Ajwain - Trachyspermum ammi

Ajwain, also known as carom seeds, is a small, oval, ridged seed-like fruit with a pungent aroma and bitter taste. Native to India and the Middle East, it is a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic formulations and Indian cuisine, known for its carminative, antiflatulent, and antimicrobial properties.

Ajwain Scientific Names

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Eudicots
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Trachyspermum
Species: T. ammi

Ajwain Common Names

English: Carom Seeds, Bishop's Weed
Hindi: Ajwain
Sanskrit: Yavani
Gujarati: Ajmo
Tamil: Omam
Malayalam: Ayamodakam
Telugu: Vamu

Ajwain uses

Digestive Health - Widely used to treat indigestion, flatulence, and bloating, Stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes and supports gut health.

Antimicrobial and Antifungal - Acts as a natural antibacterial and antifungal agent, especially against gut pathogens.

Respiratory Support - Used traditionally to relieve cough, asthma, and bronchitis, Ajwain steam inhalation helps in clearing nasal passages.

Pain Relief - Applied externally for arthritic pain, muscular aches, and toothache relief.

Menstrual Discomfort - Helps in relieving menstrual cramps and supports uterine health.

Phytochemical Constituents

Ajwain seeds are rich in bioactive compounds including:

Thymol – the major active constituent with strong antimicrobial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties
Terpenes – such as p-cymene, γ-terpinene, and α-pinene
Flavonoids – with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity
Tannins – astringent and antimicrobial agents
Saponins and Alkaloids – general metabolic activity

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part-I, Volume IV, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India.

Sharma, P. V. (1996). Dravyaguna Vigyan, Vol. 2. Chaukhambha Bharati Academy.

Kapoor, L. D. (2001). Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. CRC Press.

Dhakad, A. K., et al. (2015). "Biological, medicinal and toxicological significance of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague: A review." Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 4(2), 286–293.

Singh, G., et al. (2004). "Chemical constituents and antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of Ajwain essential oil." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(11), 3292–3296.

Pandey, A., & Singh, P. (2017). "Antibacterial activity of Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) essential oil against multidrug resistant bacteria isolated from clinical samples." Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 6(5), 1102–1107.

Ajwain – Trachyspermum ammi

Ajwain Scientific Names

Ajwain Common Names

Ajwain uses

Phytochemical Constituents

References

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