Peucedanum graveolens Linn. Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Flem.
Family
:
Apiaceae
General Info
Description
It is an annual, glabrous, aromatic herb, grows up to 1.2 m in height. The leaves are decompound and ultimate segments filiform. Flowers are pale yellow in compound umbels. Fruits are sub-elliptical, dorsally compressed, glabrous, with 3 longitudinal ridges, winged, with 2 mericarps. The mericarps remain joined together even under stored conditions. Vittae with marginal walls appear irregularly and have thickenings near the angles.
Herb Effects
Antihalitosis, aromatic, carminative, diuretic, galactogogue, stimulant, stomachic, aromatic carminative, reduces fever and anthelmintic (fruit); abortifacient (in rats) (seed extract); hypoglycemic, alleviates spasms (50% EtOH extract from fruit).
Mainly carvone, then limonene, dihydrocarvone, apiol, dill apiol and terpenes (essential oil); phellandrine (in certain varieties of this plant).
Chemistry
of Active Ingredients
Name
CAS#
IUPAC Name
Formula
Structure
Carvone
53763-73-8
2-methyl-5-prop-1-en -2-yl-cyclohex-2-en- 1-one
C10H14O
Limonene
9003-73-0
1-methyl-4-prop-1-en -2-yl-cyclohexene
C10H16
Dihydrocarvone
5948-04-9
2-methyl-5-prop-1-en -2-yl-cyclohexan-1-o ne
C10H16O
Apiol
83382-66-5
4,7-dimethoxy-5-prop -2-enyl-benzo[1,3]di oxole
C12H14O4
Dill apiol
484-31-1
4,5-dimethoxy-6-prop -2-enyl-benzo[1,3]di oxole
C12H14O4
Pharmacology
Medicinal Use
In digestive (such as indigestion) and menstrual disorders, insomnia, headache, boils and swellings, to increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers and will then be taken by the baby in the milk to help prevent colic.
Contraindication
Possible skin sensitivity, avoid in pregnancy and with infants and children.
Reference
Stary, Medicinal Herbs and Plants.
Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants. Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India. The Himalaya Drug Company. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal (1931) (www.botanical.com).