Ajwain

Ajwain

ØStimulates digestion   ØUseful in painful conditions involving the reproductive system    ØUseful in diseases of liver and spleen   ØRemoves unwanted gases from the colon   ØUseful in all dental problems      Common Name: Ajowan, Bishop'weed.(Eng.)   Sanskrit Name: Yawani: As it is similar to little Yava (barley) Ajamodika: Little Ajamoda Deepyaka: As Ajwain is Deepan (which ignites the digestive fire) in action   Lt. Name: Trachyspermum ammi- Umbelliferae   Bio energetics: Rasa (Taste)- Katu (Pungent); Tikta (Bitter). Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Rough) & Teekshna (Sharp in action) Veerya (Potency)- Ushna (Hot) Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)   Chemical composition: The essential oil (2.5 to 5% in the dried fruits) is dominated by thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, 35 to 60%); furthermore, ?-pinene, p-cymene, limonene and ?-terpinene have been found. In the essential oil distilled from aerial parts (flowers, leaves) of ajwain grown in Algeria, however, isothymol (50%) was found to be the dominant constituent before p-cymene, thymol, limonene and ?-terpinene. Note, however, that the name isothymol is not well defined and might refer to both 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenol and 3-isopropyl-6-methylphenol (carvacrol). (Journal of Essential Oil Research, 15, 39, 2003) From South Indian ajwain fruits, almost pure thymol has been isolated (98%), but the leaf oil was found to be composed of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids: 43% cadinene, 11% longifolene, 5% thymol, 3% camphor and others. (Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 64, 250, 2002)   Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors): Ajwain pacifies Vata and Kapha Dosha so it can be used efefctively in all health problems having their origin in Vata and Kapha Dosha.   Actions according to Ayurveda: Pachani: Ajwain stimulates proper digestion of ingested food. Ruchya: Ajwain has cleansing effect on mucosa of mouth thus produce a good hunger Deepani: Ajwain has appetizer effect. Shukrashoolhruta: Ajwain is useful in all painful condition involving reproduction system Aanahanuta: Ajwain has carminative effect so it clears unwanted gases from teh colon Pleeharogahara: Ajwain is useful in diseses of liver and spleen. As it works on the digestive fire and as per Ayurveda Liver and spleen are directly related to teh digestive fire of the body so it is quite useful in diseases of both of these organs. Krumiprunata: Ajwain has anti microbial effect so its extract can be used effectively as disinfectant. Dwijamayan Hanti: Ajwain is useful in all dental problems   Medicinal value: In the early Twentieth Century, the world's main source of thymol was ajwain seeds, and its germicide and antiseptic properties are utilized in many cough syrups and throat lozenges.  Ajwain seeds are reputed to be beneficial to asthma sufferers, with the small seeds smoked in a pipe to relieve shortness of breath. A folk remedy for impotence has Ajwain seeds soaked in lemon juice then dried 7 times over. The consumption of the treated seeds is said to stimulate flagging libidos. Ajwain helps in curing the disorders such as ulcers, ringworm, itching, stomach worm, bile, menstrual and post-natal disorders, leucorrhoea, female infertility, pimples, kidney stones and many more, and also useful as an aphrodisiac. Ajwain is also useful in toothache, earache and rheumatism, as we can use the oil as eardrops and use the oil as a massage for neuralgia. In pharingitis, an infusion of Ajwain seeds mixed with common salt is an effective gargle in a sore and congested throat and hoarse ness of the voice due to colds or shouting. GC and GC-MS analysis of ajwain essential oil showed the presence of 26 identified components which account for 96.3% of the total amount. Thymol (39.1%) was found as a major component along with p-cymene (30.8%), ?-terpinene (23.2%), ?-pinene (1.7%), terpinene-4-ol (0.8%) whereas acetone extract of ajwain showed the presence of 18 identified components which account for 68.8% of the total amount. The major component was thymol (39.1%) followed by oleic acid (10.4%), linoleic acid (9.6%), ?-terpinene (2.6%), p-cymene (1.6%), palmitic acid (1.6%), and xylene (0.1%). Moreover, the oil exhibited a broad spectrum of fungitoxic behavior against all tested fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium monoliforme, Fusarium graminearum, Pencillium citrium, Penicillium viridicatum, Pencillium madriti, and Curvularia lunata as absolute mycelial zone inhibition was obtained at a 6-?L dose of the oil. However, the acetone extract showed better antioxidative activity for linseed oil as compared with synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyl toluene and butylated hydroxyl anisole. A study for Chemical Constituents, Antifungal and Antioxidative Effects of Ajwain Essential Oil and Its Acetone Extract by Gurdip Singh, Sumitra Maurya, C. Catalan, and M. P. de Lampasona Chemistry Department, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur-273009, India, and Instituto de Quimica, Organica Universidad Nacinal de Tucuman, Ayacucho 471, S.M. de Tucuman 4000, Argentina Effect of ajwain extract on hexachlorocyclohexane-induced oxidative stress and toxicity in rats were investigated. Six groups of rats were maintained for 12 weeks as (1) Control; (2) HCH (300 mg/kg body weight) injected (3) 1% ajwain extract incorporated diet (4)1% ajwain extract incorporated diet + HCH (5) 2% ajwain extract incorporated diet and (6) 2% ajwain extract incorporated diet + HCH. Results revealed that HCH administration lead to an increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation associated with reduction in, levels of glutathione (GSH), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Prefeeding of ajwain extract resulted in decreased hepatic levels of lipid peroxides and increased GSH, GSH-peroxidase, G-6-PDH, SOD, catalase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. At the same time there was a significant reduction in hepatic levels of HCH-induced raise in lipid peroxides as a result of the prefeeding the extract. Prefeeding of ajwain extract at 1% level to rats injected with HCH reverted the significant changes in catalase, G-6-PDH, GST and -glutamyl transpeptidase. HCH-induced formation of micronuclei in femur bone marrow was also reduced significantly. It was concluded that HCH administration resulted in hepatic free radical stress, causing toxicity, which could be reduced by the dietary ajwain extract.   A study to understand Ameliorative effect of ajwain extract on hexachlorocyclohexane-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver by K.R. Anilakumar, V. Saritha, Farhath Khanum and A.S. BawaBiochemistry and Nutrition Discipline, Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore 570011, Karnataka, India  Useful part: Fruit Doses: Powder- 1-3 gm; Oil- 1-3 drops; Arka- 20 - 40ml Some combinations with Ajwain: Yawanikadi Kwatha; Yawanikadi Churna; Yawani Shadava; Yaw