Recent advances on ajowan and its essential constituents
Ramchander, Pawan Jalwal and Anil Middha
The ajowan herb is cultivated in many region of the world and is native of Egypt and growing in India, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In India it is cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujrat, Rajasthan, West Bangol, bihar, Maharashtra. It is identified in different region of the world with different name. Trachyspermum ammi (L) sprague fruits or seeds are commonly called as ajowan belongs to the family ‘Apiaceae’. Ajowan is much valued for its antispasmodic, stimulant, tonic and carminative. It is given in flatulence, atonic dyspepsia and diarrhea and often recommended for cholera. The studies reveal the presence of various phyto chemical constituents, like volatile oil, protein, fat, Carbohydrate, glycosides, fiber, minerals, saponins, phenolic compounds. Medicinally it has been prove to possess various pharmacological properties like antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, hypolipidaemic, antihypertensive, antispasmodic, broncho-dilating, diuretic, antitussive, anthelimintic, abortificent. This review deals with the evidence-based information regarding the Pharmacognostic, Phytochemistry and pharmacological studies of ajowan; hence it is encouraging to find its new therapeutic uses and it can be a good candidate for to be applied in clinical practice.