 |
|
|
| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Carum carvi Linn.
(Apiaceae/Umbelliferae)
|
Caraway |
Krishna jeeraka,
Krishnajiraka |
Kala Jira,
Shiajira, Jira |
|
| |
|
|
| History |
A kind of caraway called
'Sushava' and 'Krishna-jiraka' or Black Cumin appears to have
been used in Ayurveda before the introduction of European caraway
seeds. This plant is first mentioned in Arabian literature under
the name Carawiya. The same variety of caraway was known in
Persia as Zireh-I-siyah' and it was principally cultivated for
its aromatic seeds. It was exported and thus spread to other
countries.
|
 |
|
| Habitat |
It is native
to Europe and West Asia. It grows wild in Himachal Pradesh and
is cultivated in the hills (as summer crop) and in plains of
North India (as annual winter crop) and in the hills of South
India.
|
|
|
|
| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
It is an annual or
biennial glabrous herb, valued for its aromatic seeds. Roots are fusiform
and thick. Stem is slender and the branches are grooved and hollow.
The leaves are pinnately- dissected. Leaflets are ovate, cleft into
linear, entire or dentate lobes. The flowers are in dense white umbels.
In Fruits, the schizocarp are oblong-oval and yellowish brown in colour.
The mericarps are aromatic, 4-6 mm long, hard and sharp, mostly curved,
light to dark brown and with five prominent ribs. The separated mericarps
(commonly called seeds) constitute the commercial caraway. It has
a characteristic agreeable odor and an aromatic, somewhat warm and
sharp taste.
|
 |
|
|
| Principal
Constituents |
The dried and crushed
seeds, on steam distillation, gave a pale yellow to light brown essential
oil (known as CARAWAY OIL) with a strong aromatic odour. Carvone and
limonene are the chief constituents of the oil and its odour and flavor
are mainly attributed to them.
|
|
|
| Pharmacology |
Carvone is carminative1.
|
|
| Clinical
Studies |
It exhibits neurotropic
anti-spasmodic activity.
|
|
|
| Toxicology |
No toxic effects
reported in usage of this plant.
|
|
| Indications |
Caraway oil is primarily used
like caraway seeds in food products and in medicine as carminative.
Both the seeds and the essential oil (caraway oil) are classed as
carminative in the I.P. and prescribed in flatulent colic and stomach
derangement.
|
|
|
|
| References |
|
- Harbone, J.B., 1999, Phytochemical Dictionary, Taylor and Francis
Ltd., London.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
