Carum carvi
Caraway plant
Carum carvi, commonly known as caraway, is a fragrant annual herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic seeds, it is widely used in culinary traditions and traditional medicine. It offers significant therapeutic benefits, particularly for aiding digestion, relieving bloating, and soothing various gastrointestinal discomforts naturally.
- Scientific name: Carum carvi
- Family: Apiaceae
- Native range: Europe
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 |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Carum carvi, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 葛縷子 (gélǚzi), while in Tibetan, it is called གོ་སྙོད།. In Poland, it is widely known as kminek zwyczajny, and in Hungary, it is commonly called fűszerkömény. Additionally, in Estonian, the plant is known as harilik köömen.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 葛縷子 | Wikidata |
| bo | གོ་སྙོད། | Wikidata |
| pl | Kminek zwyczajny | Wikidata |
| hu | fűszerkömény | Wikidata |
| et | harilik köömen | Wikidata |
| sq | Qimnoni | Wikidata |
| sv | kummin | Wikidata |
| ar | كروياء | Wikidata |
| nl | Karwij | Wikidata |
| pt | Alcaravia | Wikidata |
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.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oil | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Carum carvi has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 60 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carvone, flavonoids, D-limonene, ascorbic acid, bavachin.
- Total chemicals
- 40
- Scientific sources
- 60
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carvone | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| D-limonene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ascorbic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bavachin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bavachromene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| caraway oil | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| carvacrol | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isobavachalcone | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isobavachromene | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Carum carvi has 15 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Carminative, Anticancer.
- Total activities
- 15
- Scientific sources
- 26
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Carminative | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiproliferative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antithrombotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Carum carvi has 29 reported medicinal uses identified across 33 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori, obesity, vitiligo, weight loss, Aspergillus flavus.
- Total uses
- 29
- Scientific sources
- 33
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Helicobacter pylori | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vitiligo | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| weight loss | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus flavus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus ochraceus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Breast cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aberrant crypt foci | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| asthma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |