Gopal Kumar

  Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb grown in Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, Bhutan and Nepal. Its fruits are used to treat in digestion, vomiting, biliousness, abdominal pain, rectal, throat and lung diseases, inflammation of the eyelids and liver complaints. Hydrodistilled essential oil obtained from the fruits of A. subulatum grown in northeast region of Sikkim, was analyzed by capillary GC and GC-MS techniques. The oil was consisted of 20 components including the major ones 1,8 cineole (65.39%), α-terpineol (10.15%), β-pinene (7.23%), α-pinene (4.06%), linalool oxide (3.23%), and limonene (2.53%).

  Trachyspermum ammi (L.) sprague fruits is commonly called Ajowan belongs to the family ‘Apiaceae’. It’s fruits yielded 2% to 4% brownish essential oil, with thymol as the major constituent (35% to 60%). It also contain monoterpenoids and reported some new constituents. The plant is used traditionally as a stimulant, carminative, flatulence, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhoea, abdominal tumours, abdominal pains, piles, and bronchial problems, lack of appetite, galactogogue, asthma and amenorrhoea. It possess various pharmacological activities like antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, cytotoxic activity, hypolipidaemic, antihypertensive, antispasmodic, broncho-dilating actions, antilithiasis, diuretic, abortifacient, antitussive, nematicidal, anthelmintic and antifilarial activity. This review deals with the evidence-based information regarding the pharmacological activity of Trachyspermum ammi. Key words: Trachyspermum ammi, Apiaceae, Ajowan fruits, constituents, pharmacological activities.