Carum carvi (Caraway) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Carum carvi (Caraway) — family Apiacées.

Recognised external sources linked to this monograph: French Pharmacopoeia.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 11 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The monograph draws on 60 scientific references recorded for the species.

Therapeutic indications in alcoholic extraction:

Note: scientific reference excerpts are kept in their original language (most often English), without translation, to respect the source text of publications.

1. Stomach problems : Plant part used: Seed.
   According to Al-Essa MK (2010): This response may explain, in part, the beneficial effect of caraway in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms associated with dyspepsia. According to Roome T (2021): Thus, in mice DCD-684 demonstrated a wide margin of safety to be used for the relief of infantile colic. Digas colic drops (DCD-684) a polyherbal formulation containing Carum carvi, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita & Zingiber officinale is widely used in Pakistan against gastrointestinal ailments including infantile colic.
2. Cancer : Plant part used: Seed.
   According to Naghibi SM (2015): We report a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma who were under treatment with levothyroxine and experienced an elevated TSH level by ingestion of C carvi. According to Kamaleeswari M (2006): Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death and its prevention is of great interest throughout the world. To induce colon cancer, rats were given a weekly subcutaneous injection of1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) at a dose of 20mgkg (based on body weight) for the first 15 weeks.
3. Colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease : Plant part used: Seed. Documented pharmacological profile: Asacol-like, Prednisolone-like, Hydrocortisone-like.
   According to Keshavarz A (2013): Anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, carminative and immunomodulatory properties of caraway suggest that it might exert beneficial effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Administration of prednisolone (p.o., 4 mg/kg), Asacol® (Mesalazine microgranules, p.o., 100 mg/kg) & hydrocortisone acetate (i.p., 20 mg/kg) as references were effective in reducing colon tissue injures as well. According to Naghibi SM (2015): Its potential biological effects include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and antispasmodic activities.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use and full scientific references are available in the complete monograph.

Photo credit : Photo by Jerzy Opioła without modification (CC BY-SA 4.0. License : CC BY-SA 4.0.