Botany
Damoro is an erect, annual herb growing from 30 to 90 cm high. Leaves are rather distant, 3- or 3-pinnate; the ultimate segments are linear; and 1.2 to 2.5 cm long. Flowers are white, in compound umbels. Fruit is very small, ovoid, hispid and ribbed.
Distribution
Introduced, occasionally cultivated.
Constituents
Plant yields a volatile oil, 0.12%; some phellandrene; about 1 % thymol.
Fruit contains a volatile oil, 3 to 4 %; with 45 to 55 percent thymol; p-cymol, 1%.
Seeds contain an aromatic volatile essential oil and crystalline substance called stearoptene, a crude thymol.
Properties
Seeds are considered antispasmodic, stimulant, tonic, carminative.
Parts used
Seeds
Uses
Folkloric
Seeds used for flatulence, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhea; often recommended for cholera, usually used with asafoetida, myrobalans and rock salt.
Decoction used for discharges, sometimes used as a lotion.
Decoction of seeds a common ingredient of cough mixtures.
As topical remedy, used with astringents for sore throats.
During the first World War, sought after for its thymol content, which is considered antiseptic.
In India, used for flatulence, dyspepsia, intestinal colic. Also, used to stimulate the appetite, for diarrhea, and as a gargle for laryngitis.
Used by nursing mothers to increase milk flow. Antispasmodic use of the seeds for
Used for menstrual cramps.
Studies
• Antimicrobial: In a screening of plants used in the Ayurvedic system in India to treat enteric diseases, the methanol extract of Carum copticum showed moderate antimicrobial activity against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi.
• Antihypertensive / Antispasmodic / Bronchodilator / Hepatoprotective: Study of seed extract of Carum copticum caused a dose-dependent fall in arterial blood pressure in anesthetized rats. It showed a calcium channel blocking effect confirming the presence of calcium antagonists. In Isolated guinea-pig tracheal preparations, it caused inhibition of induced-bronchoconstriction. It prevented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital-induced sleeping time confirming hepatoprotectivity.
• Antinociceptive: (1) Study showed CC fruit extract had antinociceptive effects, more on the late phase than early phase. (2) Study showed clear-cut analgesic effect. The positive results in analgesiometric testing indicate the antinociceptive action of Carum copticum may be of the opioid type.
• Protease Activity: As digestive aid to humans, study showed Carum copticum was effective in the stomach and small intestine, while Allium sepa was effective only in the small intestine.
• Fumigant Activity: In a study comparing the fumigant activity of essential oil vapors distilled from C. copticum and Vitex pseudo-negundo tested against eggs, larvae and adults of Callosobruchus maculatus, CC was almost more toxic than VPN on all growth stages of C maculatus. Results suggest the essential oils may be potential grain protectants as botanical alternative fumigants.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed the total alcoholic extract and total aqueous extract of the seeds of Carum copticum exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in both rat models of carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma.
• Anti-Tussive Effect: Study showed antitussive effects of Carum copticum to be even greater than that of codeine at concentrations used. The effect was not due to its main constituent, carvacrol.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
Seeds and extracts in the cybermarket. |
