Caraway consists of the dried ripe fruits of Carum carvi Linn., belonging to family Umbelliferae.
CARAWAY
Synonyms
Caraway fruits, Fructus carvi, Carum, Caraway Seed.
Biological Source
Caraway consists of the dried ripe fruits of Carum carvi Linn., belonging to family
Umbelliferae.
Geographical Source
It is cultivated widely in northern and central parts of
Europe, Turkey in Asia, India, and North Africa. It is also available in
Canada, the United States, Morocco, Germany, Russia, Norway, and Sweden.
History
The use of caraway is well-known in classic days and it is
believed that its use originated with the ancient Arabs, the ancient Arabs
called the ‘seeds’ Karawya and so the
origin of our word Caraway and the Latin name Cam, According to Pliny the name Carvi was derived from Caria, in
Asia Minor, where according to him the plant was originally found. In old
Spanish the name of caraway occurs as Alcaravea.
The use of caraway was also quite popular during the Middle Ages and in
Shakespeare’s times.
Cultivation
The plant is an erect biennial herb. It prefers loamy soil.
About five seeds are sown in March or April in drills, 1 ft apart. The plants
when strong enough are thinned out to about 8 inches in the rows. Proper manure
and weeding is done. When the oldest fruits are mature and ripe, the plant is
cut and the Caraways are separated by thrashing. They are then dried either on
trays in the sun or by very gentle heat over a stove with occasional shaking.
Characteristics
The fruits which are incorrectly called seeds are laterally
compressed, translucent, slightly curved and somewhat horny in nature. They are
yellowish brown in colour with five distinct ridges. The fruits are of 4 to 7
mm long, 1 mm broad, and thick. They evolve a pleasant, aromatic odour when
bruised and have an agreeable taste.
Microscopy
Dorsal region consist of four vittae and the commissural
surface has two vittae and a carpophore. The epicarp has polygonal tubular
cells along with few stomata which are covered with cuticle. The mesocarp
consists of rounded parenchyma cells, with scattered sclereids. The endocarp
has elongated sub-rectangular cells, whereas the endospermis is made of
thick-walled cellulosic parenchyma cells consisting of oil globules, calcium
oxalate crystals, and aleurone grains.
Schematic diagram of T.S.
Chemical Constituents
Caraway grown in more northerly altitudes are richer in
essential oil than that grown in southern regions and similarly if caraway is
grown in full sun a greater percentage and richer oil is obtained. It has 4–7%
volatile oil which consists of about 60% carvone alone with dihydrocarvone,
carveol, carvacrol, and terpene limonene. The chief constituent of the oil is
a hydrocarbon termed carvene and an oxygenated oil carvol.
Uses
Both fruit and oil possess aromatic, stimulant, flavouring
agent and carminative. It is recommended in dyspepsia, as a tonic; as
stomachic, for flatulent indigestion, as a excellent vehicle for children’s
medicine and also as a spice.
Allied Drug
Cuminum cyminum is commonly used in many parts of country. The volatile oil content is
only about 3 to 4%.
Marketed Products
It is one of the ingredients of the preparations known as
Gripe water (Himalaya Drug Company) and Sage Baby oil (Sage Herbals).
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