for example, the pieceof the plant utilized, its vegetative state, ecological condi-tions, reaping procedure, and so forth [18] (Fig. 2).Foods are also treated as culinary medicine; Hauser

stated that culinary medication is a proof-based field ofmedication that consolidates sustenance science andculinary expressions to make nourishment that is delect-able, advances health, forestalls, and treats malady.Culinary medication is a field of medication that unitessustenance, culinary information, and abilities to helppatients in looking after wellbeing, forestalling, andtreating nourishment-related sickness [19]. Culinarymedication is planned for helping individuals arrive atgreat individual clinical choices about getting to and eat-ing top notch suppers that help forestall and treat mal-ady and reestablish prosperity. The target of culinarymedication is to endeavor to enable the patient to thinkabout herself or himself securely, viably, and joyfullywith nourishment and drink [20].

TurmericA spice like turmeric is being used in India as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat gas, colic, toothaches, chestpains, and menstrual unbalance. It is a prominent

Fig. 1 Some common spices used in Indian kitchen from the ancient time containing medicinal value and wide scope of conventionalmedication utilized for the treatment of different illnesses including transferable and noncommunicable diseases. 1 represents coriander, 2represents green cardamom, 3 represents cumin seeds, 4 represents turmeric, 5 represents black cardamom, 6 represents clove, 7 representscinnamon, and 8 represents fenugreek seeds

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medicine for healing of injury and removal of pockmarkand used in cosmetic treatment as well. Spices contain aproperty of antioxidants; many studies suggest that theyare also dominant inhibitors of tissue injury and swellingdue to blood sugar and cholesterol. Spices play a signifi-cance role as anti-proliferative, anti-hyper cholesterole-mic, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory. They act incuring of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, andcancer now a day. The natural compounds of spicesprovide more bearable strength for health disease [3].Turmeric originates from India, Southeast Asia, andIndonesia. Turmeric has been used in India to maintainoral hygiene. It has customarily been utilized for medi-cinal purposes for a long time in nations, for example,India and China for treatment of jaundice and otherliver infirmities. Turmeric is one of the most well-known therapeutic herbs, with a wide scope of pharma-cological exercises, for example, cancer prevention agent,hostile to protozoal, antibody venom exercises, againstmicrobial, hostile to malarial, mitigating, hostile to pro-liferative, against angiogenic, hostile to tumor, and hos-tile to maturing properties. It has likewise been utilizedto treat ulcers, parasitic contaminations, different skininfections, against resistant illnesses, and restoring themanifestations of colds and flus. The pharmacologicalaction of turmeric has been ascribed primarily to curcu-minoids comprises of curcumin (CUR) and two relatedmixes demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxy-curcumin (BDMC). Mutt itself shows up as a crystallinecompound with splendid orange-yellow shading. Curcu-minoids are generally utilized as shading operator just asnourishment added substances. Curcuminoids are theprinciple part of turmeric and have a scope of pharma-cological exercises. The impact of curcuminoids andcyclocurcumin inspected on the multiplication MCF-7

human bosom tumor cells [21]. Turmeric has beenbroadly used in Indian and Chinese drug for its insus-ceptible modulatory properties. Because of its potentialrestorative impacts, turmeric extricates are broadlyshowcased in the USA as homegrown enhancements.The mitigating impacts of curcumin incorporate the hin-drance of TNF-instigated actuation of NFκB. A few ex-aminations have demonstrated that curcumin can adjustthe capacity of human and murine lymphocytes, includ-ing T and B cells [22]. Turmeric is one such enduringherb. Its rhizomes and oils have extraordinary signifi-cance. It is widely utilized as a zest in household cook-ing. In the Indian arrangement of medication, turmericrhizomes are utilized in stomachache, as a blood purifier,carminative, hors d’oeuvre, and tonic. Turmeric is like-wise utilized in drugs against malignancy, dermatitis,AIDS, and elevated cholesterol level. The fundamentaloil separated from turmeric additionally has calming, an-tifungal, antihepatotoxic, and antiarthritic exercises [23](Fig. 3).Actively performance of turmeric is due to curcumin.

Important properties include as antioxidant activitiesand helps in certain conditions like inflammation, ab-scess, and tumor. Its property contains antifungal, anti-microbial renal, and hepatoprotective activities. Hence,its possible uses are against various cancer, diabetes, al-lergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronicand hard curable diseases. At present, it is being used instomach or intestine illness, especially for liver diseaseand bile cuts, and hepatic disorder, wounds from dia-betic, joint pain, inflammation, sinusitis, anorexia, fever,and cold [24]. Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione), turmeric protein, is anotable antioxidant activity, both in vitro and in vivo.Turmeric has been considered for several health-

Fig. 2 Indian foods using various spices which always help to improve flavor, color, aroma as well as increase the medicinal value of each food. 1Stuffed potato. 2 Rajasthani Gatte ki sabzi, tawa roti, papad, and salad. 3 Red gravy, yellow gravy, and white gravy contain whole garam massalalike bay leaf, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. 4 Pasta in Indian style. 5 Vegetable pulao. 6 Temrind rice. 7 Mix veg raita garnished with roastedcumin on top

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benefiting properties, such as anti-diabetic, antioxidants,anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, hypolipid-emic, and anti-infectious effects. Curcumin is a powerfulscavenger of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species suchas hydroxyl radicals and nitrogen dioxide radicals. It ful-fills several functions as an antioxidant, anti-diabetic,anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer agent [25]. Curcuminhas been demonstrated to be powerful in treating cease-less conditions like rheumatoid joint pain, fiery insideailment, Alzheimer’s, and regular malignancies likecolon, stomach, lung, bosom, and skin diseases. It verywell may be discovered worldwide not similarly as a medi-cinal treatment as containers and tablets, however, as anenhancement in balms, caffeinated beverages, cleansers,and beautifiers. Curcumin influences tumor developmentby disturbing the action of a few catalysts that take into ac-count development and multiplication. Its enemy of curcu-min influences tumor development by upsetting the actionof a few proteins that take into consideration developmentand expansion. Its antifibrotic impacts in glomerular ail-ment are recommended in its activity of blocking fibrosis inhostile to Thy1 glomerulonephritis through the upregula-tion of heme oxygenase-1 quality articulation [26]. Curcu-min likewise downregulates cyclin D1, cyclin E, andMDM2 and upregulates p21, p27, and p53. Different

preclinical cell culture and creature thinks about recom-mend that curcumin has potential as an anti-proliferative,hostile to obtrusive, and antiangiogenic specialist; as a gobetween of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a che-mopreventive operator; and as a restorative specialist inwound mending, diabetes, Alzheimer sickness, Parkinsoninfection, cardiovascular ailment, aspiratory ailment, andjoint inflammation.Curcumin is steady at acidic pH yet flimsy at impartial

and fundamental pH, under which conditions it isdebased to ferulic corrosive and diferuloylmethane. Allthrough the Orient, it has generally been utilized togreat restorative impact, especially as a mitigating and asignificant number of its remedial impacts have beenaffirmed by current logical research. Curcumin has like-wise been analyzed as a solitary operator in patients withcutting edge pancreatic disease [7]. Curcumin, which es-tablishes 2–5% of turmeric, is maybe the most examinedsegment. The capability of turmeric is as antimicrobial,insecticidal, larvicidal, antimutagenic, radioprotector,and anticancer specialist. In clinical preliminaries, tur-meric has demonstrated adequacy against various hu-man illnesses including lupus nephritis, disease, diabetes,crabby inside disorder, skin break out, and fibrosis. Tur-meric removes exhibited larvicidal movement against

Fig. 3 The medicinal activity of turmeric in various food preparations as well as in medicine. Various medicinal uses like body ache, skin disease,stomach disorder, ulcers, dental disease, fever, stress and tension, and many more as shown

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the dengue vector Aedes aegypti, the yellow fevermosquito.The unrefined methanol and fractionated removes

(hexane and ethyl acetic acid derivation) of turmeric fortheir cytotoxic potential against bosom, nasopharyngeal,lung, cervical, and colon malignancy cells and one non-cancer human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). The concen-trate displayed strong cytotoxic impacts against diseasecells yet caused no harm in MRC-5 [27].Conventional uses in India incorporate improving pro-

cessing, improving intestinal greenery, disposing ofworms, alleviating tooting, purging and fortifying theliver and gallbladder, controlling period, assuaging jointinflammation, and growing and cleansing the blood. Lateinvestigations have uncovered that numerous channelsand transporters are tweaked by curcumin, for example,voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, high-voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (HVGCC), volume-managed anionchannel (VRAC), Ca2+ discharge actuated Ca2+ channel(CRAC), aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), and glucose transporters.In light of these numerous useful exercises, curcuminhas been recommended as cell reinforcement, calming,anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, hypoglycemic, andwound mending. The basic highlights of the curcumi-noids that are significant for their cancer preventionagent impacts are likewise similar highlights that mayrender these mixes DNA-harming under specific condi-tions [28]. The trademark yellow shade of this rhizomeis because of the nearness of the segment “curcumin.”Curcumin is a significant shading segment of Curcumalonga, establishing up to 15% of its dry weight. The valu-able properties of turmeric incorporate its utilization asan aerating specialist, disinfectant, a solution for drainand creepy crawly nibbles, cold, hack, wheezing, puru-lent ophthalmia, different kinds of skin illnesses, and re-lated infirmities, for example, tinea versicolor, tingling,patches, ejections, scabies, skin break out, consumewounds, and skin bubbles. It is likewise utilized in dentalailments, stomach-related issue, for example, dyspepsiaand acridity, acid reflux, fart, expressions of love of theliver, upper stomach torment, asthma, gastric and duo-denal ulcers, respiratory sicknesses, other than as a solu-tion for the dreamlike impacts of hashish, and otherpsychotropic medications. The rhizome has carminative,diuretic, antimicrobial, antigenotoxic, calming, anticarci-nogenic, antiatherogenic, and anthelmintic exercises. It isutilized as an energizer, remotely applied for agonies andwounds, and inside regulated in disarranges of the blood[29]. The anticancer exercises of turmeric incorporaterepressing cell multiplication and actuating apoptosis ofdisease cells. Ar-turmerone, which is segregated from tur-meric, initiated apoptosis in human leukemia Molt 4B andHL-60 cells by dividing DNA to oligonucleosome-sizedsections, a known advance during the time spent

apoptosis [30]. Turmeric is a herb-containing rhizome,which has an orange-yellow shading, trademark scent, andan unpleasant taste. The rhizome is utilized orally forguidelines of wellbeing. It has a choleretic activity, causingexpanded progression of bile into the digestive tract and isa solution for dyspepsia and looseness of the bowels. Thepowder of turmeric broke up in the water is connected onthe skin to slaughter a few microorganisms and parasites,to mend wounds, and diminish tingling in skin infections.It is cooked with coconut oil and utilized as an astringentfor wounds. Water concentrate or powder of turmericblended with human bosom milk can treat unfavorablysusceptible conjunctivitis in an infant [31]. In nourish-ments, the cell reinforcement property of turmeric wascompelling in anticipating peroxide advancements. Top-ical use of turmeric glue is suggested against vertigo,sprains, cuts wounds, swellings, skin contaminations, nib-bles of creepy crawlies/scorpions/snakes, pimples, and dia-betic injuries. Oral organization of turmeric is said to becompelling against fart, acid reflux, loose bowels, biliaryand hepatic issue, and anorexia. Breathing in of vapor ofconsumed dry turmeric is a typical practice against sinus-itis, coryza, and so forth in provincial India. Turmericpowder was utilized to be spread on the cut off umbilicalstring of infants in the Indian wide open as a disinfectant.Turmeric is thought to have the accompanying natural ex-ercises: mitigating, hypocholesterolemic, choleretic, anti-microbial, antirheumatic, antibacterial, antiviral, cytotoxic,spasmolytic, antidiabetic, hostile to venomous, germ-free,immunizing, against HIV, and hostile to Alzheimer’s [32].

CuminCumin is always a part of spice, as it holds volatile oilwhich provides a particular aroma to its seeds. Ratherthan spices is also helpful much disease like tooth pain,dyspepsia, and jaundice as well [33]. Cumin is cultivatedin many parts of India and export to international mar-ket with a demand in many forms like seeds, powder, es-sential oil, and oleoresin [34]. Due to remedial andsweet-scented properties, cumin is widely used by foodas well as pharmaceutical industry. These properties in-clude flavoring, purifying, and irritant resistance, andcumin plays an important role in the food and pharma-ceutical industry for its aromatic and antioxidant activ-ities. Cumin contains high protein properties with mostof essential amino acids [35]. Cumin is an importantspices used in Indian cooking containing antimicrobialactivity of the essential oil. It has been utilized in thetreatment of mellow stomach-related issue as a carmina-tive and eupeptic, as astringent in bronco pulmonaryscatters, and as a hack cure, just as a pain relieving [36].In Indian culture, cumin is a widely used spice in cuisineas well it has many medical uses. In indigenous prescrip-tion, cumin seeds have for quite some time been viewed

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as a hunger stimulant and carminative; they are stom-achic, astringent, and valuable in the runs; they improvecraving and taste [37] (Fig. 4).Cumin is a blooming plant in the family Apiaceae,

local to a region including the Middle East and extend-ing east to India. It is having good properties relating tohealth, hence uses internationally. Cumin seed and itsrefined sweet-smelling water are utilized as a stimulant,antispasmodic, carminative, antimicrobial, against in-flammatory, and wound-mending operator. Cumin isviewed as a craving stimulant, and it is broadly used to astraight forwardness stomach issue, loose bowels, andfart. It is utilized as a carminative, especially in veterin-ary practice, and has additionally been utilized as a guidefor dyspepsia and jaundice. As far as a present dayexamination into the practical properties of cumin,cumin oil has shown antimicrobial and antifungal move-ment in research center tests. Antibacterial action wastried on gram-positive and gram-negative microscopicorganism’s species [38]. Cumin is one of the mostsignificant herbs known for stomach issue. The cuminorganic product gives extra taste and flavor to nourish-ments just as it has restorative and helpful properties forquite a long time. In society prescription, the cuminnatural product is utilized as a diuretic, emmanogogic,

antispasmodic, carminative, stimulant, and astringentjust as cure against acid reflux, fart, toothache, dys-pepsia, the runs, colic, epilepsy, and jaundice [39].The basic oil is favorably utilized rather than the or-ganic products in numerous kinds of alcohols andcordials, and its utilization in perfumery is for itszesty green aroma. Other than the seasoning sway innourishment, cumin oil was appeared to keep margar-ine from decay and improve its corrosive worth; itsrestorative applications depend on its carminative andstomach-related properties [40].

FenugreekThe most notable utilization of fenugreek as nourish-ment is as an enhancing operator in curry dishes, yet theground seeds are an imperative element of curry pow-ders as well as of oriental sauces and halva also. It islikewise utilized in chutneys, pickles, and different fix-ings, biting gum and candy store, sodas, cakes, puddings,desserts, and syrups. Throughout the hundreds of years,it has especially gotten known as a ground-breaking gal-actagogue and stomach-related guide, for instance, todetermine gastric aggravation and as a general stomach-related tonic. Logical examinations recommend the pos-sibility to utilize fenugreek as an antidiabetic and to

Fig. 4 Medicinal activity of cumin even as cumin is the common ingredient in many Indian dishes. I also help in curing tooth pain, jaundice,wound mending operator, etc. and act as a taste improver when used in daily routine cooking

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bring down cholesterol [41]. Wellbeing Canada (1998)characterized nutraceuticals as items with exhibitedphysiological advantages or that can give assuranceagainst ceaseless illnesses. As a rule, fenugreek containsthree significant concoction constituents with restorativeworth, for example, (1) steroidal sapogenins, (2) galacto-mannans, and (3) isoleucine. These constituents appearto work in a synergistic manner to create wellbeing im-pacts and have put fenugreek among the most ordinarilyperceived “nutraceutical” or wellbeing nourishmentitems. Viable operators for the treatment of hypocholes-terolemia confusion regularly connected with diabetes.This high proportion of galactose substitution encour-ages galactomannans to absorb water enabling them toshape exceptionally gooey arrangements at moderatelylow focuses bringing about diminished glucose ingestioninside the stomach-related tract [42] (Fig. 5).

CorianderCoriander has been used since outdated events to theextent of the cooking, solution, and improving. Amongthe solution properties, coriander has been representedto show, for instance, cell fortification, unfriendly todiabetic, against mutagenic, anthelmintic, opiate enchanting,

anticonvulsant, diuretic, antifungal, anticancer, anxiolytic,hepatoprotective, threatening to protozoal, against ulcer,post-coital, antifertility, cholesterol cutting down, guardedagainst lead noxious quality, and overpowering metaldetoxifier. Coriander seeds are made out of fundamen-tal oils, triglycerides, sugars, proteins, and supplementC and utilized as an enhancing administrator in alco-hols, teas, meat things, and pickles [43].Coriander hasbeen accounted for have various conceivable restorativetraits including antispasmodic, carminative, and stom-achic properties [44]. Furthermore, coriander has beenupheld as an enemy of diabetic cure [45]. Coriandercontains antioxidant which helps to increase the shelf-lifeof foods, hence being used by food industry. Corianderprovides a flavor to food as well as delay or prevents thespoilage of food seasoned with this spice [46]. Customarymedication in numerous societies to treat different ail-ments includes a drug for heartburn, against worms, andas a segment of embrocations for stiffness and agonies inthe verbalizations. This examination uncovered coriandercake as a wellspring of characteristic bioactive mixes andcancer prevention agent action which could be alluring tothe nourishment or pharmaceutical industry. Coriandercake contained high measures of polyphenols, flavonoids,

Fig. 5 The sight of medicinal activity of fenugreek in many diseases like skin irritations, tuberculosis, cancer, and diabetes. It is used in manyIndian dishes to improve the taste as well as health. It is a very common ingredient in many Indian pickles to improve the self-life and tasteas well

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and tannins substance and high cell reinforcement poten-tial for creating explicit wellbeing advancing cancer pre-vention agents in the nourishment business [47]. Theorganic products are broadly utilized as a sauce in theplanning of curry powder, pickling flavors, hotdogs, andseasonings and are additionally used to flavor bakedgoods, rolls, buns, cakes and mixers, especially gin. Cori-ander seeds are likewise known for their restorative prop-erties and are viewed as carminative, diuretic, antibilious,refrigerant, and love potion. Coriander is a significant herbin advancing processing and treating gastrointestinal is-sues, for example, dyspepsia, flatulence, loss of craving,grumbling torment, and spewing. It is likewise useful inthe treatment of typhoid fever. Dry coriander treats loose-ness of the bowels and ceaseless diarrhea, just as beingvaluable in counteracting sharpness (Fig. 6).Coriander is utilized as both an enemy of inflamma-

tory and a pain relieving and furthermore has antimicro-bial properties. A concentrate of the seeds joined withcastor oil is utilized as a solution for stiffness and jointagony. The ethanol concentrate of C. sativum leaves isan astounding cancer prevention agent, which is steadyat high temperature and can fill in as a substitute forengineered cell reinforcements [48].

CloveClove oil has a very good property of biological activityfound to have biological activities on life from bacteriaas well as anthropoids. Its effect against Pediculus capitison ovicidal and adulticidal [49], the clove is having theproperties of cell reinforcement, hostile to contagious,against viral, against microbial, against diabetic, calming,antithrombotic, analgesic, remembering in agony, andcreepy crawly safe. Dental specialist utilized it for brieffilling of holes just as in teeth torment. Because of thehigh substance of flavonoids, cloves are utilized as miti-gating specialists. Clove oil is utilized in numerous tor-ments like joints, muscles, or sinewy tissue, particularlyrheumatoid arthritis. Clove glue is utilized cuts, chompsjust as to treat skin break out. Clove oil is being utilizedin inhalers if there should be an occurrence of hack,cold, irritation of the mucous film in the bronchial cylin-ders, and so forth clove helps in counteract malignantgrowth and diabetic illnesses as its oil propping blood-stream and furthermore control in blood glucose [50].Cloves are likewise said to be characteristic antihel-minthics. Western examinations have bolstered theutilization of cloves and clove oil for dental torment.Clove diminishes glucose levels. Studies have indicated

Fig. 6 Medicinal activity of coriander like cough, burns, allergies, and many more. It is a very important ingredient used as a thickening agent ingravy preparation in India. The fresh coriander leaves used as a very famous garnish in many recipes also used in preparation of chutneys(Indian sauces)

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that it does not just build the craving and generation ofhydrochloric corrosive however improves the processingof many key supplements, for example, the B nutrients,beta-carotene and selenium, and different phytochemi-cals [51]. The dynamic standards in the clove are knownto have cell reinforcement, hostile to septic, neighbor-hood soporific, calming, rubefacient (warming and allevi-ating), carminative, and against pretentious properties.The flavor contains numerous wellbeing profiting funda-mental oils, for example, eugenol, a phenylpropanoidclass of synthetic compound, which gives charming,sweet-smelling scents to the clove-bud. Eugenol hasneighborhood sedative and disinfectant properties,henceforth, valuable in dental treatment systems. Thedynamic standards in the clove may build the motility ofthe gastrointestinal tract just as improve the absorptioncontrol by expanding gastrointestinal chemical dis-charges (Fig. 7).Cloves have pain-relieving properties that can be uti-

lized for the treatment of different dental issues liketooth hurts. They additionally support memory andblood dissemination and are valuable for the heart, liver,and stomach. Cloves can adequately fix numerousstomach-related issues like stomach ulcers, tooting, anddyspepsia since they animate your body’s catalysts and

lift assimilation. As a result of the sterile and germicidaladvantages of cloves, they help battle contaminationslike cold, influenza, bronchitis, ligament torment, andcompetitor’s foot [52]. Since certain investigations havedemonstrated that clove and clove oil can be utilized asan antibacterial, antifungal, and clean specialist, theutilization of clove and clove oil is relied upon to incre-ment in accordance with the “back to nature” patternwhich energizes an inclination for common items. Cloveoil is one of the most significant fundamental oils uti-lized for flavoring a wide range of nourishment items,for example, hotdog, prepared products, sweet shops,and so forth. Clove bud oil is utilized in perfumery andpharmaceuticals and in the nourishment business formeat items, sauces and pickles, ice cream parlor, andpastry kitchen items. The convention of utilizing clovesin cures returns thousands of years. Clove oil particularlyhas been utilized by customary society healers just as bycurrent drug specialists and dental specialists in mitigat-ing the side effects related to a toothache and dental rot.Clove oil has been utilized effectively for inflamed oraland pharyngeal bodily fluid and for topical anesthesia indentistry the antioxidative exercises of clove buds areadditionally due to some extent to the commitments ofsmell synthetic substances, for example, eugenol and

Fig. 7 The medicinal activity of clove like acne and pimples, skin irritation, and pain killer. It is used in different Indian cooking as a taste as wellas health improver. It is useful ingredients in many Indian massals, Garam massala, chat massala are the examples

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eugenol acetic acid derivation. Ingestion of these mixesmay anticipate in vivo oxidative harm, for example, lipidperoxidation, which is related to numerous maladies, in-cluding disease, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and insuscep-tible deficiency [53].

CinnamonIt very well may be purchased as entire sticks, used toflavor rice and meat dishes and hot apple juice; however,plans can likewise call for ground cinnamon. It haspotential all the more for the most part as a characteris-tic nourishment additive. It has an expansive scope ofchronicled utilizes in various societies, including thetreatment of looseness of the bowels, joint inflammation,and different menstrual issue. It is utilized as an adjuvantin stomachic and carminative prescriptions and is add-itionally managed in instances of anorexia, inflammation,spewing, and tubercular ulcers [54]. Cinnamon is add-itionally utilized as an enhancing specialist for some,dishes like sweets, bites, and principle courses. Whilepowder structure has the advantageous phytochemicalsjust as its portion of water-dissolvable bio-actives poly-phenols utilized viably in individuals with a comparabil-ity protein-rich soy flour network. it likewise suppliesrich dietary wellspring of cinnamon bioactive phyto-chemicals [55]. Cinnamon is the most bioactive item. Afew investigations have been directed to affirm the im-pact of cinnamon on diminishing the blood glucose ofdiabetic patients. In vitro examinations have indicatedthat cinnamon separate has expanding impact on phos-phorylation action of insulin receptors and diminishingimpact on tyrosine phosphatase action; thus, it showsinsulin-like properties.Hasanzade et al. in their study found that taking cin-

namon at a dose of 1 g daily for 30 and 60 days has noeffect in decreasing the blood glucose of type II dia-betes patients [56]. The effects that cinnamon had onthe decline of insulin restriction (HOMA) and the ad-justment of the lipid profile. Cinnamon may expect apotential activity in diminishing post-prandial intestinalglucose osmosis by preventing pancreatic α-amylaseand α-glucosidase, vivifying cell glucose take-up bylayer translocation of glucose transporter-4, strengthen-ing glucose processing and glycogen amalgamation,controlling gluconeogenesis and empowering insulinrelease, and potentiating insulin receptor activity [57].Cinnamon concentrate may offer insignificant exertion,immediately open and respectably viably realized tech-niques for decreasing plasma glucose levels and thuslylessening T2D (type 2 diabetes). Proanthocyanidins,which are high in cinnamon, are plant metabolites withmalignant growth avoidance specialist activity. Cinna-mon has a particularly high hydrophilic oxygen radicalabsorbance limit (ORAC)/full scale phenolics extent.

Cinnamon bark isolates controlled the course of actionin vitro of front line glycation conclusive outcomes(AGEs) which add to diabetic complexities. Cinnamonconcentrate seems to can grow proteins drew in withinsulin hailing, glucose transport, and the moderatingresponses and lessens those related with gluconeogene-sis [58]. Because of cancer prevention agent property ofcinnamon, it improves in serum lipid profile in ladieswith PCOS and aides in decreasing PCOS chance compo-nents. Cinnamon contains flavonoids and polyphenolsthat having free-radical-searching just as cancer preven-tion agent properties. Referenced amalgam helps in dimin-ishing oxidative worry in a portion subordinate waythrough the restraint of 5-lipoxygenase. This pizzazz hasbeen found to have strong disease anticipation operator,antihyperlipidemia, and quieting properties. It was recom-mended that antihyperlipidemic activity of cinnamonmight be a direct result of its high substance of polyphe-nols subduing the intestinal ingestion of cholesterol withsubsequent hypocholesterolemic activity [59] (Fig. 8).Late investigations exhibited that cinnamon is success-

ful in improving blood glucose control in patients withtype 2 diabetes. Cinnamon concentrate could decreaseFBG level in type 2 diabetic patients. Results uncoveredthat cinnamon separate, as an enhancement to gliclazide,was compelling in bringing down HbA1c and FBG levelsin the patients, in examination with past investigationsin people that researched the impact of cinnamon [60].

CardamomBlack or large cardamom is also known as “Bari Ilaichi”is used in Unani system of medicine in gastrointestinaldisorders. Various flavors, to be specific ginger, turmeric,and so on, have been appeared to have huge gastropro-tective action. Huge cardamom (products of Amomumsubulatum) usually known as “Heel kalan” or “Bari Ilaichi”is utilized as flavor all through the world [61].Another name of green cardamom is Elettaria carda-

momum or ChhotiIlaichi. Cardamom plays to recovermany diseases such like assisting digestion, retentive,preventing vomiting, digestive constipation, abnormallyhigh blood pressure, asthma, diarrhea, colic, dyspepsia,epilepsy, and carminative. It is additionally utilized forrecouping of a lot more illnesses like cardiovascular,stomach-related, aspiratory, kidney-related and lung-related issues, liver issue, and some more. Cardamom islikewise utilized in unfavorably susceptible responsemeds, for example, liver provocative and gallstones drugs[27] (Fig. 9).

Medicinal use of Indian spices in AyurvedaSpices are being used in Indian Ayurveda and folk medi-cine to treat many diseases like gynecological problems,gastric problems, hepatic disorders, infectious diseases,

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and blood disorders [27]. The Indian arrangement ofcomprehensive medication known as Ayurveda utilizesfundamentally plant-based medications or definitions totreat different diseases including malignant growth. InAyurvedic drug, curcumin is a well-recorded treatmentfor different respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma, bron-chial hyperactivity, and sensitivity) just as for liver issue,anorexia, ailment, diabetic injuries, runny nose, hack,and sinusitis [7]. In the conventional Indian arrangementof medication Ayurveda and Siddha, different flavorsand herbs are depicted to have restorative properties, forexample, being antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, hy-polipidemic, hypoglycemic, calming, and antiarthritic [3].In Ayurveda, cinnamon is viewed as a prescription just as

a flavor. A portion of the Ayurvedic medications arrangedfrom cinnamon bark incorporates astangalavanachurna,caturjatachurna, sitopaladichurna, sudarsanachurna, talisa-dyachurna, chandraprabhavati, khadirarishta, pippayadya-sava, lavanbhaskarachurna, and vyaghriharitaki. In theIndian system of Ayurvedic medication, it is utilized againsta wide range of sicknesses like bronchitis, colds, clog, theruns, dysentery, edema, flu, gas, metabolic and heart re-inforcing, hiccups, acid reflux, liver issues, menorrhagia, de-spairing, muscle pressure, queasiness, and spewing [54]. Ascinnamon is the bark part of plant, its powder form is used

as an antidiabetic by Ayurveda in Indian as well as Chinesemedicines [55]. Clove is also used since a long time inAyurveda as it maintains the heat system in human body;hence, it is used according to region as well as season [51].Fenugreek has been alluded to as a therapeutic herb in

Indian Ayurvedic. In Ayurvedic medication, it is utilizedfor restoration, as a Spanish fly, a diuretic, for stomach-related grumblings, dyspepsia, hacks, colic, bronchitis,clogging, gout, joint pain, expansion of the liver andspleen, and as a bosom enhancer [41]. Coriander is thusa successive fixing in the planning of Ayurvedic drugsand is a conventional home treatment for an assortmentof sicknesses [48].In the Indian Ayurvedic arrangement of the natural

drug, turmeric is known to fortify and warming to theentire body [28]. In Ayurvedic rehearses, turmeric isthought to have numerous restorative properties includ-ing fortifying the general vitality of the body, alleviatinggas, dispersing worms, improving absorption, managingmonthly cycle, dissolving gallstones, and calming jointinflammation. Indians use turmeric, notwithstanding itsAyurvedic applications, to clean the blood and cure skinconditions. In Ayurvedic medication, turmeric is a well-recorded treatment for different respiratory conditionsjust as for liver issue, anorexia, ailment, diabetic injuries,

Fig. 8 The medicinal activity of cinnamon like tumors, spasms, sore throats, stomachic, and many more as shown above. It is used in many non-vegetarian preparations like biryani, kormas, and gravies. It is also used in tea missal in Indian style

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runny nose, hack, and sinusitis; turmeric has beenutilized to treat sprains and growing. Various lines ofproof recommend that turmeric displays mitigatingmovement [30]. The Ayurvedic drug, curcumin, is uti-lized as a treatment for an assortment of wellbeingconditions, including respiratory disease, liver, issue,fiery issue, and diabetic wounds. In old Hindu pre-scriptions, it was utilized topically to treat sprains andgrowing. In conventional Chinese medication, curcu-min is basically utilized in treatment for conditionsrelated to stomach torment [26].

ConclusionIn nutshell, spices are diversified in nature widely usedin Indian culinary as well as at international level as fla-voring, coloring, and preservative agents. Spices are be-ing used as staple dietary additives since long time inIndia. The study explores the seven spices that includecumin, clove, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, fenugreek,and cardamom on the basis of culinary uses as well asmedical uses. Rather than culinary uses, these spiceshave many medicated properties including antibacterial,antispasmodic, antioxidant, antiseptic, and carminative.Characteristics of spices can be explored from the food

panorama. Many spices are used in healing of injury,toothaches, chest pain, menstrual unbalance, and manymore. The study also explore the role of spices in balan-cing the blood sugar as well as type 2 diabetes, cancer,cardiovascular, hypertension, and AIDS. Spices, as a partof daily dietary, help to adjust the lipid profile and re-duce the glucose level at par. Many spices like carda-mom help in gastrointestinal disorder as well as helpbalance the cholesterol level. Spices can be use in anyform as fruit, bark, seeds, and many more.Spices are being accepted in Ayurveda since a long

time. In Ayurveda, spices are used to treat many diseaseslike gynecological problems, gastric problems, hepaticdisorders, infectious diseases, and blood disorders.The above investigation improvements are well in pro-

gress through proof-based systems for substantiatingwellbeing claims identified with nourishments for asound heart. At present, suggestions are justified to helpthe utilization of nourishments wealthy in bioactive seg-ments, such spices. With time, we can hope to see amore prominent collection of logical proof supportingthe advantages of spices in the general upkeep of a solidheart which is the most significant organ for each beatof life and assurance from infections of the heart.

Fig. 9 The medicinal activity of cardamom like bladder disease, constipation, and snake bite. It is a very famous flavoring ingredient used in manyrecipes like kheer, halwa, and tea massala. It is also served and used as a mouth freshener in Indian weddings

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AcknowledgementsI am grateful to Dr. Arun Kumar, Assistant Professor-II, Department ofPharmacology, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Gurugram, Ha-ryana, India. He helps me at every point which is related to pharmacy andmedical terms to complete the study.

QualificationsPursuing PhD-Hospitality from G.DGoenka University, Gurugram, Harayana,India, M.Sc- Hotel management, Masters in Tourism management.

Author’s contributionsAs there is no co-author in the proposed paper, therefore the full contribu-tion is by the sole author Mr. Vinod Kumar. The author read and approvedthe final manuscript.

FundingNo funding has received for this study.

Availability of data and materialsThis study is a review article. The data is collected and reviewed throughvarious research papers/articles from National and International journals.The details are attached in the reference section.

Competing interestsAuthor has no competing interests.

Received: 27 December 2019 Accepted: 10 June 2020

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