Abstract
Spices are utilized for the treatment of different disorders since the ancient age. Trachyspermum ammi (T. ammi, family Apiaceae, commonly known as ajowan) is an annual herb and is widely distributed in Pakistan. It is one of the spices that is used traditionally to relieve certain complaints. It is also used world-wide as a flavoring agent in curries, pickles, sauces and cakes. The seeds of the ajowan are widely used for medicinal purpose. Major active constituents of T. ammi are thymol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene. The present study is conducted to find out the effect of T. ammi on gastrointestinal tract. The in-vitro study was conducted on rabbit jejunum. The volatile oil of T. ammi seed extract produced interesting effects on intestinal smooth muscles. Anti-diarrhoeal effect was observed at different concentrations of seed extract of T. ammi. Absence of insect infestation and contamination has become an important consideration in storage of grain and to maintain a high quality product. Toxicity of T. ammi was assayed by performing insecticidal and wormicidal activity. Insecticidal activity was determined on Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae at different concentrations, that is, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg. 100 % mortality was obtained at concentrations 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg and no effect was observed at low concentration. Wormicidal potential was determined on earth worm (Lumbricus terrestris). The extract of T. ammi has no toxicity at low doses, so it can be utilized safely in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Jayaweera DMA (1982) Medicinal plants (indigenous and exotic) used in Ceylon. Part V. Rutaceae-Zygophylaceae. National Science Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo, p 133
Shinwari ZK, Rehman M, Watanabe T, Yoshikawa T (2006) A pictorial guide to medicinal plants of Pakistan. Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, p 492
Pullaiah T (2006) Encyclopedia of world medicinal plants, vol 4. A.P. Regency Publications, New Delhi, pp 1962–1964
C.S.I.R (1976) The wealth of India, raw materials, vol X:Sp-W, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, pp 231–232, 267
Balbaa SI, Hilal SH, Haggag MY (1973) The volatile oil from the herb and fruits of Carum copticum at different stages of growth. Planta Med 23:312–320
Chatterjee A, Pakrashi SC (2003) In: Marg KS (ed) The treatise on Indian medicinal plants, vol 4. NISCAIR Press, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources/CSIR, New Delhi, pp 45–47
Chialva F, Monguzzi F, Manitto P, Akgiil A (1993) Essential oil constituents of Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link fruits. J Essent Oil Res 5:105–106
Howard MP, Reynolds RD, Moser PB, Andon MB, McConnell W, Acharya S (1985) Special foods of high nutritive value consumed by Nepalese lactating women. Fed Proc 44:1505
Jansen PCM (1981) Spices, condiments and medicinal plants in Ethiopia, their taxonomy and agricultural significance. Centre for Agricultural Publication and Documentation, Wageningen
Shome U, Rawat AKS, Mehrotra S (1996) Time-tested household herbal remedies. In: Jain SK (ed) Ethnobiology in human welfare. Deep Publications, New Delhi, pp 96–100
Umadevi I, Daniel M (1990) Phenolics of some fruit spices of the Apiaceae. Natl Acad Sci Lett 13:439–441
Vedavathy S, Rao DN (1995) Herbal folk medicine of Tirumala and Tirupati region of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Fitoterapia 66:167–171
Ahmad M, Muhammad N, Ahmad M, Lodhi MA, Mehjabeen, Jahan N, Khan Z, Ranjit R, Shaheen F, Choudhary MI (2008) Ureaese inhibitor from Datisca cannabina Linn. J Enzym Inhib Med Chem 23:386–390
Ahn YJ, Kim GH, Cho KY (1995) Bioassay system for insecticidal compounds. In: Proceedings of the third symposium on the biochemical methodology for the research and development of the bioactive substances, Seoul, pp 495–506
Syed S, Ahmad M, Mehjabeen, Jahan N, Fatima N (2010) Assaying insecticidal and wormicidal activities in crude extracts of leaves and seeds of Portulaca oleracea L. Int J Biol Biotech 7:439–443
Jahan N, Mehjabeen, Ahmad M, Chishti KA, Hamid S, Rehman AB (2004) Spasmolytic activity of Thuja occidentalis (Cupressaceae). Int Chem Pharm Med J 1:135–140
Mehjabeen, Jahan N, Ahmad M, Chishti KA, Shaista H, Rehman AB (2004) Comparative pharmacological study on red and black fruits and leaves of Solanum nigrum (Black nightshade). Int Chem Pharma Med J 1:39–47
Ahmad M, Mehjabeen, Jahan N (2012) Exploration of signal transduction mechanism of therapeutic action of Solanum nigrum. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol 6:322–329
Krishnamoorthy V, Madalageri MB (1999) Bishop Weed (Trachyspermum ammi): an essential crop for north Karnatka. J Med Arom Plant Sci 21:996–998
Chaubey MK (2008) Fumigant toxicity of essential oils from some common spices against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). J Oleo Sci 57:171–179
Pandey SK, Upadhyay S, Tripathi AK (2009) Insecticidal and repellent activities of thymol from the essential oil of Trachyspermum ammi (Linn) Sprague seeds against Anopheles stephensi. Parasitol Res 105:507–512
Aftab K, Atta-Ur-Rahman K, Usmanghani K (1995) Blood pressure lowering action of active principle from Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague. Phytomedicine 2:35–40
Boskabady MH, Jandaghi P, Kiani S, Hasanzadeh L (2005) Antitussive effect of Carum copticum in guinea pigs. J Ethnopharmacol 97:79–82
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this paper
Cite this paper
Jahan, N., Ahmad, M., Mehjabeen (2014). Toxicity Studies of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill and Its Smooth Muscles Effects. In: Gupta Bhowon, M., Jhaumeer-Laulloo, S., Li Kam Wah, H., Ramasami, P. (eds) Chemistry: The Key to our Sustainable Future. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7389-9_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7389-9_23
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7388-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7389-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)