Essential Oil - Ajowan
Essential Oil – Ajowan
Botanical Information
Ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum) belongs to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family and is an annual herb recognized by its small greyish-brown seeds, which resemble parsley seeds in appearance. The plant is also known by several scientific synonyms, including T. ammi, Ammi copticum, Carum ajowan, C. copticum, and Ptychotis ajowan. Its common names include ajuan and omum.
Distribution and Traditional Uses
Ajowan is mainly cultivated in India but is also grown in Afghanistan, Egypt, the West Indies, and the Seychelles. Traditionally, its seeds have been widely used as a spice in curry powders and as a household remedy for digestive disorders. In Indian traditional medicine, the seeds, tincture, essential oil, and the compound thymol have been used to treat various ailments, including cholera.
Essential Oil and Characteristics
Ajowan essential oil is extracted from the seeds through steam distillation. The oil is typically yellow-orange to reddish in colour and has a strong herbaceous, spicy, medicinal aroma similar to thyme. It is valued for its powerful antiseptic, germicidal, and carminative properties, making it useful for fighting microorganisms and relieving digestive discomfort.
Chemical Composition
The essential oil contains several active compounds, with thymol being the major constituent. Other important components include pinene, cymene, dipentene, terpinene, and carvacrol, along with smaller amounts of other naturally occurring compounds.
Safety and Precautions
Ajowan essential oil may irritate the skin and mucous membranes. Due to its high thymol content, it should be avoided during pregnancy. Furthermore, its toxicity has not been fully determined, which is why it is generally not recommended for aromatherapy or unsupervised home use.
Industrial Uses
Historically, ajowan has served as an important natural source of thymol for industrial applications. However, its use for thymol extraction has largely declined because synthetic thymol has become more readily available and cost-effective.
