title: Carum copticum L.: a herbal medicine with various pharmacological effects.
abstract: Carum copticum L. commonly known as "Ajwain" is cultivated in many regions of the world including Iran and India, states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Traditionally, C. copticum has been used in the past for various therapeutic effects including bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal tumors, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, and loss of appetite. It has other health benefits such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and hypolipidemic effects. This plant contains different important components such as carbohydrates, glucosides, saponins and phenolic compounds (carvacrol), volatile oils (thymol), terpiene, paracymene and beta-pinene, protein, fat, fiber, and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, iron, and nicotinic acid (niacin). In the previous studies, several pharmacological effects were shown for C. copticum. Therefore, in this paper, the pharmacological effects of the plant were reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Boskabady
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand 9719113944, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alitaneh
authors.affiliation: Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran.
authors.forename: Azam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavinezhad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D029974:Carum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000081007:Cymenes; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013943:Thymol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013943:Thymol; C073316:carvacrol
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