caraway plant
Carum carvi · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (1092 studies) · ★★★★★
Caraway plant, scientifically known as Carum carvi, is a fragrant herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic seeds, it has been utilized for centuries in traditional medicine to aid digestion, reduce bloating, and alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort. Its potent essential oils offer significant therapeutic and culinary benefits.
Names
Common Names
- caraway
- wild caraway
- carum
- Persian cumin
- meridian fennel
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Alcaravea
- Carvía
- Carvi
- Caros
- Carvia
- Carum rosellum
- Carum gracile
- Hinojo de prado
- Alcarravea
- Alcaravia
- Comino de prado
- Alcarovea
- Alcarabaca
- Bunium carvi
- Alcorobea
- Alcarahueya
- Comino de prados
- comino de prado
- Alcaravea
German:
- Echter Kümmel
- Wiesenkümmel
- Wiesen-Kümmel
- Kümmel
- Wiesen-Kümmel
- Kuemmel
French:
- Carvi
- Cumin des prés
- Graine de carvi
- Caraway
- carvi
- anis
- anis canadien
- care carvi
- carvi
- carvi commun
- cumin des prés
- anis des Vosges
- Cumin des pres
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Carum carviSynonyms
- Ligusticum carvi
- Karos carvi
- Pimpinella carvi
- Sium carvi
- Selinum carvi
- Apium carvi
- Carum carvi f. gracile
- Carum carvi subsp. rosellum
- Foeniculum carvi
- Carum carvi var. vulgare
- Carum gracile
- Carum officinale
- Carum velenovskyi
- Seseli carum
- Sium carum
- Bunium carvi
- Carum carvi f. pygmaeum
- Falcaria carvifolia
- Carum aromaticum
- Carum carvi f. rhodochranthum
- Seseli carvi
- Carum carvi f. rubriflorum
- Carvi careum
- Carum rosellum
- Carum carvi var. intermedium
- Carum carvi var. pterochlaenum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Apiales and sits within the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Carum, specifically as the species Carum carvi.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Apiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Carum | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a distinct geographical presence across several regions within Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced through various territories, including Denmark and Finland. It is also known to occur in the remote reaches of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, known locally as Føroyar. Furthermore, the species is documented to grow within the landscapes of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations highlight the specific northern range inhabited by Carum carvi.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Carum carvi, is a versatile medicinal herb where various components offer distinct therapeutic benefits. The most commonly utilized parts are the small, aromatic fruits, which are technically known as schizocarps. These fruits contain the tiny, dark seeds that are widely used in culinary and medicinal applications to aid digestion. The lush, green leaves of the plant are also edible and can be used in various preparations. Furthermore, the plant is a rich source of essential oil, which is extracted from the seeds and fruits to provide its potent, characteristic aroma and concentrated medicinal properties.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| seed | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Journal of plant research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Carum carvi has 205 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVONE, LIMONENE, CARVACROL, Flavonoids, Bavachin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| CARVONE | 8 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| LIMONENE | 4 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| CARVACROL | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Bavachin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bavachromene | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Caraway oil | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-Limonene | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ISOPSORALEN | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Isobavachalcone | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
CARVONE
- Dr. Duke
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- International journal of radiation biology
- Journal of the science of food and agriculture
- Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
View 3 additional sources
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Chemistry & biodiversity
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
LIMONENE
- Dr. Duke
- International journal of radiation biology
- Journal of the science of food and agriculture
- Chemistry & biodiversity
CARVACROL
- Dr. Duke
- Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
- BMC plant biology
Flavonoids
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- International journal of radiation biology
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
Bavachin
- Journal of separation science
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
Bavachromene
- Journal of separation science
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
Caraway oil
- Natural products and bioprospecting
- Neurogastroenterology and motility
D-Limonene
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- International journal of environmental health research
ISOPSORALEN
- Journal of separation science
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
Isobavachalcone
- Journal of separation science
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
Activities
Carum carvi has 684 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Carminative, Anticancer.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 8 sources) | ★★★★☆ |
| Antimicrobial | International journal of radiation biology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Carminative | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Expectorant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypoglycemic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Carum carvi has 29 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori, obesity, vitiligo, weight loss, Aspergillus flavus.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori | World journal of gastroenterology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | Drug research (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vitiligo | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| weight loss | Phytotherapy research : PTR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Breast cancer | Foods (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aberrant crypt foci | Toxicology and applied pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antispasmodic | Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| essential oils | Journal of food protection (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Digas colic drops (DCD-684) | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Essential oils | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Water extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous seeds extract | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caraway hexane extract (CHE) | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caraway water extract (CWE) | International journal of molecular sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cell suspension cultures | Applied biochemistry and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| distillate | Journal of complementary & integrative medicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethanol extracts from fruits | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |