Trachyspermum ammi
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ff988c2e41858020643 |
| Scientific name | Trachyspermum ammi |
| Authority | Sprague |
| First published in | Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1929: 228 (1929) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across North India, Iran, and Morocco, the fruits (commonly called seeds) of Trachyspermum ammi are turned into simple teas and decoctions to ease gas and colic, and as a bitter carminative to settle the stomach. In India, these preparations are widely used in domestic and Unani practice; the CRC Handbook of Medicinal Spices notes the common use of ajwain seed infusions or decoctions for dyspepsia and flatulence. Traditional texts such as the Unani Pharmacopoeia of India record ajwain as a mild diaphoretic and digestive stimulant, often taken as a weak tea of crushed seeds. Indian Materia Medica also lists carminative and antiflatulent uses for the seed infusion, while the Ayurvedic formulary references a 1:5 seed decoction (by volume) as a household remedy for gastrointestinal upset. Together these sources make clear that it is the seed/fruit that is prepared as an infusion or decoction.
A concise recipe for a mild tea: measure 1 teaspoon of gently crushed ajwain seeds (about 2–3 grams) and pour 1 cup (240 mL) of boiling water over them; cover and steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain and drink warm. To make a short decoction, simmer the same amount of seeds in 1 cup of water for 3–5 minutes, cool to warmth, and strain. Generally consumed after meals or at the onset of cramping; do not exceed two cups daily. The concentrated essential oil and phenolic fraction can irritate the stomach lining if used in excess, and the warm infusion can trigger acid reflux; it is best avoided in late pregnancy, and any use by children should be modest and short term.
The activity is plausibly related to the seed’s rich essential oil dominated by thymol, with para‑cymene, gamma‑terpinene, and carvacrol as notable minor components, together with flavonoids such as quercetin glycosides. Thymol and related phenols have well‑documented spasmolytic and antimicrobial effects that fit the traditional carminative uses, and these constituents are consistently reported for Trachyspermum ammi.
Research on Trachyspermum ammi continues today, with interest in its antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anti‑inflammatory properties and in standardizing essential‑oil content. The seed remains widely available as a culinary spice and in herbal preparations, and infusions remain a household remedy across the regions noted.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Ajwain seeds (Trachyspermum ammi) are harvested for culinary use as a spice; the dried seeds have a distinctive thyme‑like aroma and are ground or used whole. A steam‑distilled essential oil is also commercialised; yields are typically 2–3 % of seed weight.
Industrial and craft applications:
The essential oil is employed by the flavour and fragrance industry as a natural aroma chemical. It is added to confectionery, baked goods, beverage bases and to soap, detergent and cleaning‑product formulations to impart a sharp, herbaceous note.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
Whole or ground ajwain seeds are a standard ingredient in Indian breads (e.g., naan, paratha), snack crackers, spice blends and pickles. The essential oil, standardised to a thymol content of about 40 %, is used as a flavouring in carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic mixes and processed foods where a cumin‑thyme character is desired.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
Ajwain oil’s high thymol content gives it a warm, pungent scent valued in perfumery and in personal‑care products such as soaps, shampoos, and lotions. It is used both as a primary fragrance component and as a modifier in herbal‑aroma blends.
Properties relevant to use:
The oil is rich in monoterpenes, principally thymol (30–60 %), p‑cymene (10–20 %) and γ‑terpinene (5–15 %). Thymol imparts strong aromatic intensity and contributes to the oil’s stability in alkaline formulations. Seeds contain 5–7 % fixed oil with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, suitable for low‑temperature extraction but not currently used as a major industrial oil.
Standards and regulation:
Ajwain seeds and the derived essential oil are listed as Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a spice and flavouring (FEMA GRAS No. 2959). The European Food Safety Authority classifies ajwain under “Spices and herbs” in the EU Flavouring Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Commercial ajwain is cultivated mainly in India, Pakistan and Iran; average seed yields are 800–1 200 kg ha⁻¹ under rain‑fed conditions. Harvest occurs after capsule dehiscence, and the crop is regarded as low‑input with modest water requirements, supporting continued small‑holder production.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ligusticum ajawain | Roxb. | Asiat. Res. 11: 17o (1810) |
| Pituranthos korolkowi | Schinz | Bull. Herb. Boissier 2: 211 (1894) |
| Ptychotis ajowan | DC. | Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 4: 497 (1828) |
| Trachyspermum copticum | Link | Enum. Hort. Berol. Alt. 1: 267 (1821) |
| Sison ammi | L. | Sp. Pl. : 252 (1753) |
| Selinum copticum | E.H.L.Krause | Deutschl. Fl. Abbild. , ed. 2, 12: 43 (1904) |
| Seseli foeniculifolium | Poir. | Encycl. 7: 137 (1806) |
| Ammi copticum | L. | Mant. Pl. 1: 56 (1767) |
| Ammios muricata | Moench | Methodus : 99 (1794) |
| Apium ammi | Urb. | Fl. Bras. (Martius) 11(1): 341. 1879 [1 Dec 1879] |
| Athamanta ajowan | Wall. | Numer. List : n.º 572 (1829) |
| Bunium aromaticum | L. | Mant. Pl. 2: 218 (1771) |
| Bunium copticum | Spreng. | Pl. Umbell. Prodr. : 28 (1813) |
| Carum ajowan | Benth. & Hook.f. | Gen. Pl. [Bentham & Hooker f.] 1(3): 891. 1867 [Sep 1867] |
| Carum ammi | Sprague | J. Bot. 60: 314 (1922) |
| Carum aromaticum | Druce | Rep. Bot. Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 1916: 612 (1917) |
| Carum copticum | (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Hiern | Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 12 (1877) |
| Carum korolkowii | (Regel & Schmalh.) Lipsky | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 18: 66 (1900) |
| Carum panatjan | Baill. | Hist. Pl. 7: 178 (1879) |
| Cyclospermum ammi | (L.) Lag. | Amen. Nat. Españ. 1(2): 101 1821 |
| Daucus anisodorus | Blanco | Fl. Filip., ed. 2 : 150 (1845) |
| Daucus copticus | Lam. | Encycl. 1: 635 (1785) |
| Deverra korolkowi | Regel & Schmalh. | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 589 (1877) |
| Helosciadium ammi | Oken | Allg. Naturgesch. 3(3): 1831 (1841) |
| Helosciadium ammi | Britton | Fl. Bermuda [N.L. Britton] 279, fig. 303. 1918 |
| Seseli gilliesii | Hook. & Arn. | Bot. Misc. 3: 354 (1833) |
| Cyclospermum ammi | (L.) Lag. | Amen. Nat. Españ. 1(2): 101 (1821) |
| Daucus copticus | (L.) Pers. | |
| Ptychotis coptica | DC. | Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 4: 496 (1828) |
| Ligusticum ajowan | Royle | Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. : 230 (1835) |
| Petroselinum sativum | Hook. & Gillies | Bot. Misc. 1: 335. 1830 ; 3: 354 (1833) |
| Ammi cicutarium | Willd. ex Roem. & Schult. | Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 6: 531 (1820) |
| Carum copticum | (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. | Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 12 1877 |
| Seseli ammoides | Jacq. | Hort. Bot. Vindob. 1: t. 52 (1771) |
| Carum ajawain | (Roxb.) Waring | Pharmacopoeia India : 99 (1868) |
| Carum ajowan | (Roxb.) Waring | Pharmacop. India : 99 (1868) |
| Carum korolkowii | Lipsky | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 26: 406 (1910) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | ajowan caraway |
| Spanish | carum ajowan |
| ace | jeumuju |
| Amharic | ነጭ ኣዝሙድ |
| Arabic | نانخة |
| Assamese | যনি |
| Bulgarian | ажгон |
| Bengali | জৈন |
| Czech | koptský kmín |
| Czech | drsnoplodík moravčinovitý |
| Czech | adžvan |
| Czech | adžvajen |
| Czech | adžvain |
| Welsh | ajowan |
| German | ajowanfrüchte |
| German | königskümmel |
| German | adiowan |
| German | carum ajowan |
| German | ajowanfrucht |
| dv | ހިތި ދަމުއި |
| Persian | زنیان |
| Finnish | intiankumina |
| Finnish | ajowan |
| French | carum ajowan |
| Gujarati | અજમો |
| Hindi | अजवाईन |
| Hungarian | ajovan |
| Indonesian | jemuju |
| Italian | ajowan |
| Italian | carum ajowan |
| Japanese | アジョワン |
| Kazakh | Ажгон |
| Kannada | ಅಜವಾನ |
| Korean | 아지바인 |
| la | carum ajowan |
| mad | mosè |
| mai | जमाइन |
| Macedonian | ајован |
| Malayalam | അയമോദകം |
| Malayalam | ഓമം |
| Malayalam | ajwain |
| Marathi | ओवा |
| Malay | ajwain |
| Malay | musi |
| Malay | mungsi |
| Burmese | စမုန်ဖြူ |
| Nepali | ज्वानो |
| Dutch | ajowan |
| Polish | ammi copticum |
| Polish | adżwan |
| Punjab | اجوین |
| Pashto | سپېرکۍ |
| Portuguese | ajowan |
| Russian | Коптский тмин |
| Russian | trachyspermum copticum |
| Russian | Ажгон |
| Russian | Айован |
| Russian | Айован душистый |
| Russian | Айованое масло |
| Russian | Индийский тмин |
| Russian | Шабpий |
| sa | यवानी |
| sa | यवाग्रजः |
| sd | جاڻ |
| Swedish | ajowan |
| Tamil | ஓமம் |
| tcy | ಓಮ |
| Telugu | వాము |
| Thai | เทียนเยาวพาณี |
| Ukrainian | Ажгон |
| Ukrainian | Айован |
| Ukrainian | Індійський кмин |
| Urdu | اجوائن |
| Uzbek | ajwain |
| Chinese | 阿育魏 |
| Chinese | 细叶糙果芹 |
| Chinese | 阿育魏实 |
| Chinese | 阿米糙果芹 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
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Northern Africa
- Morocco
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Saudi Arabia
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China
- Xinjiang
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Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Palestine
- Turkey
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Arabian Peninsula
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Andaman Islands
- Myanmar
- Nicobar Nicobar
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Indian Subcontinent
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Europe click to expand
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Middle Europe
- Czechoslovakia
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Northern Europe
- Sweden
-
Middle Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Michigan
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Northeastern U.S.A.
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000411397 |
| UNII | Q7R70ADO4A |
| USDA Plants | TRAM13 |
| Tropicos | 1700563 |
| INPN | 126943 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:849765-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2438394 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 671429 |
| Observations.org | 123064 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 52570 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000034163 |
| Nature Serve | 2.147557 |
| IPNI | 849765-1 |
| iNaturalist | 155843 |
| GBIF | 3034241 |
| Freebase | /m/01yt7z |
| EPPO | TCSAM |
| EOL | 477954 |
| Elurikkus | 353701 |
| USDA GRIN | 36803 |
| Wikipedia | Ajwain |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Methoxybenzenes / Dimethoxybenzenes | |||||
| Methyleugenol | 7127 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C(C=C1)CC=C)OC | 178.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Benzenoids / Phenol ethers / Anisoles | |||||
| Anethole | 637563 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Estragole | 8815 | Click to see | 148.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Branched unsaturated hydrocarbons | |||||
| Gamma-Terpinene | 7461 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Myrcene | 31253 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Carvacrol | 10364 | Click to see CC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C(C)C)O | 150.22 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.1238 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Cuminaldehyde | 326 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=O | 148.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| P-Cymene | 7463 | Click to see | 134.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Thymol | 6989 | Click to see | 150.22 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.1238 https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1439-0434.1986.TB00902.X https://doi.org/10.1016/S0944-7113(11)80046-2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6245358/ https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| (5S)-4-methylidene-1-propan-2-ylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexane | 6429260 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| 3-Carene | 26049 | Click to see CC1=CCC2C(C1)C2(C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| alpha Thujene | 6451618 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| alpha-Thujene | 17868 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Beta-Pinene | 14896 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Camphene | 6616 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Sabinene | 18818 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| 4-Terpineol, (+/-)- | 11230 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)(C(C)C)O | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Alpha-Terpinene | 7462 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Alpha-Terpineol | 17100 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Beta-Phellandrene | 11142 | Click to see CC(C)C1CCC(=C)C=C1 | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Carvone, (+-)- | 7439 | Click to see | 150.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Carvone, (+)- | 16724 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1=O)C(=C)C | 150.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Limonene, (+/-)- | 22311 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Selinene | 442393 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1993.9698181 |
| > Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Purine nucleosides | |||||
| Adenosine | 60961 | Click to see C1=NC(=C2C(=N1)N(C=N2)C3C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)N | 267.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Pyrimidine nucleosides | |||||
| Uridine | 6029 | Click to see | 244.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S)-pentane-1,2,3,4-tetrol | 90146781 | Click to see CC(C(C(CO)O)O)O | 136.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| 1-Deoxy-d-ribitol | 270738 | Click to see CC(C(C(CO)O)O)O | 136.15 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| 1-Deoxy-l-erythritol | 12241264 | Click to see CC(C(CO)O)O | 106.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Tertiary alcohols | |||||
| 2-Methyl-3-buten-2-ol | 8257 | Click to see | 86.13 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| Benzyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside | 13254166 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides | |||||
| Hamamelose | 193393 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Monosaccharides / Hexoses | |||||
| 1-Deoxy-D-glucitol | 10678630 | Click to see | 166.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.49.840 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |